Here’s the thing about driving anywhere from Washington: you’re starting in the far northwest corner, so even the “cheap” trips aren’t that cheap. The closest drive, Oregon, runs about $86 one way. The most expensive, Maine, hits $642 — a 45-hour haul whose fastest route actually ducks through Canada. Everything else lands in between, decided by how far you’re going and what gas costs in each state along the way.
We built an interactive map that lays it all out for every state at once.
Most gas calculators give you one number off a single national average. This one is different: it charges each state’s real gas price for the miles you actually drive inside that state. Washington’s $5.50+ gas only counts for the Washington miles; cheap Texas gas only counts for the Texas miles. You also get an MPG box right on the map — punch in your car’s real number and every figure recalculates on the spot.
Washington to anywhere
Total: ~2,345 miles · ~42 hours · Passport required · Route through British Columbia & Yukon · Estimated gas cost ~$650 one way
How We Calculate Gas Cost From Washington To Every State
The ground rules behind every number on this map:
- Vehicle: 20 MPG — a fair average for most cars and SUVs (change it with the MPG box on the map)
- Routes: Real driving routes out of Wenatchee, not straight-line distance
- Destination: The geographic center city of each state
- Gas prices: Each state’s own AAA average — never a national blend
- Data source: AAA Gas Prices, June 2026
- Direction: One way from Wenatchee, Washington
One note specific to Washington: because Wenatchee sits up in the corner, a lot of eastern states have two sensible routes — the northern line through Montana, or the southern line through Oregon and Utah. We followed whichever one Google Maps actually picks for each destination.
Cheapest And Most Expensive Drives From Washington
- Oregon is the cheapest drive at $86 — but notice that’s already pricier than the cheapest trip from most states. Out of Wenatchee’s corner, even “next door” is a few hundred miles, and Northwest gas is among the steepest in the country.
- Maine is the most expensive at $642 — a 2,940-mile, 45-hour marathon whose quickest path crosses into Ontario and Quebec. You’ll want a passport, and the Canadian gas is part of why it tops the list.
- California is the steal of the trip: $248 for 907 miles, closer and cheaper than almost any state back east.
- Florida is the best value for the sheer distance: $606 covers 2,964 miles — the longest drive on the board — riding cheap southern gas most of the way.
- The corner tax is real. Nearly every eastern state lands at 40+ hours, because you have to cross the entire width of the country before the trip even feels like it’s started.
How Long Does It Take To Drive From Washington To Every State?
Cost is only half of it — the other half is how many hours you’ll live in that driver’s seat. We mapped the time too, and from up here it’s a wide spread: a quick 5h35m down to Oregon, all the way out to a 45-hour slog to Maine.
Washington to anywhere
Total: ~2,345 miles · ~42 hours · Passport required · Route through British Columbia & Yukon · Estimated gas cost ~$650 one way
Gas Cost And Drive Time From Washington To Every State
Sorted by cost, lowest to highest. All figures one way from Wenatchee, Washington, at 20 MPG.
| State | Gas Cost | Drive Time | Miles | Gas Price There |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $86 | 5h 35m | 325 mi | $5.01 |
| Idaho | $143 | 9h 50m | 580 mi | $4.43 |
| Montana | $148 | 10h | 638 mi | $4.25 |
| Nevada | $193 | 11h 40m | 762 mi | $4.93 |
| Utah | $211 | 13h 15m | 892 mi | $4.31 |
| Wyoming | $222 | 14h 40m | 986 mi | $4.23 |
| California | $248 | 14h 50m | 907 mi | $5.76 |
| North Dakota | $256 | 16h 45m | 1,164 mi | $3.86 |
| South Dakota | $259 | 17h 55m | 1,170 mi | $3.98 |
| Colorado | $288 | 19h 5m | 1,256 mi | $4.13 |
| Nebraska | $296 | 20h 35m | 1,358 mi | $3.91 |
| Minnesota | $313 | 21h | 1,457 mi | $3.88 |
| Arizona | $314 | 19h 40m | 1,293 mi | $4.44 |
| New Mexico | $317 | 21h 25m | 1,403 mi | $3.94 |
| Iowa | $349 | 23h 40m | 1,632 mi | $3.73 |
| Kansas | $364 | 23h 40m | 1,683 mi | $3.74 |
| Wisconsin | $366 | 25h | 1,731 mi | $3.89 |
| Missouri | $385 | 27h | 1,816 mi | $3.76 |
| Illinois | $402 | 28h | 1,907 mi | $4.40 |
| Oklahoma | $409 | 27h | 1,932 mi | $3.58 |
| Texas | $417 | 29h | 1,932 mi | $3.54 |
