The drive from Yakima, WA to Forks, WA covers 311.7 miles and takes about 6h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, Perry Avenue, US Highway 12 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 184.3 miles on US 12.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
155.9 miles from Yakima, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 50m. Total distance: 311.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 6h 50m highway drive covering 311.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and Perry Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 184.3 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 28 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 184.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and Perry Avenue. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 50m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 157.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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
157.5 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 12 West: Aberdeen, Tenino
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West: Aberdeen, Tenino
6
157.8 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|US 12
Turn left onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
204.2 mi into trip|~4h 21m in|East Market Street
Enter roundabout onto East Market Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yakima, WA and Forks, WA, road signs point toward Tenino, Montesano and Aberdeen.
Tenino
157.5 mi in|~3h 12m
Montesano
183.2 mi in|~3h 52m|via US 12
Aberdeen
183.2 mi in|~3h 52m|via US 12
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
184.3 mi
3h 49m
Perry Avenue
101.1 mi
2h 13m
US Highway 12
16.8 mi
25m
Sumner Avenue
2.1 mi
5m
South Forks Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
South 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Lincoln Street
0.8 mi
2m
East Market Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 184.3 mi, about 3h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yakima, WA and Forks, 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
20 mi·22 min·US 12
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 12 West: Aberdeen, Tenino
9
Turn left onto US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·US 12
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto US 12
143 ft·2 sec·US 12
11
Continue on US 12
7.2 mi·10 min·US 12
12
Enter roundabout onto US 12
90 ft·1 sec·US Highway 12
13
Continue on US 12
3.3 mi·4 min·US Highway 12
14
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·East Pine Street
15
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·40 sec·West Pine Street
16
Continue on US 12
13 mi·20 min·US Highway 12
17
Take the ramp onto US 12
21 mi·29 min·US 12
Toward Montesano, Aberdeen
18
Turn slight right onto Fuller Way
397 ft·11 sec·Fuller Way
19
Enter roundabout onto East Market Street
174 ft·4 sec·East Market Street
20
Continue on East Market Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Market Street
21
Turn right onto US 101
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Alder Street
22
Turn slight left onto US 101
2.1 mi·5 min·Sumner Avenue
23
Continue on US 101
0.5 mi·1 min·Riverside Avenue
24
Turn right onto US 101
512 ft·16 sec·Levee Street
25
Continue on US 101
0.8 mi·2 min·Lincoln Street
26
Turn left onto US 101
101 mi·2 hr 13 min·Perry Avenue
27
Continue on US 101
1.8 mi·3 min·South Forks Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
US 101
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155.9 miles from Yakima, WA, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184.3 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 69 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.9 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forks, 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 311.7 miles and 6h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 184.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 155.9 mi from Yakima, WA
· 3h 10m into the drive
The midpoint is around 155.9 miles from Yakima, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 184.3 miles.
Arriving in Forks, WA
The final approach into Forks, 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 Forks, WA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mount Rainier National Park
National Park
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning fi...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$30
near mile 64.5
Park Closure: Regular nightly closures of the Longmire gate have ended for the season.
Park Closure: SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed: no access to Carbon River or Mowich Lake.
With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of yea...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$30
near mile 247.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.24 one way
$130.47 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$68.41
$136.83
premium
$5.77
$70.78
$141.57
diesel
$5.61
$68.82
$137.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
ChargePoint Charging Station
Morton, Washington
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Morton, Washington
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Yakima, Washington
Electrify America
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Yakima, Washington
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Chevrolet Charging Station
Yakima, Washington
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Randle, Washington
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 4
Electrify America: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.5
1
$32.73
$14.96
Efficient EV
77.9
0
$27.27
$12.47
EV Truck/SUV
124.7
1
$43.64
$19.95
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Yakima, WA
Evening
in Yakima on Friday
Local time
8:36 PM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Forks, WA
Evening
in Forks on Friday
Local time
8:36 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
8 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
6h 50m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Forks, WA covers 311.7 miles and takes about 6h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, Perry Avenue, US Highway 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 155.9 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 $65.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 50m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 157.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Yakima, WA and Forks, WA, road signs point toward Tenino, Montesano and Aberdeen.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
