How far is Kelso, WA from Kennewick, WA?

The driving distance from Kelso, WA to Kennewick, WA is about 253.4 miles (407.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 180.4 miles (290.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
253.41 mi
03h 59m
Flight
180.45 mi
290.41 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kelso.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
180.45 mi
Kilometers
290.41 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
253.41 mi
Kilometers
407.82 km
Drive Time
03h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kennewick
Wed, Apr 22, 11:48 PM PDT
Return by in Kelso
Thu, Apr 23, 3:48 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kelso
2026-04-22T19:49
Arrive Kennewick
Wed, Apr 22, 11:48 PM PDT
Route Timing
03h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:00 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kelso
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Dallesport
WA

Census designated place

From Kelso
126.6 mi
01h 59m
To Kennewick
126.8 mi
01h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SW
Destination
59°F
Wednesday

Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Kelso and Kennewick.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kelso and Kennewick.

  1. 1

    Start on North 4th Avenue

    817 ft · 24 sec · North 4th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Allen Street

    2801 ft · 2 min · Allen Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 5 South: Portland

    1564 ft · 39 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    31.6 mi · 34 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 205 South: Salem

    14.7 mi · 19 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles

    1.2 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Columbia River Highway

    158.1 mi · 2 hr 56 min · Columbia River Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Old Oregon Trail Highway

    11.4 mi · 12 min · Old Oregon Trail Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 82 West: Hermiston, Umatilla

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Continue on McNary Highway

    29.9 mi · 33 min · McNary Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West 10th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · West 10th Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South Olympia Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Olympia Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Kennewick Avenue

    46 m · 10 sec · West Kennewick Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Newport Street

    706 ft · 31 sec · North Newport Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Newport Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kelso and Kennewick.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Columbia River Highway
158 mi · 62%
I 5 South
31.9 mi · 13%
McNary Highway
29.9 mi · 12%
I 205 South
14.7 mi · 6%
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.4 mi · 5%
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
3.29 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Columbia River Highway

Continue on Columbia River Highway

158 mi · 02h 56m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+73 mi
180.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dallesport
01h 59m from Kelso
Leave By
9:00 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Kelso and Rain Likely near Kennewick.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kelso to Kennewick?

The road trip is about 253.4 miles (407.8 km) and usually takes 03h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Dallesport is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.6 miles from Kelso and 126.8 miles from Kennewick.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 180.4 miles (290.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 73 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:00 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.78 one way or $93.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Kelso and Rain Likely near Kennewick.

Stop Ideas Near Dallesport

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dallesport, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dallesport.

BUS

The Dalles, Oregon

2 mi away
201 East Federal Street
RAIL

Wishram

17 mi away
1 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Bingen – White Salmon

25 mi away
Hwy 14 and Walnut St.
BUS

Hood River, Oregon

28 mi away
600 E. Marina Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kelso and Kennewick. Straight-line distance: 180.45 mi (290.41 km).

Kelso

#1 Kelso

Town and parish in Scottish Borders, Scotland

Population12,438
Coordinates46.1467800, -122.9084400
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Kennewick

#2 Kennewick

The second most populous city in Benton County, Washington.

Population84,515
Coordinates46.2112500, -119.1372300
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Start: North 4th Avenue (-122.908521, 46.146794)
End: North Newport Street (-119.137182, 46.21125)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 408 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.94 gal
33.85 L · about $46.78
Round trip
$93.57
17.88 gal · 67.7 L
Estimated CO2
79.4 kg one way
Round trip: 158.9 kg / 350 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $46.78 $93.57
Mid-grade $5.57 $49.77 $99.54
Premium $5.77 $51.59 $103.19
Diesel $5.47 $48.87 $97.75

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Washington · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Kelso and Kennewick. The current time is 19:49:12.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.