| Arkansas | $441 | 31h | 2,117 mi | $3.70 |
| Indiana | $443 | 31h | 2,116 mi | $3.36 |
| Michigan | $454 | 32h | 2,150 mi | $4.20 |
| Ohio | $470 | 33h | 2,249 mi | $4.09 |
| Kentucky | $474 | 33h | 2,283 mi | $3.65 |
| Mississippi | $481 | 35h | 2,330 mi | $3.68 |
| Tennessee | $481 | 34h | 2,311 mi | $3.64 |
| Louisiana | $493 | 35h | 2,389 mi | $3.67 |
| Alabama | $506 | 37h | 2,464 mi | $3.70 |
| West Virginia | $517 | 37h | 2,489 mi | $4.04 |
| Georgia | $538 | 38h | 2,609 mi | $3.77 |
| Virginia | $540 | 39h | 2,605 mi | $3.83 |
| Pennsylvania | $542 | 38h | 2,590 mi | $4.23 |
| Maryland | $544 | 38h | 2,607 mi | $3.85 |
| North Carolina | $554 | 40h | 2,682 mi | $3.71 |
| South Carolina | $558 | 40h | 2,719 mi | $3.70 |
| Delaware | $564 | 40h | 2,714 mi | $3.82 |
| New York | $566 | 40h | 2,696 mi | $4.38 |
| New Jersey | $576 | 41h | 2,752 mi | $4.13 |
| Connecticut | $590 | 42h | 2,818 mi | $4.24 |
| Rhode Island | $603 | 43h | 2,884 mi | $4.08 |
| Florida | $606 | 43h | 2,964 mi | $3.86 |
| Massachusetts | $606 | 43h | 2,881 mi | $4.20 |
| Vermont | $607 | 43h | 2,882 mi | $4.32 |
| New Hampshire | $616 | 44h | 2,932 mi | $4.17 |
| Maine † | $642 | 45h | 2,940 mi | $4.17 |
| Alaska ⚠️ | ~$650 | ~42h | ~2,345 mi | varies* |
† Maine’s fastest route from Wenatchee cuts through Ontario and Quebec, so it needs a passport and the cost includes estimated Canadian gas. *Alaska gas price varies by province; estimate uses a blended rate. All figures one way from Wenatchee, WA, at 20 MPG. AAA averages (US) and CAA/national averages (Canada), June 2026.
Times are no traffic, direct route, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. Real world drive time will vary — budget extra for stops, construction, and the inevitable “we need snacks” moment 40 miles before the exit. 😄
Can You Drive From Washington To Alaska?
Yes — and here’s a small perk of starting in the corner: Washington has the shortest drive to Alaska of any state in the lower 48. It’s still a serious expedition, just a less brutal one than from out east.
- Total miles: approximately 2,345 one way
- Drive time: roughly 42 hours
- Passport required: you cross through British Columbia and Yukon
- Route: Washington → British Columbia → Yukon → Alaska
- Estimated gas cost: approximately $650 one way
From Washington you head straight north into Canada, so the route only touches two provinces instead of the four the eastern maps slog through. British Columbia is the priciest leg, but the whole Canadian stretch is shorter here — which is why this Alaska run comes in well under $700.
Worth knowing: some states issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses that allow land border crossings into Canada without a full passport. Check with your state’s DMV before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because gas actually costs different amounts in different states. California and Washington run over $5.50 a gallon. Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee often sit under $3.65. If we used Washington’s price for the entire trip, you’d get a completely wrong number for anything far from home. We use the actual price in each state for the miles you drive there.
Using the geographic center of each state gives everyone a fair, consistent target. If we picked major cities, some states would look artificially cheap or expensive just because their biggest city happens to sit near a border. The center point puts every state on equal footing.
No — all numbers are one way. Double it for a rough round trip estimate, though your return cost may vary a little depending on gas prices when you travel.
Use the MPG box above the map — type your number and every cost updates instantly.
Gas prices are based on AAA state averages from June 2026. Gas prices change constantly — for the most current numbers before your trip, check aaa.com/gas.
Ready To Start Planning?
Now that you know what gas will cost, the fun part is deciding where to point the car. Check out our Washington road trip guides for ideas on where to stop and what to see — whether you’re staying close with the North Cascades and the coast, or using that corner location as a launchpad for something much bigger.
Hi, I’m Alice. I’ve been running Road Trip Owl for five years and taking 6+ multi-day road trips a year (plus more weekend escapes than I can count). These maps come from the real road — real routes, real prices, no national averages.
