The drive from Yakima, WA to Centralia, WA covers 152.1 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, South 1st Street, Alder Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 148.3 miles on US 12.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76 miles from Yakima, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 152.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 9m highway drive covering 152.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and South 1st Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 148.3 miles on US 12.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 148.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and South 1st Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 9m 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: at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 137.8 miles (US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
137.8 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward I 5 North: Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
5
150.2 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward WA 507 North: Mellen Street, City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 507 North: Mellen Street, City Center
5
150.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|Yew Street
At end of road, turn left onto Yew Street
Navigation decision point
4
151.7 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|WA 507 / South Tower Avenue
Turn left onto WA 507 / South Tower Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
148.3 mi
2h 59m
South 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Alder Street
0.4 mi
1m
South Tower Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
West Cherry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Yew Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Selah Road
0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yakima, WA and Centralia, WA.
1
Start on South 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·South 1st Street
2
Continue on Selah Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Selah Road
3
Take the ramp
111 ft·2 sec
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
5
Merge onto US 12
17 mi·22 min·US 12
6
Turn left onto US 12
119 mi·2 hr 22 min·US 12
7
Take the exit onto US 12
12 mi·14 min·US 12
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WA 507 North: Mellen Street, City Center
9
Turn right
0.1 mi·21 sec
10
At end of road, turn left onto Yew Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Yew Street
11
Turn right onto Alder Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Alder Street
12
Continue on WA 507
0.3 mi·54 sec·West Cherry Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto WA 507
0.4 mi·1 min·South Tower Avenue
14
Turn right onto East Main Street
15 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76 miles from Yakima, WA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centralia, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yakima, 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 Yakima, WA
This is one driving day of about 152.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Yakima, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 148.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76 mi from Yakima, WA
· 1h 35m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.83 one way
$63.67 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$33.38
$66.77
premium
$5.77
$34.54
$69.08
diesel
$5.61
$33.58
$67.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.6
0
$15.97
$7.30
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.31
$6.08
EV Truck/SUV
60.8
0
$21.29
$9.73
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Yakima, WA
Morning
in Yakima on Friday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Centralia, WA
Morning
in Centralia on Friday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Yakima, WA to Centralia, WA covers 152.1 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, South 1st Street, Alder 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 76 miles from Yakima, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 9m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 137.8 miles (US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Yakima, WA to Centralia, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
