Origin
Walla Walla, WA
Afternoon in Walla Walla on Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Walla Walla, WA to Kennewick, WA
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kennewick, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Walla Walla to Kennewick is a straightforward 49-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 12, transitioning through East A Street and West Pine Street to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel will comfortably cover the needs of this trip. Both cities are situated within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, ensuring a consistent geographic experience from start to finish. It is a highly practical drive, ideal for those looking to move between these two hubs efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time on US 12, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 40.8 miles. The transition from the rural feel of Walla Walla toward the Kennewick area is defined by these open highway miles, providing a consistent pace behind the wheel. While the route begins and ends on local connectors like East A Street and West Pine Street, the bulk of your time will be spent cruising on the main thoroughfare. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers or winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 40.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and East A Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Rose Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Rose Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (WA 125 / North 9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (WA 125 Spur / Northeast Myra Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Rose Street
Turn left onto West Rose Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WA 125 / North 9th Avenue
Turn right onto WA 125 / North 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
WA 125 Spur / Northeast Myra Road
Enter roundabout onto WA 125 Spur / Northeast Myra Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
29.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
46.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
South 10th Avenue
Turn left onto South 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 40.8 mi | 47m |
| East A Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Pine Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Kennewick Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South 10th Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Columbia Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Gum Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 9th Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 40.8 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walla Walla, WA and Kennewick, WA.
1
Start on South 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South 5th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Rose Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Rose Street
3
Turn right onto WA 125
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North 9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto WA 125
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pine Street
5
Enter roundabout onto WA 125 Spur
11 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northeast Myra Road
6
Continue on WA 125 Spur
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
Northeast Myra Road
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
8
Merge onto US 12
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US 12
9
Keep slight right at fork
287 ft
·
3 sec
10
Merge onto US 12
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 12
11
Turn left onto East A Street
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East A Street
12
Turn left onto South 10th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South 10th Avenue
13
Continue on WA 397
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Gum Street
14
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
15
Turn straight onto East Columbia Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Columbia Drive
16
Turn left onto North Benton Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Benton Street
17
Turn right onto West Kennewick Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Kennewick Avenue
18
Turn right onto North Newport Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Newport Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Newport Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though traveling outside of peak hours can make the commute even smoother. With no mandatory stops required to reach your destination in just over an hour, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for extended breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Walla Walla, as your $10 fuel estimate is based on a direct transit without significant detours. If you find yourself needing a rest, remember that the 40.8-mile stretch on US 12 is your primary window of transit, so plan any necessary stops for the very beginning or end of your journey. Take advantage of the short duration by enjoying a stress-free trip between these two Washington locations.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 24.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.5 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennewick, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Walla Walla, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Walla Walla, WA
This is one driving day of about 49 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Walla Walla, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 40.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Walla Walla, WA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kennewick, WA
The final approach into Kennewick, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kennewick, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.28 one way
$20.57 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $10.74 | $21.48 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.13 | $22.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.89 | $21.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kennewick, WA
Afternoon in Kennewick on Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Walla Walla, WA to Kennewick, WA covers 49 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, East A Street, West Pine Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.28 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Rose Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (WA 125 / North 9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (WA 125 Spur / Northeast Myra Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Walla Walla, WA to Kennewick, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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