Which way do you take to go to Seattle or the West side- Yakima or Vantage? (Richland: live)

[xboxmas]

Do you go on I-82 through Yakima, or do you take Highway 240 up to Vantage? Mileage wise the GPS says Vantage is shorter. In your experience, which way have you found to be faster? Which do you prefer?

I like to stay on the freeway usually, but sometimes I take the more "scenic route" through Vantage/Hanford.

[pnwguy2]

I think I'm an expert on this one. Having lived in The Tri in the 90's, and again in the last year and a half I have timed and retimed these routes.

Times can be variable, but from downtown Richland to downtown Seattle for me averaged about 3:20 via Vantage, and about 3:40 via Yakima. This is going perhaps just above the speed limit on both routes, but nothing extreme.

That being said, the route on 240/243 is two lane, with no passing lanes, and can be more frustrating especially from the north Hanford Columbia bridge through Desert Aire and Mattawa.

Since I have family in Seattle, I travel there frequently. What I like to do is vary it up...go one route one direction then reverse it. But that is just me. However, if you are looking for time, the Vantage route is faster, especially into and out of Richland. And with little traffic, it can be more relaxing. I will say traffic has increased on this corridor.

[j_k_k]

I stayed on the freeway every time.

[M3 Mitch]

We usually use the route through Yakima, although generally we take Canyon Road from Yakima to Ellensburg. Just because it's more scenic, it's slower but shorter, takes about the same time. Dodges those 2 big canyons that I-82 goes through.

That said, we are starting out from Prosser, so the Vantage route would be longer for us anyway.

[mustang34]

I'm so used to the freeway, I always take I-82 and don't even consider 240! I always assumed it was faster thru Yakima and never bothered to test it myself. Plus it was nice to have the option to hit up Miner's on the way thru Yakima if I wanted!

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by xboxmas

Do you go on I-82 through Yakima, or do you take Highway 240 up to Vantage? Mileage wise the GPS says Vantage is shorter. In your experience, which way have you found to be faster? Which do you prefer?

I like to stay on the freeway usually, but sometimes I take the more "scenic route" through Vantage/Hanford.

I normally take 240 but sometimes go I-82 depending on where I am when I start. I also have a car that's good for passing so that helps on 240.