One-tank trips from Spokane
13 destinations you can reach and return on one 400-mile tank — closest is Moscow at 163.7 mi round trip
13 destinations sit inside one 400-mile tank of Spokane, from Moscow at 163.7 mi round trip to Missoula at 373.6 mi. Every figure below is a v1 seed estimate.
The list below mixes day trips you can run on a whim with overnights that still spend less than $52.30 of fuel. Sort it however you like — the table shows every round-trip mileage, gallon count and dollar figure so you can rebuild the ranking for your own tank.
All 13 one-tank destinations
Round-trip miles are twice the estimated one-way road distance. A destination makes the list between 60 and 200 one-way miles — inside a 400-mile tank with reserve to spare.
| Town | State | Round trip | One-way time | Gallons | Est. fuel | Trip type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima | Washington | 356.7 mi | 3 h 26 | 14.3 gal | $49.94 | Day trip |
| Kennewick | Washington | 282.8 mi | 2 h 43 | 11.3 gal | $39.59 | Day trip |
| Pasco | Washington | 277.0 mi | 2 h 40 | 11.1 gal | $38.78 | Day trip |
| Missoula | Montana | 373.6 mi | 3 h 36 | 14.9 gal | $52.30 | Day trip |
| Wenatchee | Washington | 298.1 mi | 2 h 52 | 11.9 gal | $41.73 | Day trip |
| Walla Walla | Washington | 260.2 mi | 2 h 30 | 10.4 gal | $36.43 | Day trip |
| Lewiston | Idaho | 193.5 mi | 1 h 52 | 7.7 gal | $27.09 | Day trip |
| Kalispell | Montana | 327.4 mi | 3 h 09 | 13.1 gal | $45.84 | Day trip |
| Moses Lake | Washington | 206.8 mi | 1 h 59 | 8.3 gal | $28.95 | Day trip |
| Moscow | Idaho | 163.7 mi | 1 h 34 | 6.5 gal | $22.92 | Day trip |
| Ellensburg | Washington | 337.0 mi | 3 h 14 | 13.5 gal | $47.18 | Day trip |
| Pendleton | Oregon | 333.8 mi | 3 h 13 | 13.4 gal | $46.73 | Day trip |
| La Grande | Oregon | 361.5 mi | 3 h 29 | 14.5 gal | $50.61 | Day trip |
The spread runs from Moscow at 163.7 mi round trip to Missoula at 373.6 mi — about 6.5 to 14.9 gallons of fuel. "Day trip" marks anything inside 4 hours one way; the rest still fit the tank, they just deserve the night.
The picks
How these were ranked: the day list weighs town size, county-seat walkability and drive time; the overnight list weighs estimated hotel depth. Every number repeats the table above, so nothing new to trust — just a shorter list to read.
Five day trips (leave by 9, home for dinner)
Missoula, Montana
A 3 h 36 estimated drive puts you in Missoula (73,489 people) with evening to spare — the ring's largest destination. Leave by 9:00 am, spend about 2½ hours, and you are back in Spokane around 6:42 pm — the fuel column says 14.9 gallons of the tank each way you turn it.
Pasco, Washington
Pasco (77,108 people, the Franklin County seat) is 2 h 40 away and punches above its weight for a town its size. Leave by 9:00 am, spend about 2½ hours, and you are back in Spokane around 4:50 pm — the fuel column says 11.1 gallons of the tank each way you turn it.
Lewiston, Idaho
The Nez Perce County seat, 1 h 52 out — a walkable courthouse square and an estimated 6 hotels make it a classic small-town overnight. Leave by 9:00 am, spend about 2½ hours, and you are back in Spokane around 3:14 pm — the fuel column says 7.7 gallons of the tank each way you turn it.
Yakima, Washington
County-seat polish 3 h 26 from Spokane: Yakima pairs a historic square with about 10 estimated hotels. Leave by 9:00 am, spend about 2½ hours, and you are back in Spokane around 6:22 pm — the fuel column says 14.3 gallons of the tank each way you turn it.
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow (26,126 people, the Latah County seat) is 1 h 34 away and punches above its weight for a town its size. Leave by 9:00 am, spend about 2½ hours, and you are back in Spokane around 2:38 pm — the fuel column says 6.5 gallons of the tank each way you turn it.
Three that earn an overnight
Missoula, Montana
An estimated 10 hotels and 73,489 neighbors make Missoula a low-stress overnight. Drive out Saturday morning, sleep, come back slow — the round trip still spends only 14.9 gallons.
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Rates →Pasco, Washington
The Franklin County seat makes an easy overnight, with an estimated 10 hotels. Drive out Saturday morning, sleep, come back slow — the round trip still spends only 11.1 gallons.
Lewiston, Idaho
The Nez Perce County seat makes an easy overnight, with an estimated 6 hotels. Drive out Saturday morning, sleep, come back slow — the round trip still spends only 7.7 gallons.
The fuel math, in five sentences
Assume a 400-mile tank, reserve about 15 percent of it, and the usable round trip is roughly 340 miles — our 200-mile one-way cap stays inside that. At 25 mpg, the longest trip in this table (373.6 mi round trip) uses 14.9 gallons, or $52.30 at $3.50 per gallon. Distances are straight-line times a road factor, so your odometer will read a little different. Tank sizes vary from roughly 300 to 500 miles across the fleet. Check current pump prices when you plan — $3.50 is a national-average assumption, not a quote.
Common questions
How far can you get from Spokane on one tank?
Is Yakima a day trip from Spokane?
What if your tank is smaller than 400 miles?
Where should you stay overnight on these trips?
Keep planning
Data & method
Method: v1 seed model. Round-trip miles are twice the estimated road distance (straight-line times a road factor). Fuel figures assume a 400-mile tank, a 25 mpg car, and $3.50 per gallon. Lodging counts are population-derived estimates. We earn a commission from Kayak links.