Spanning 80.6 miles from Arlington to Tacoma, this trip is a straightforward journey through the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 44 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $17, you can easily complete the entire trek without needing an overnight stay. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, it is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick visit, this drive is entirely manageable in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Arlington, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
74.3 mi
1h 32m
WA 530
3.9 mi
6m
I 705
0.3 mi
<1m
Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
<1m
South 15th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Division Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West Division Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 11th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 74.3 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on this road
68 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Continue on East Division Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·East Division Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
78 ft·2 sec·West Division Street
4
Continue on West Division Street
345 ft·11 sec·West Division Street
5
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi·1 min·WA 530
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
42 ft·0 sec·WA 530
7
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi·26 sec·WA 530
8
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
58 ft·1 sec·WA 530
9
Continue on WA 530
2.5 mi·3 min·WA 530
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
11
Merge onto I 5
74 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 133Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
13
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft·8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi·22 sec·I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward A Street, City CenterUse the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific AvenueUse the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·Tacoma Avenue South
20
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft·1 sec·South 11th Street
21
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
Because this route is essentially one long stretch of interstate, your main concern should be timing your departure to avoid peak traffic congestion common along the I-5 corridor. Since the drive is relatively short and requires zero planned stops, you have maximum flexibility to plan your day around your destination's schedule. Keep in mind that the lack of scheduled stops means you should be fueled up and ready to go before hitting the highway. Budgeting $17 for gas is a reliable baseline, but keep an eye on your tank before leaving Arlington to ensure you don't need to exit the flow of traffic for fuel. Embracing the direct nature of this 80.6-mile run allows you to arrive in Tacoma with minimal downtime.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.3 miles from Arlington, WA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tacoma, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, WA
This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Arlington, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 74.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 78.6 and 79.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Ta...
7
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome St...
7
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 705 North: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 705 North: City Center
8
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward A Street, City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward A Street, City Center
9
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.87 one way
$33.74 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$17.69
$35.38
premium
$5.77
$18.30
$36.61
diesel
$5.61
$17.80
$35.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.05
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Arlington, WA
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
1:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 1 to 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:49AM PDT until April 17 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:33AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Late night
in Tacoma on Tuesday
Local time
1:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:49AM PDT until April 17 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:33AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your time spent on high-speed routes. You will spend the vast majority of your journey—74.3 miles—on I-5, which serves as the primary artery connecting these two cities. While you start on WA 530, you will quickly transition to the interstate for a consistent, high-speed pace. Upon reaching the end of your trip, you will navigate via I-705 to complete the final leg into Tacoma. Prepare for a predictable, efficient experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding secondary roads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 530. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 78.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.6 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Tacoma, a major port on the Puget Sound, is the third-largest city in Washington State, with about 220,000 residents. It has a dynamic art scene and a great ballet.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 80.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.3 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tacoma, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tacoma, WA before heading back.
