If you are looking to travel from Raymond to Tacoma, you are staring at a straightforward 93.5-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 8 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Budgeting approximately $20 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. Because both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region, you will stay within a consistent geographic area, making this a simple transit between two Washington hubs. It is an efficient, highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Raymond, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
26.7 mi
33m
US 101
23.3 mi
32m
WA 8
21.1 mi
26m
Olympic Highway
10.1 mi
12m
State Route 107
7.1 mi
12m
South 11th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 26.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raymond, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Duryea Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Duryea Street
2
Turn left onto US 101
18 mi·25 min·US 101
3
Turn right onto WA 107
7.1 mi·12 min·State Route 107
4
Continue on WA 107
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
6
Merge onto US 12
10 mi·12 min·Olympic Highway
7
Continue on WA 8
21 mi·26 min·WA 8
8
Merge onto US 101
5.4 mi·7 min·US 101
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
10
Merge onto I 5
27 mi·33 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 132Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, BremertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16
0.5 mi·43 sec·WA 16
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward Sprague AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec·Sprague Ramp
17
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Sprague Avenue
18
Turn right onto South 11th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·South 11th Street
19
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule, though aiming to avoid peak traffic hours on I-5 is always a smart move. Since the trip is under 2.5 hours, you likely won't require significant planned stops, but keeping your tank topped off before leaving Raymond will ensure you don't have to hunt for fuel along the way. With no mandatory stops required, you can easily complete the entire 93.5-mile distance in one go. My best piece of advice is to keep an eye on the transition points between WA 8 and I-5, as these highway changes are where you will encounter the most variation in traffic flow. Planning your departure to miss the heaviest Tacoma-bound congestion will make your arrival much smoother.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.7 miles from Raymond, WA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.7 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
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 Raymond, 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 Raymond, WA
This is one driving day of about 93.5 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Raymond, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 26.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 90 and 91.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
90 mi into trip|~2h 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
90.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
90.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
90.8 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
91.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m 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
$19.57 one way
$39.14 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$20.52
$41.04
premium
$5.77
$21.23
$42.47
diesel
$5.61
$20.64
$41.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.98
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 13, 2026
Origin
Raymond, WA
Late night
in Raymond on Sunday
Local time
3:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 6 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 1:40PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:36PM PDT until April 13 at 5:30AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Late night
in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
3:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Chance Light Rain
SW 6 to 10 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 1:40PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:36PM PDT until April 13 at 5:30AM 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
4 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 8m on the road
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.
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...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 93.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by its reliance on major thoroughfares, as 84% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on highways. You will navigate a combination of US 101, WA 8, and I-5 to reach your destination. The route features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.7 miles on I-5, which allows for consistent cruising speeds. While the drive is largely highway-focused, the transition between these specific roads dictates the flow of your journey. You should feel prepared for a practical, utilitarian experience that favors functional transit over technical or winding local roads.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and US 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 90 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 93.5 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 90 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.5 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 8m. Total distance: 93.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.7 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 90 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.5 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tacoma, WA before heading back.
