Origin
Chehalis, WA
Evening in Chehalis on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chehalis, WA to Tacoma, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
57.4 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chehalis, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 58.1 miles, the drive from Chehalis to Tacoma is a straightforward one-hour trip that fits easily into a single day. You will navigate out of Chehalis via North Market Boulevard and West Main Street before transitioning onto I-5 North for the bulk of your journey. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should cover your needs for this transit. Because the travel time is so efficient, you do not need to worry about an overnight split, making this an ideal route for a quick commute or a day trip. Both your starting point and destination are nestled within the Pacific Coast region, ensuring a consistent coastal climate throughout your drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 52.9 mi | 1h 2m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Sprague Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| WA 16 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Sprague Ramp | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Market Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 52.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chehalis, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on this road
119 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Market Boulevard
79 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Market Boulevard
3
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 5 North
5
Merge onto I 5; US 12
53 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 5; US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 132
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street West, Tacoma Mall
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
WA 16
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward Sprague Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Sprague Ramp
12
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sprague Avenue
13
Turn right onto South 11th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
14
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Chehalis, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Market Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto North Market Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South...
9
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street West, Tacoma Mall
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South...
8
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Sprague Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward Sprague Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.01 one way
$24.03 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.60 | $25.20 |
| premium | $5.77 | $13.03 | $26.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.67 | $25.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Evening in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate the initial streets of Chehalis before hitting the interstate. While this route lacks the long, monotonous stretches found on cross-country treks, it offers a functional and efficient path toward Tacoma. You will spend your time transitioning from local infrastructure onto the main highway system, which serves as the backbone of the trip. The road personality shifts from the slower, maneuver-intensive local roads to the high-speed flow of I-5. Because the highway share is 0% in terms of non-interstate navigation, your focus will remain on managing the local transitions early on.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and South 11th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Market Boulevard.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North Market Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 54 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chehalis, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Bremerton, 38Th Street West and Tacoma Mall.
Bremerton
54 mi in
|
~1h 5m
38Th Street West
54.2 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Tacoma Mall
54.2 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 57.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.9 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (North Market Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 54 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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