If you are planning to travel from Dollar Corner to Tacoma, expect a straightforward journey covering 128.8 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 2 hours and 32 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the ride. Since the entire route remains within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, you won't need to worry about significant climate or terrain shifts. It is a practical, efficient path that works well if you need to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.4 miles from Dollar Corner, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
119.5 mi
2h 14m
Northeast 219th Street
5.3 mi
8m
South 11th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
WA 16
0.5 mi
<1m
Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 119.5 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dollar Corner, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on WA 502
1.0 mi·1 min·Northeast 219th Street
2
Continue on WA 502
4.3 mi·7 min·Northeast 219th Street
3
Turn left
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Seattle
4
Merge onto I 5
119 mi·2 hr 14 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 132Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street West, Tacoma MallUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, BremertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16
0.5 mi·43 sec·WA 16
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward Sprague AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec·Sprague Ramp
11
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Sprague Avenue
12
Turn right onto South 11th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·South 11th Street
13
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
To keep your travel stress-free, plan for at least one stop during the 2 hour and 32 minute trek to stretch your legs. Because the route relies so heavily on I-5, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic congestion common on major interstate corridors. The flexibility of a one-day drive means you don't need to worry about complex lodging arrangements, so focus your preparation on having your fuel budget of $27 ready. Since the longest stretch spans 119.5 miles on the interstate, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained highway speeds before you leave Dollar Corner. Keep an eye on your dashboard navigation as you transition from the interstate onto South 11th Street to ensure a smooth arrival in Tacoma.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.4 miles from Dollar Corner, WA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.5 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
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 Dollar Corner, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dollar Corner, WA
This is one driving day of about 128.8 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Dollar Corner, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 119.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 125.3 and 126.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
125.3 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
125.6 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
125.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
6
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|WA 16
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16 toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
126.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
$26.96 one way
$53.91 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$28.27
$56.54
premium
$5.77
$29.25
$58.50
diesel
$5.61
$28.44
$56.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.27
$5.15
EV Truck/SUV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Dollar Corner, WA
Evening
in Dollar Corner on Saturday
Local time
7:50 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Evening
in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
7:50 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
2h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of your travel occurring on major routes like I-5. You will spend the vast majority of your time on a long, 119.5-mile stretch of interstate, which offers a consistent and predictable driving experience. While you start your journey on local roads like Northeast 219th Street and conclude via South 11th Street, the bulk of the drive is a high-speed transit. Expect a functional, interstate-heavy grind that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. It is the kind of drive where you can settle into a steady pace and focus on the miles ahead.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northeast 219th Street. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 125.3 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 125.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 128.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.5 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 125.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tacoma, WA before heading back.
