Origin
Yakima, WA
Night in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
9:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yakima, WA to Clarkston, WA
Drive Time
4h 33m
Distance
216.9 mi
349 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarkston, WA
William Jacobs
Trip Overview
Spanning 216.9 miles, this drive from Yakima to Clarkston is a straightforward journey across Washington that typically takes about 4 hours and 33 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 12, I-82, and State Route 124, making this a highly efficient trip that functions perfectly as a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $46 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trek. Because the route remains entirely within the Pacific Coast region, you won’t encounter jarring transitions between vastly different geographic zones. While you could technically split the journey, its manageable length means you can easily complete it in one go without feeling overly fatigued.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.4 miles from Yakima, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time focused on the road, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 97.9 miles along US 12. The character of the drive is consistent and functional, designed for steady progress rather than winding, technical maneuvers. Transitions between the interstate and state routes are smooth, allowing for a predictable rhythm behind the wheel. Prepare for long, open stretches where the highway dominates your view, keeping the drive efficient and focused on reaching your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 97.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and I 82. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Chestnut Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (East Chestnut Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 82; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Chestnut Avenue
Turn left onto East Chestnut Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
5.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 82; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
69.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
4
95.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
WA 124 / State Route 124
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 124 / State Route 124
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Along This Route
Between Yakima, WA and Clarkston, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
I‑182 East
69.5 mi in
|
~1h 17m
|
via US 12
Pasco
69.5 mi in
|
~1h 17m
|
via US 12
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 97.9 mi | 2h 1m |
| I 82 | 68 mi | 1h 13m |
| State Route 124 | 35.5 mi | 52m |
| State Highway 124 | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Lewis and Clark Trail | 3 mi | 3m |
| Preston Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Chestnut Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Second Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 97.9 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yakima, WA and Clarkston, WA.
1
Start on South 1st Street
415 ft
·
19 sec
·
South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto East Chestnut Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Chestnut Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Fair Avenue
359 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Fair Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
5
Merge onto I 82; US 12; US 97
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 82; US 12; US 97
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 82; US 12
7
Take the exit onto US 12
23 mi
·
25 min
·
US 12
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 12
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lewis and Clark Trail
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
10
Turn slight right onto WA 124
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Route 124
11
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 124
36 mi
·
52 min
·
State Route 124
12
Continue on WA 124
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Second Street
13
Continue on WA 124
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 124
14
Continue on WA 124
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
West 2nd Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto WA 124
143 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
16
Turn left onto WA 124
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Preston Avenue
17
Continue on US 12
32 mi
·
42 min
·
US 12
18
Take the exit onto US 12
43 mi
·
54 min
·
US 12
19
Turn right onto WA 129 Spur
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
WA 129 Spur
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly 4.5-hour trip, departing in the morning is your best bet for avoiding late-afternoon traffic and arriving in Clarkston with plenty of daylight. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your pace steady throughout the day. Given that you will be spending nearly 100 miles on a single stretch of US 12, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Yakima to avoid unnecessary anxiety during that long middle leg. Use the flexibility of this one-day route to your advantage by keeping your luggage light and your schedule open for a spontaneous break whenever you hit that single recommended stop.
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 108.4 miles from Yakima, WA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.9 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.4 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarkston, 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 216.9 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 97.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.4 mi from Yakima, WA · 2h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.4 miles from Yakima, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.9 miles.
Arriving in Clarkston, WA
The final approach into Clarkston, 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 Clarkston, 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
$45.52 one way
$91.05 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $47.54 | $95.08 |
| premium | $5.77 | $49.28 | $98.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $48.19 | $96.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.77 | $10.41 |
| Efficient EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.8 | 1 | $30.37 | $13.88 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Clarkston, WA
Night in Clarkston on Sunday
Local time
9:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°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
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Clarkston, WA covers 216.9 miles and takes about 4h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, I 82, State Route 124. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.4 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 $45.52 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (East Chestnut Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 82; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Yakima, WA and Clarkston, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
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