Origin
Gig Harbor, WA
Late night in Gig Harbor on Sunday
Local time
3:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gig Harbor, 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
19m
Distance
12.5 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gig Harbor, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Crossing from Gig Harbor to Tacoma is a quick 12.5-mile journey that typically takes about 19 minutes behind the wheel. This Pacific Coast transit is best suited for a single-day trip, as it serves as a straightforward connection between these two Washington locations. Budgeting roughly $3 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire distance. Since the route relies heavily on WA 16, South 11th Street, and Pioneer Way, you can expect a very efficient transit. It is a highly practical drive if you are looking to move between these points without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 9.1 mi | 11m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Pioneer Way | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Sprague Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Sprague Ramp | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harborview Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 9.1 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gig Harbor, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Harborview Drive
188 ft
·
9 sec
·
Harborview Drive
2
Turn left onto Pioneer Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pioneer Way
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto WA 16
9.1 mi
·
11 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Sprague Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
7
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Sprague Ramp
8
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sprague Avenue
9
Turn right onto South 11th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
10
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Pioneer Way
Turn left onto Pioneer Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
WA 16
Merge onto WA 16
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.2 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
3
10.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.62 one way
$5.23 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $2.74 | $5.49 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.84 | $5.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.76 | $5.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.31 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
3:14 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
19m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a rhythmic flow for the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 9.1 miles along WA 16. The transition from the highway to local roads like Pioneer Way and South 11th Street marks a shift in the driving experience as you reach your destination. Expect a consistent pace throughout the 12.5-mile trek, as the route balances high-speed highway travel with the necessary navigation into the city. It is a functional path designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.1 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and South 11th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Pioneer Way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Pioneer Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (WA 16): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 12.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.1 miles on WA 16. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Pioneer Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (WA 16): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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