How far is Seattle, WA from Ellensburg, WA?

The driving distance from Seattle, WA to Ellensburg, WA is about 107.6 miles (173.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 93.6 miles (150.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
107.57 mi
02h 06m
Flight
93.61 mi
150.65 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Seattle.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
93.61 mi
Kilometers
150.65 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
107.57 mi
Kilometers
173.11 km
Drive Time
02h 06m

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 02h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ellensburg
Tue, Jun 2, 2:42 AM PDT
Return by in Seattle
Tue, Jun 2, 4:49 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Seattle
2026-06-02T00:36
Arrive Ellensburg
Tue, Jun 2, 2:42 AM PDT
Route Timing
02h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:07 AM to 12:07 PM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:16 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Seattle
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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
Tanner
WA

Town in Washington

From Seattle
53.7 mi
01h 03m
To Ellensburg
53.9 mi
01h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph N
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Seattle and Ellensburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Seattle and Ellensburg.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    9 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    62 m · 11 sec · Madison Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 4th Avenue

    94 m · 15 sec · 4th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Spring Street

    647 ft · 26 sec · Spring Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 South: Portland

    1151 ft · 28 sec

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    3180 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland

    45 m · 2 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Bellevue, Spokane

    2257 ft · 55 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    1.6 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

    102.2 mi · 1 hr 55 min · Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 97 North: Ellensburg, Wenatchee

    1399 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    2660 ft · 56 sec

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Dolarway Road

    4 m · 1 sec · North Dolarway Road

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto North Dolarway Road

    1.3 mi · 4 min · North Dolarway Road

  15. 15

    Continue on North Railroad Avenue

    1623 ft · 47 sec · North Railroad Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West 5th Avenue

    2635 ft · 2 min · West 5th Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Seattle and Ellensburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
17 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
102 mi · 95%
I 90 East
1.44 mi · 1%
North Dolarway Road
1.34 mi · 1%
I 5 South
0.82 mi · 1%
US 97 North
0.77 mi · 1%
West 5th Avenue
0.5 mi
Longest Stretch

Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

Keep slight left to continue on Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

102 mi · 01h 55m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14 mi
93.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tanner
01h 03m from Seattle
Leave By
2:16 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Seattle and Sunny near Ellensburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Seattle to Ellensburg?

The road trip is about 107.6 miles (173.1 km) and usually takes 02h 06m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tanner is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53.7 miles from Seattle and 53.9 miles from Ellensburg.

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

The direct path is about 93.6 miles (150.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 14 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:16 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.89 one way or $39.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Seattle and Sunny near Ellensburg.

Stop Ideas Near Tanner

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Tanner, 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 Tanner.

RAIL

Tukwila station

37 mi away
7301 South 158th St.
BUS

Skykomish (Eastbound), WA

39 mi away
147 5th Street North
BUS

Skykomish, Washington

39 mi away
90000 Highway 2
BUS

Monroe, Washington

46 mi away
118 North Lewis St., Suite 112

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Seattle and Ellensburg. Straight-line distance: 93.61 mi (150.65 km).

Seattle

#1 Seattle

The eighteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Seattle metropolitan area.

Population769,714
Coordinates47.6062100, -122.3320700
Altitude56
CountryUnited States
Ellensburg

#2 Ellensburg

City in Kittitas County, Washington, United States

Population21,576
Coordinates46.9965100, -120.5478500
Altitude470
CountryUnited States
Start: Seattle (-122.33207, 47.60621)
End: Ellensburg (-120.54785, 46.99651)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 173 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.8 gal
14.37 L · about $19.89
Round trip
$39.77
7.6 gal · 28.74 L
Estimated CO2
33.8 kg one way
Round trip: 67.5 kg / 149 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $19.89 $39.77
Mid-grade $5.57 $21.15 $42.31
Premium $5.77 $21.93 $43.86
Diesel $5.47 $20.77 $41.55

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Seattle and Ellensburg. The current time is 00:36:13.

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.