How far is Seattle, WA from Palouse, WA?

The driving distance from Seattle, WA to Palouse, WA is about 287.9 miles (463.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 251.1 miles (404.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 49m 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
287.89 mi
05h 54m
Flight
251.08 mi
404.08 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Seattle.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
251.08 mi
Kilometers
404.08 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
287.89 mi
Kilometers
463.32 km
Drive Time
05h 54m

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 05h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palouse
Thu, Apr 23, 10:57 AM PDT
Return by in Seattle
Thu, Apr 23, 4:52 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Seattle
2026-04-23T05:02
Arrive Palouse
Thu, Apr 23, 10:57 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:55 AM to 1:55 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
5:10 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Seattle
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
Royal City
WA

City in Grant County, Washington, United States

From Seattle
143.6 mi
02h 57m
To Palouse
144.3 mi
02h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW
Destination
54°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    134.3 mi · 2 hr 29 min · Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 26 East: Othello, Pullman

    1454 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight

    129.1 mi · 2 hr 44 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Colfax Airport Road

    3 mi · 5 min · Colfax Airport Road

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Almota Road

    1072 ft · 29 sec · West Almota Road

  15. 15

    Continue on West Fairview Street

    1 km · 2 min · West Fairview Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    691 ft · 19 sec · South Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on South Main Street

    32 m · 6 sec · South Main Street

  18. 18

    Continue on South Main Street

    2034 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Canyon Street

    3059 ft · 2 min · East Canyon Street

  20. 20

    Continue on State Route 272

    4.8 mi · 8 min · State Route 272

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Clear Creek Road

    8.6 mi · 13 min · Clear Creek Road

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 27

    2.8 mi · 4 min · State Highway 27

  23. 23

    Continue on West Almota Road

    2708 ft · 1 min · West Almota Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    83 m · 11 sec · East Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto North Beach Street

    41 m · 6 sec · North Beach Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Beach Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
26 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
134 mi · 47%
Clear Creek Road
8.6 mi · 3%
State Route 272
4.78 mi · 2%
Colfax Airport Road
3.05 mi · 1%
State Highway 27
2.76 mi · 1%
I 90 East
1.44 mi
Longest Stretch

Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

Keep slight left to continue on Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel

134 mi · 02h 29m

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
05h 54m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.8 mi
251.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Royal City
02h 57m from Seattle
Leave By
5:10 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Seattle and Chance Rain Showers near Palouse.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 287.9 miles (463.3 km) and usually takes 05h 54m 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?

Royal City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.6 miles from Seattle and 144.3 miles from Palouse.

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

The direct path is about 251.1 miles (404.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.8 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 5:10 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.17 one way or $106.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Seattle and Chance Rain Showers near Palouse.

Stop Ideas Near Royal City

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

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

BUS

Moses Lake, Washington

37 mi away
1819 East Kittleson Road
BUS

Quincy, Washington

41 mi away
102 B St NE
BUS

Ephrata, WA

45 mi away
1352 Basin Street SW
RAIL

Ephrata

47 mi away
24 Alder St NW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Seattle and Palouse. Straight-line distance: 251.08 mi (404.08 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
Palouse

#2 Palouse

City in Washington, USA

Population1,055
Coordinates46.9101700, -117.0757300
Altitude742
CountryUnited States
Start: Seattle (-122.33207, 47.60621)
End: Palouse (-117.07573, 46.91017)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 463 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.16 gal
38.46 L · about $53.17
Round trip
$106.33
20.32 gal · 76.92 L
Estimated CO2
90.3 kg one way
Round trip: 180.6 kg / 398 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $53.17 $106.33
Mid-grade $5.57 $56.56 $113.12
Premium $5.77 $58.63 $117.27
Diesel $5.47 $55.54 $111.09

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 Seattle and Palouse. The current time is 05:02:06.

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.