Origin
Tacoma, WA
Late night in Tacoma on Tuesday
Local time
2:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Edmonds, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
50.6 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edmonds, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 50.6-mile drive from Tacoma to Edmonds, Washington, will take you about 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete. Primarily on I-5, this route is a convenient option for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical choice for exploring the Pacific Coast region within Washington. The journey is largely highway-focused, making it a quick and efficient way to travel between these two Puget Sound communities. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a direct and uninterrupted trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 43.2 mi | 54m |
| Edmonds Way | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 705 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 43.2 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Edmonds, WA.
1
Start on South 11th Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 11th Street
2
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
3
Turn left onto South 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 13th Street
4
Turn right onto I 705 SB Ramp
213 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 705 SB Ramp
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Port of Tacoma
6
Merge onto I 705
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 705
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
43 mi
·
54 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 177
Toward WA 104: Edmonds, Lake Forest Park
Use the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Toward WA 104 West: Edmonds
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward WA 104 West: Edmonds, Kingston Ferry
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto WA 104
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way
14
Continue on WA 104
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way
15
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 104
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Edmonds Way
16
Continue on 5th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue South
17
Turn right onto Main Street
40 ft
·
28 sec
·
Main Street
18
Continue on Main Street
25 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
19
Turn sharp right onto 5th Avenue North
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
5th Avenue North
20
Arrive at destination
5th Avenue North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Tacoma, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
7
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
45.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward WA 104: Edmonds, Lake Forest Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 177
Toward WA 104: Edmonds, Lake Forest Park
8
45.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 104 West: Edmonds
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward WA 104 West: Edmonds
9
45.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 104 West: Edmonds, Kingston Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward WA 104 West: Edmonds, Kingston Ferry
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.59 one way
$21.18 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $11.11 | $22.21 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.49 | $22.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.17 | $22.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 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 | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Edmonds, WA
Late night in Edmonds on Tuesday
Local time
2:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°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
17 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 10m 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 an 87% highway-focused experience on this route, with the majority of your travel occurring on I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 43.2 miles, offering a consistent pace. As you transition from I-5 to Edmonds Way and 5th Avenue South, the road character will shift from high-speed interstate to more urban arterial roads. This segment is characterized by its efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss. The drive is designed for speed and directness, rather than scenic detours.
87% 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: 43.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Edmonds Way. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 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 50.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Tacoma, WA and Edmonds, WA, road signs point toward Lake Forest Park and Kingston Ferry.
Lake Forest Park
45.3 mi in
|
~58m
Kingston Ferry
45.9 mi in
|
~59m
About the Cities
Starting in Tacoma, WA
Full guide →Tacoma, a major port on the Puget Sound, is the third-largest city in Washington State, with about 220,000 residents. It has a dynamic art scene and a great ballet.
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 50.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.2 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 Edmonds, 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Edmonds, 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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