Origin
Des Moines, WA
Late night in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, 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
28m
Distance
19 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Trip Overview
Des Moines, WA to Tacoma, WA is 19 miles and takes about 28 minutes via I 5 and local roads, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This brief drive stays within Washington state, connecting two points in the Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's ideal for a quick connection between these two nearby cities. You'll find the journey efficient, with most of your travel time spent on the interstate. Plan for this to be a very short segment of a larger trip or a simple commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 14.6 mi | 18m |
| South 223rd Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Kent Des Moines Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 24th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 705 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tacoma Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 15th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 11th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 14.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on this road
43 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South 223rd Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South 223rd Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto 24th Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
24th Avenue South
4
Turn left onto WA 509; WA 516
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Kent Des Moines Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 5
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
8
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
15
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
16
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 18.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Portland
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
7
17.1 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
17.2 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
17.9 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
18.2 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
$3.98 one way
$7.95 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $4.17 | $8.34 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.31 | $8.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.19 | $8.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.66 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
28m 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?
This route is heavily influenced by the interstate, with 79% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a mostly high-speed journey, particularly during the longest stretch of 14.6 miles on I 5. Expect a typical highway driving profile as you navigate between South 223rd Street and South Kent Des Moines Road before merging onto the interstate. While the core is highway, the beginning and end involve more local street navigation, offering a slight change of pace as you enter and exit the main thoroughfare.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and South 223rd Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 19 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Des Moines, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Dome Station and City Center.
Tacoma Dome
17 mi in
|
~24m
Tacoma Dome Station
17.1 mi in
|
~24m
City Center
17.9 mi in
|
~25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 19 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 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: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 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.
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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