Origin
Tacoma, WA
Morning in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
7:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Longbranch, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
33.8 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longbranch, WA
Jan Simpson
Trip Overview
Tacoma to Longbranch is 33.8 miles and takes about 55 minutes via WA 16, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive from the city to a more coastal destination. Most of the journey involves highway driving, making it a quick and easy excursion. It's a good option if you're looking for a short, uncomplicated drive with minimal time commitment. Plan for a smooth ride that gets you to your destination without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Key Peninsula Highway Northwest | 9 mi | 15m |
| Key Peninsula Highway Southwest | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| WA 302 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| State Route 302 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Purdy Drive Northwest | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Goldman Drive Northwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 12.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Longbranch, 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
13 mi
·
15 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto WA 302
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Purdy Drive Northwest
9
Turn left onto WA 302
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 302
10
Turn right onto Goldman Drive Northwest
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Goldman Drive Northwest
11
At end of road, turn right onto WA 302
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
WA 302
12
Turn straight onto Key Peninsula Highway Northwest
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
Key Peninsula Highway Northwest
13
Continue on Key Peninsula Highway Southwest
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Key Peninsula Highway Southwest
14
Arrive at destination
Key Peninsula Highway Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 17.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WA 16
Merge onto WA 16
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center
4
17.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
WA 302
At end of road, turn right onto WA 302
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.07 one way
$14.15 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.42 | $14.84 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.68 | $15.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.46 | $14.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Longbranch, WA
Morning in Longbranch on Sunday
Local time
7:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°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
1 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
55m 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?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with about 50% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on WA 16 before transitioning to more local roads like Key Peninsula Highway Northwest and Key Peninsula Highway Southwest. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 12.5 miles on WA 16. Expect the character of the drive to shift from faster, more open highway conditions to a slower pace as you approach Longbranch. This variation ensures you experience different driving environments on this relatively short trip.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.5 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 33.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (WA 16): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Longbranch, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.
Bremerton
1.9 mi in
|
~5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.5 miles on WA 16. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (WA 16): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Longbranch, 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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