Origin
Ravensdale, WA
Afternoon in Ravensdale on Sunday
Local time
1:20 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ravensdale, 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
44m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ravensdale, WA
Derek Keats
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.5-mile drive from Ravensdale, WA, to Tacoma, WA, is easily manageable in about 44 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll spend about 62% of your time on highways, with the bulk of it on State Route 18 and I-5. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this short hop is quite budget-friendly. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you won't be crossing major geographical divides. This route is ideal for a quick connection between these two Washington locations, requiring no overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 18 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| I 5 | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Southeast 272nd Street | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Southeast Kent Kangley Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Southeast Ravensdale Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 705 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tacoma Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 15th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 18
— 10.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ravensdale, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Southeast Ravensdale Way
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Southeast Ravensdale Way
2
Turn left onto 272nd Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
272nd Avenue Southeast
3
Turn slight left onto Southeast Kent Kangley Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
4
Continue on WA 516
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Southeast 272nd Street
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Merge onto WA 18
10 mi
·
12 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
10
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
12
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
19
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
20
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 18 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
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.
Toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
8
18.5 mi into trip
|
~28m 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...
7
26.7 mi into trip
|
~39m 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...
8
27.5 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
27.8 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
$5.96 one way
$11.93 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.26 | $12.51 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.47 | $12.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Afternoon in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
1:20 PM
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
1 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
44m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 44-minute journey. You'll navigate segments on State Route 18 and I-5, totaling about 62% highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.2 miles on State Route 18. While much of the drive is on faster roads, you'll also utilize local streets like Southeast 272nd Street, offering a mix of driving styles. The road character is predominantly efficient and direct, designed for moving between locations with minimal fuss.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.2 mi on State Route 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 18 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 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 16 decision points packed into just 28.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Ravensdale, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma Dome and Tacoma Dome Station.
Tacoma Dome
26.6 mi in
|
~39m
Tacoma Dome Station
26.7 mi in
|
~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.2 miles on State Route 18. 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 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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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