Origin
Redmond, WA
Night in Redmond on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Redmond, 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
58m
Distance
43.2 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Redmond, WA
Harrison Reilly
Trip Overview
Connecting Redmond to Tacoma is a straightforward 43.2-mile journey that typically takes about 58 minutes. Because the trip is short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate a route primarily supported by I-5, I-405, and WA-520. Expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the trip, making this an economical excursion within the Pacific Coast region. This drive is ideal for those looking to traverse the area efficiently rather than focusing on a leisurely pace. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the logistics are simple and predictable.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 20.3 mi | 25m |
| I 405 | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| WA 520 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Leary 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 |
| Northeast 76th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 20.3 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redmond, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on WA 202
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
164th Avenue Northeast
2
Enter roundabout onto Northeast 76th Street
5 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northeast 76th Street
3
Continue on Northeast 76th Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Northeast 76th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn slight left onto Leary Way
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Leary Way
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward WA 520 West
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto WA 520
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
WA 520
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Northeast 40th Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto WA 520
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
WA 520
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 405 South: Renton
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 405
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
15
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
22
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Redmond, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 42.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
7
41.4 mi into trip
|
~53m 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...
7
41.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 705 North: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 705 North: City Center
8
42.1 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
42.4 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
$9.04 one way
$18.08 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.48 | $18.96 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.81 | $19.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Night in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Chance Light Rain
SW 12 mph
32% chance
Live forecast
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued April 13 at 6:15PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:08PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
58m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of your time will be spent navigating major thoroughfares. You will face a predominantly interstate-heavy drive, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.3 miles on I-5. The road maintains a consistent pace, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding scenic detours. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for the steady rhythm of high-speed travel characteristic of these major Washington corridors. It is an efficient, functional commute that avoids the technical challenges of local roads in favor of direct interstate routing.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 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 20 decision points packed into just 43.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Redmond, WA
Full guide →Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, on the Eastside of Lake Washington. It is a suburb of Seattle, 15 miles (24 km) away. Redmond is home to Microsoft Corporation, which has a large presence in the area. It is also home to Nintendo of America and numerous other companies. It is the self-proclaimed Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 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.
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 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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