Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eatonville, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Eatonville, WA to Tacoma, WA is 33.5 miles and takes about 57m via Mountain Highway East, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two points within the Pacific Coast region, keeping you within Washington State for the entire journey. Expect a local feel for most of the trip, making it a straightforward point-to-point excursion. It's a short enough route that it doesn't require extensive planning, but knowing the road conditions beforehand can still be helpful.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Highway East | 11.3 mi | 16m |
| Eatonville Cutoff Road East | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Spanaway Loop Road South | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| I 5 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Meridian Avenue East | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Pacific Avenue South | 1 mi | 1m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Cross Base Highway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Eatonville, WA and Tacoma, WA.
Start on Mashell Avenue North
Turn right onto Lynch Creek Road East
Turn left onto WA 161
Continue on WA 161
Turn left onto Eatonville Cutoff Road East
Turn right onto WA 7
Continue on WA 7
Turn left onto WA 704
Continue on WA 704
Turn straight onto Spanaway Loop Road South
Continue on 116th Street South
Continue on Steele Street South
Take the ramp
Merge onto WA 512
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16
Take the exit
Continue on Sprague Ramp
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
Turn right onto South 11th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.8 miles from Eatonville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.1 and 31.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
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
Take the exit toward Sprague Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.01 one way
$14.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.35 | $14.71 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.61 | $15.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.40 | $14.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Eatonville on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. Only about 12% of the drive involves highway travel, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 11.3 miles on Mountain Highway East. As you progress, the roads will likely shift from more rural to more suburban as you approach Tacoma. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with varying speed limits and road conditions.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.1 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 33.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Eatonville, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Seattle, Bremerton, 38Th Street West and Tacoma Mall.
Seattle
Bremerton
38Th Street West
Tacoma Mall
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 33.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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