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Trip from Wapato, WA to Kennewick, WA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

74 mi

119 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Wapato, WA, WA

Wapato, WA

Sanket Mishra

city in Benton County, Washington, USA

Kennewick, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 74-mile drive from Wapato to Kennewick, Washington, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 26 minutes. Designed as a 1-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on major highways, with 94% of the journey being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $15, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, it's a quick and efficient connection between two points in the Pacific Coast region. This route is ideal for those looking for a direct journey without extensive detours.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 74 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 74-mile route. You'll primarily be on I 82, WA 240, and US 12, with 94% of the drive consisting of highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 56.9 miles on I 82, indicating long periods of consistent speed. This profile suggests a journey characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing directness and speed throughout the 1 hour and 26 minute duration.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 82 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 82 and WA 240. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 1st Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Donald Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 1st Street

Turn right onto West 1st Street

Navigation decision point

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Donald Road

Turn left onto Donald Road

Navigation decision point

4
2 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

6
59.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | US 12

Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 102 Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
6
64.8 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | WA 240

Take the exit onto WA 240 toward SR 240 east: Kennewick

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward SR 240 east: Kennewick

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Wapato, WA and Kennewick, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.

I‑182 East

59.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via US 12

Pasco

59.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via US 12

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 82 56.9 mi 1h
WA 240 7.3 mi 9m
US 12 5.5 mi 5m
Donald Wapato Road 1.6 mi 3m
West Columbia Drive 0.7 mi 1m
North Fruitland Street 0.6 mi 1m
West Kennewick Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Donald Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 82 — 56.9 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wapato, WA and Kennewick, WA.

1

Start on this road

63 ft · 6 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto West 1st Street

183 ft · 12 sec · West 1st Street
3

Turn left onto Donald Road

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Donald Road
4

Continue on Donald Wapato Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · Donald Wapato Road
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
6

Merge onto I 82; US 12

57 mi · 1 hr · I 82; US 12
7

Take the exit onto US 12

5.5 mi · 5 min · US 12
Exit 102 Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
8

Take the exit onto WA 240

7.3 mi · 9 min · WA 240
Toward SR 240 east: Kennewick Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Enter roundabout onto West Columbia Drive

0.1 mi · 9 sec · West Columbia Drive
10

Continue on West Columbia Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Columbia Drive
11

Turn right onto North Fruitland Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Fruitland Street
12

Turn right onto West Kennewick Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Kennewick Avenue
13

Turn right onto North Newport Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · North Newport Street
14

Arrive at destination

North Newport Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37 mi from Wapato, WA · 43m into the drive

city in Benton County, Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Benton City, WA

37 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

Granger, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Prosser, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37 miles from Wapato, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.49 one way

$30.98 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $16.24 $32.48
premium $5.77 $16.80 $33.61
diesel $5.61 $16.34 $32.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$15

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.2 0 $7.77 $3.55
Efficient EV 18.5 0 $6.48 $2.96
EV Truck/SUV 29.6 0 $10.36 $4.74

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Wapato, WA

Late night in Wapato on Friday

Local time

12:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kennewick, WA

Late night in Kennewick on Friday

Local time

12:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 26m 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 Wapato, WA to Kennewick, WA covers 74 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 82, WA 240, US 12. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 37 miles from Wapato, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.49 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 is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Donald Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Navigation decision point.

Between Wapato, WA and Kennewick, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.

Data sources

The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.

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