How far is Spokane, WA from Yelm, WA?

The driving distance from Spokane, WA to Yelm, WA is about 321.7 miles (517.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.6 miles (398.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
321.7 mi
06h 13m
Flight
247.53 mi
398.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Spokane.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
247.53 mi
Kilometers
398.36 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
321.7 mi
Kilometers
517.73 km
Drive Time
06h 13m

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 06h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Yelm
Thu, Apr 23, 3:27 AM PDT
Return by in Spokane
Thu, Apr 23, 9:40 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Spokane
2026-04-22T21:13
Arrive Yelm
Thu, Apr 23, 3:27 AM PDT
Route Timing
06h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:13 PM to 1:43 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:34 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Spokane
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Kittitas
WA

City in Kittitas County, Washington, United States

From Spokane
160.6 mi
03h 06m
To Yelm
161.2 mi
03h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Wednesday

Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SW
Destination
57°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Spokane and Yelm.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Spokane and Yelm.

  1. 1

    Start on South Gorge Trail

    48 m · 21 sec · South Gorge Trail

  2. 2

    Turn right

    8 m · 9 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Main Avenue

    141 m · 20 sec · West Main Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Monroe Street

    2139 ft · 1 min · North Monroe Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto West Freeway Avenue

    643 ft · 18 sec · West Freeway Avenue

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on West Freeway Avenue

    57 m · 5 sec · West Freeway Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West: Seattle

    1245 ft · 30 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    2 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    195.4 mi · 3 hr 32 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 West: Auburn

    1248 ft · 30 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma

    137 m · 13 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Snoqualmie Parkway

    1780 ft · 25 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

  14. 14

    Continue on State Route 18

    26.7 mi · 34 min · State Route 18

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma

    2980 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma

    3094 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma

    1297 ft · 32 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 9 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight right

    16.9 mi · 21 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually

    2790 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Mounts Road Southwest

    64 m · 7 sec · Mounts Road Southwest

  22. 22

    Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Nisqually Road Southwest

  23. 23

    Continue on Old Pacific Highway Southeast

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Old Pacific Highway Southeast

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Reservation Road Southeast

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Reservation Road Southeast

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

    61 m · 3 sec · Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

    1091 ft · 21 sec · Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

  27. 27

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Yelm Highway Southeast

    35 m · 2 sec · Yelm Highway Southeast

  28. 28

    Exit the roundabout onto Yelm Highway Southeast

    4.2 mi · 7 min · Yelm Highway Southeast

  29. 29

    Continue on Yelm Highway Southeast

    122 m · 10 sec · Yelm Highway Southeast

  30. 30

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward WA 510 Alternate

    35 m · 2 sec · WA 510 Alternate

  31. 31

    Exit the roundabout onto WA 510 Alternate

    1.4 km · 2 min · WA 510 Alternate

  32. 32

    Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast

    1 km · 2 min · Killion Road Southeast

  33. 33

    Turn left onto West Yelm Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Yelm Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn left onto North 1st Street

    50 m · 6 sec · North 1st Street

  35. 35

    Turn right

    17 m · 4 sec

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Spokane and Yelm.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
36 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
254 mi · 79%
State Route 18
26.7 mi · 8%
I 5 South
25 mi · 8%
Yelm Highway Southeast
4.27 mi · 1%
Reservation Road Southeast
2.74 mi · 1%
Nisqually Road Southwest
2.15 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Keep slight left

195 mi · 03h 32m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 13m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+74.1 mi
247.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kittitas
03h 06m from Spokane
Leave By
11:34 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Rain leaving Spokane and Light Rain Likely near Yelm.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Spokane to Yelm?

The road trip is about 321.7 miles (517.7 km) and usually takes 06h 13m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kittitas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.6 miles from Spokane and 161.2 miles from Yelm.

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

The direct path is about 247.6 miles (398.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 74.1 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 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $59.39 one way or $118.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain around Spokane and Light Rain Likely near Yelm.

Stop Ideas Near Kittitas

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

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

RAIL

Columbia Station

49 mi away
Kittitas & South Columbia Sts.
BUS

Quincy, Washington

52 mi away
102 B St NE
BUS

Leavenworth, Washington

71 mi away
Hwy 2 and 12th St.
RAIL

Leavenworth

71 mi away
11645 North Rd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Spokane and Yelm. Straight-line distance: 247.53 mi (398.36 km).

Spokane

#1 Spokane

The second most populous city in Washington.

Population222,050
Coordinates47.6596600, -117.4290800
Altitude571
CountryUnited States
Yelm

#2 Yelm

City in Thurston County, Washington, United States

Population9,591
Coordinates46.9420400, -122.6059600
Altitude105
CountryUnited States
Start: Spokane (-117.42908, 47.65966)
End: Yelm (-122.60596, 46.94204)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 518 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.35 gal
42.97 L · about $59.39
Round trip
$118.79
22.7 gal · 85.94 L
Estimated CO2
100.9 kg one way
Round trip: 201.7 kg / 445 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $59.39 $118.79
Mid-grade $5.57 $63.19 $126.37
Premium $5.77 $65.50 $131.00
Diesel $5.47 $62.05 $124.10

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 Spokane and Yelm. The current time is 21:13:44.

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.