Origin
Tacoma, WA
Evening in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Lake Shore, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
131.7 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Shore, WA
William Jacobs
Trip Overview
This 131.7-mile drive from Tacoma, WA to Lake Shore, WA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 97% of the journey on major roads like I-5, Northwest 99th Street, and I-705. You can expect a fuel cost of around $28 for this journey, which spans across the Pacific Coast region within Washington state. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, it’s a straightforward option for a quick transit or a scenic day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.9 miles from Tacoma, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 127.4 mi | 2h 24m |
| Northwest 99th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 705 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 99th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 11th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Northwest 20th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 127.4 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Lake Shore, 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 left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
125 mi
·
2 hr 21 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 5
Toward Northeast 99th Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto Northeast 99th Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast 99th Street
12
Continue on Northwest 99th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest 99th Street
13
Turn left onto Northwest 18th Avenue
172 ft
·
9 sec
·
Northwest 18th Avenue
14
Turn right onto Northwest 98th Street
399 ft
·
17 sec
·
Northwest 98th Street
15
Continue on Northwest 20th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Northwest 20th Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Northwest 96th Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under 2.5 hours, this route offers great flexibility for when you depart. Consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic on I-5, especially as you pass through populated areas. You'll only have one designated stop point, so plan your breaks accordingly. The estimated fuel cost is $28, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you start. A practical tip for this drive is to keep an eye on your GPS for any unexpected lane changes on I-5 as you approach your destination, as the route involves transitioning between different highway designations.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.9 miles from Tacoma, WA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.4 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.9 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Shore, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tacoma, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tacoma, WA
This is one driving day of about 131.7 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Tacoma, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 127.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.9 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.4 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 129.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 13th Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
6
127.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
|
I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
129.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward Northeast 99th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward Northeast 99th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.56 one way
$55.13 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $28.91 | $57.81 |
| premium | $5.77 | $29.91 | $59.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.08 | $58.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.52 | $5.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.44 | $8.43 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Lake Shore, WA
Evening in Lake Shore on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
10 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
2h 34m 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?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with a significant 97% share of the drive taking place on major roadways. The majority of your time will be spent on I-5, including a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 127.4 miles. While largely an interstate journey, you'll also navigate segments of Northwest 99th Street and I-705, offering a consistent pace for most of the drive. The road's character remains largely consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
97% 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: 127.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest 99th Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Market Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 131.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 131.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.4 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 Lake Shore, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 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 Lake Shore, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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