This 86.5-mile drive from Stanwood, WA, to Tacoma, WA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 96% of it utilizing major roads like I-5 and State Route 532. You can expect a fuel cost of around $18 for this journey. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward nature, it's a convenient option for a quick transit between the Pacific Coast regions of Washington. No overnight stays are recommended, and with no designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous breaks.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Stanwood, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
78.2 mi
1h 36m
State Route 532
4.2 mi
6m
268th Street Northwest
1.8 mi
3m
I 705
0.3 mi
<1m
Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
<1m
South 15th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
102nd Avenue Northwest
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 11th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 78.2 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stanwood, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on 102nd Avenue Northwest
53 ft·8 sec·102nd Avenue Northwest
2
Turn left onto WA 532
490 ft·8 sec·State Route 532
3
Continue on WA 532
1.8 mi·3 min·268th Street Northwest
4
Continue on WA 532
4.1 mi·6 min·State Route 532
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
6
Merge onto I 5
78 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 133Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
8
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft·8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi·22 sec·I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward A Street, City CenterUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific AvenueUse the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·Tacoma Avenue South
15
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft·1 sec·South 11th Street
16
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 51-minute drive, consider departing earlier in the day to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Tacoma. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, planning a fuel stop before you leave Stanwood or early on I-5 should be sufficient. Since this is a single-day trip covering 86.5 miles with a long stretch on I-5, you won't need to break it up. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition off I-5 onto local roads like 268th Street Northwest closer to your destination.
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 43.2 miles from Stanwood, WA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 55m 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 33m
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 Stanwood, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stanwood, WA
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Stanwood, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 78.2 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 84.5 and 85.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Ta...
7
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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
85.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
$18.10 one way
$36.21 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$18.99
$37.97
premium
$5.77
$19.64
$39.29
diesel
$5.61
$19.10
$38.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Jun 22, 2022
Origin
Stanwood, WA
Late night
in Stanwood on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Late night
in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
1h 51m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 86.5-mile journey. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates and state routes, with 96% of the drive being on these types of roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 78.2 miles, primarily on I-5. This suggests a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip, with less opportunity for varied scenery and more emphasis on efficient travel. Transitions between roads like State Route 532 and 268th Street Northwest will likely be brief.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 532. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 84.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 84.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.2 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 84.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.7 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.
