Origin
Tacoma, WA
Morning in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
7:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Indianola, 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 20m
Distance
55.7 mi
90 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indianola, WA
Ever Rayan
Trip Overview
This 55.7-mile drive from Tacoma, WA, to Indianola, WA, is a manageable 1 hour and 20 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes WA 16 and State Highway 3 Northwest before transitioning to Indianola Road Northeast. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this highway-focused journey offers a straightforward way to travel between these two Pacific Coast locations. You won't need to break this trip into multiple days; its brevity allows for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 28.3 mi | 36m |
| State Highway 3 Northwest | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| Indianola Road Northeast | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Bond Road Northeast | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Northeast Gunderson Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 305 Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Sprague Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 28.3 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Indianola, WA.
1
Start on South 11th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
2
Turn left onto South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sprague Avenue
3
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Sprague Ramp
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
6
Merge onto WA 16
28 mi
·
36 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on WA 3
16 mi
·
19 min
·
State Highway 3 Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 305 South: Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
218 ft
·
5 sec
10
Turn straight onto WA 305
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 305 Northeast
11
Turn left onto WA 307
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Bond Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Northeast Gunderson Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Northeast Gunderson Road
Use the right lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto Miller Bay Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Miller Bay Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Indianola Road Northeast
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Indianola Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Indianola Road Northeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 52.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork 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
46.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward WA 305 South: Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island
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.
Toward WA 305 South: Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island
6
49.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Northeast Gunderson Road
Turn right onto Northeast Gunderson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
Miller Bay Road Northeast
At end of road, turn left onto Miller Bay Road Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
52.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
Indianola Road Northeast
Turn right onto Indianola Road Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.66 one way
$23.32 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.23 | $24.45 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.30 | $24.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Indianola, WA
Morning in Indianola on Sunday
Local time
7:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Rocky Point, WA
28 mi in
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
14 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 20m 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 80% highway experience on this route. The majority of your time will be spent on faster-paced roads, including a significant 28.3-mile stretch on WA 16. As you progress, the drive shifts from the main highways to the more localized Indianola Road Northeast, offering a change in scenery and pace. This blend means you'll cover ground efficiently before reaching your destination's more tranquil approach.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.3 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and State Highway 3 Northwest. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.8 miles (Northeast Gunderson Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Tacoma, WA to Indianola, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bainbridge Island along the way.
Bainbridge Island
46.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 55.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.3 miles on WA 16. 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 Indianola, 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 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.8 miles (Northeast Gunderson Road): 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 Indianola, 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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