Finley, WA to Tacoma, WA is 244.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m via US 97, US 12, and I 82, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Washington's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive that's mostly highway. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. The route's profile is mostly highway, suggesting a consistent pace for most of the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
122.4 miles from Finley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
85.7 mi
1h 35m
US 12
70.9 mi
1h 17m
I 82
31 mi
33m
State Route 18
26.7 mi
34m
WA 240
11.6 mi
13m
I 5
7.2 mi
9m
East State Route 397
4.2 mi
6m
East Columbia Drive
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 85.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,339 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,355
Quietest
2 AM
~108 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Finley, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Finley Road
0.2 mi·23 sec·Finley Road
2
Turn left onto WA 397
4.2 mi·6 min·East State Route 397
3
Continue on WA 397
1.0 mi·1 min·East Chemical Drive
4
Continue on WA 397
0.4 mi·1 min·South Gum Street
5
Turn left onto East Columbia Drive
1.6 mi·3 min·East Columbia Drive
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 240
0.1 mi·8 sec·WA 240
7
Continue on WA 240
6.4 mi·8 min·WA 240
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 240
5.1 mi·5 min·WA 240
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 182; US 12
0.1 mi·7 sec·I 182; US 12
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
11
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
86 mi·1 hr 35 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 25Toward WA 18 West: AuburnUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, TacomaUse the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi·25 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
16
Continue on WA 18
27 mi·34 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, TacomaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, TacomaUse the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
20
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 133Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
22
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft·8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi·22 sec·I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward A Street, City CenterUse the slight left lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific AvenueUse the slight left / straight lanes.
27
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·Tacoma Avenue South
29
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft·1 sec·South 11th Street
30
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip, leaving Finley, WA in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Tacoma, WA before sunset. With a total driving time of around 4 hours and 45 minutes, you won't need to split the drive. You'll have a longest stretch of 85.7 miles on US 97, so plan a brief stop before or after that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $51; finding a station in the rural stretches of US 97 is advisable. This route is predominantly highway, so look for services at major junctions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.4 miles from Finley, WA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.7 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.4 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
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 Finley, 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 Finley, WA
This is one driving day of about 244.8 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Finley, 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 US 97 for about 85.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 121.1 and 244 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
121.1 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
9
207 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...
8
234.8 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
8
243.7 mi into trip|~4h 42m 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
244 mi into trip|~4h 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
$47.69 one way
$95.38 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$49.96
$99.92
premium
$5.39
$51.96
$103.91
diesel
$4.80
$46.22
$92.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.4
0
$25.70
$11.75
Efficient EV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
EV Truck/SUV
97.9
1
$34.27
$15.67
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Finley, WA
Late night
in Finley on Sunday
Local time
3:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 7 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Late night
in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
3:26 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
40 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
4h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 219.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for 97% of this 244.8-mile trip. Expect a longest stretch of 85.7 miles on US 97 before transitioning to other major roads. The vast majority of your time will be spent on high-speed routes, with minimal time on surface roads. This means you'll encounter a steady flow of traffic and fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.7 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 121.1 miles in near US 97.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 244.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 121.1 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,538 ft250 ft
Total Climb
3,127 ft
Total Descent
3,231 ft
Highest Point
2,538 ft
~174.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,288 ft
Notable High Points
2,187 ft at ~104.9 miles+698 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Finley, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Yakima and Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn.
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.
Top landmarks
•Tacoma Narrows Bridge — suspension bridge that collapsed in 1940
•Browns Point Light — lighthouse in Washington, United States
•Fort Nisqually — an important fur trading and farming post of the Hudson's Bay Company
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 244.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 45m 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 85.7 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 121.1 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 207 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.8 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Tacoma, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
