Transportation
Strategically located in both the Pacific Northwest and Washington state, Yakima County is a natural distribution hub served by all major modes of transportation. The region’s central location is particularly beneficial for companies that rely on effective and efficient access to key markets or suppliers:
Highways
Interstate 82 runs through the heart of Yakima County. The modern freeway links with Interstate 90 at Ellensburg, just 35 miles north of Yakima. I-90 connects Seattle with New York City. This close proximity to I-90 gives Yakima County excellent accessibility to the Puget Sound ports of Seattle and Tacoma, the gateway to burgeoning trade with the Asia-Pacific and Pacific Rim countries. I-82 also links with Interstate 84 to the south and an extensive network of state highways in all directions. On related levels, all thirteen Yakima County communities are within 45 minutes driving time from Yakima by a system of well-maintained federal, state, and county highways, including U.S. Highway 12 and 97, and State Highways 410, 241, 22 and 24.
Railroads
Rail shipment to and from Yakima County is available via Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Columbia Basin Railroad. There are over 200 active spurs located throughout the county that serve numerous industrial sites.
Air Service
Yakima is served by Horizon Air with three flights daily to-and-from Seattle. In 2009 there were over 61,000 passenger boardings from Yakima , an average of 167 per day. Yakima County has additional access to air service through the Tri-Cities, only 74 miles southeast of Yakima, and Sea-Tac international airport is only approximately 2 ½ hours west by car.
Yakima Air Terminal
Two runways: 7,603 ft. and 4,293 ft. in length
Total area: 809 acres
Car rental companies located at the airport: Hertz, Avis, National and Budget.
Water Transportation
Containerized goods may be shipped through the nearby Port of Pasco. From there, shipments travel by barge on the Columbia River to the Port of Portland to be forwarded overseas. Yakima County also has excellent freeway access to the Puget Sound ports of Seattle and Tacoma, only 2 ½ hours or so away.
Motor Freight Carriers
Within Yakima County there are 25 trucking firms registered for motor freight trucking – 16 for heavy hauling and three for local cartage. Due to the heavy volume of fresh fruit and produce shipped from the Yakima Valley, numerous independent truckers also serve the area on a consistent basis.
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