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Trip from Sammamish, 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

1h 3m

Distance

46 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in King County, Washington, United States

Sammamish, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Sammamish to Tacoma, expect a straightforward 46-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. This highway-focused drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to complete in a quick morning or afternoon stint. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical route that connects two key points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Because the trip is relatively brief, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you to focus your time on your destination. The route utilizes a combination of I-5, I-405, and WA-520 to move you efficiently across the region. Overall, this is a practical, no-nonsense drive designed for speed and reliability rather than a leisurely pace.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 20.3 mi 25m
I 405 14.8 mi 18m
WA 520 4.4 mi 5m
East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast 1.9 mi 4m
I 705 0.3 mi <1m
Redmond Way 0.3 mi <1m
Tacoma Avenue South 0.3 mi <1m
South 15th Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 20.3 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sammamish, WA and Tacoma, WA.

1

Start on East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast

1.9 mi · 4 min · East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast
2

Turn slight left onto WA 202

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Redmond Way
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
4

Merge onto WA 520

1.6 mi · 2 min · WA 520
Use the slight right lane.
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward Northeast 40th Street Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 48 sec
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto WA 520

2.8 mi · 3 min · WA 520
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 405 South: Renton Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 405

15 mi · 18 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 5

20 mi · 25 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 133 Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
13

Keep slight right at fork

334 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 705

0.3 mi · 22 sec · I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center Use the slight left lane.
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue Use the slight left / straight lanes.
18

Continue on South 15th Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19

Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Tacoma Avenue South
20

Turn right onto South 11th Street

43 ft · 1 sec · South 11th Street
21

Arrive at destination

South 11th Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Renton, WA

23 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.

Popular next leg

Renton, WA to Tacoma, WA

26 mi · 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Bellevue, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Renton, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23 miles from Sammamish, 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 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 45.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
4.9 mi into trip | ~8m 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
44.2 mi into trip | ~58m 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
44.3 mi into trip | ~58m 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
45 mi into trip | ~1h 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
45.3 mi into trip | ~1h 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

$9.63 one way

$19.25 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $10.10 $20.19
premium $5.77 $10.45 $20.89
diesel $5.61 $10.16 $20.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.83 $2.21
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.44 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Sammamish, WA

Morning in Sammamish on Sunday

Local time

9:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Sunny

SW 3 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Destination

Tacoma, WA

Morning in Tacoma on Sunday

Local time

9:15 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

3 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

1h 3m 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 high-speed experience, as roughly 91% of this route takes place on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel navigating the flow of interstate traffic rather than winding local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-5, where you will cover 20.3 miles of highway. While the drive is functional and efficient, it is defined by its reliance on major arterial roads that prioritize reaching your destination quickly. You should be prepared for a consistent, high-intensity driving environment that requires your full attention on merging and maintaining pace with other vehicles.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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 4.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

429 ft 12 ft

Total Climb

1,143 ft

Total Descent

950 ft

Highest Point

429 ft

~34.5 mi in

Elevation Range

416 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 46 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). 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 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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