Origin
Tacoma, WA
Morning in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
7:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Meadowdale, 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 13m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 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 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meadowdale, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Trip Overview
This straightforward 52.1-mile drive from Tacoma to Meadowdale, Washington, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes to complete. The route is predominantly highway, with 88% of the journey on major roads like I-5. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this drive is an economical option for a quick excursion within the Pacific Coast region. Since there are no designated stops, you can expect a continuous journey focused on efficient travel. The flexibility of this shorter drive means you can depart at your convenience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 45 mi | 56m |
| 76th Avenue West | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| 220th Street Southwest | 1 mi | 2m |
| I 705 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 75th Place West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 11th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 45 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Meadowdale, 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
45 mi
·
56 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 179
Toward 220th Street Southwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
220th Street Southwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto 76th Avenue West
3.5 mi
·
8 min
·
76th Avenue West
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on 75th Place West
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
75th Place West
14
Turn right onto 162nd Street Southwest
439 ft
·
20 sec
·
162nd Street Southwest
15
Arrive at destination
74th Place West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 26.1 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47.4 — 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
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
7
47 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward 220th Street Southwest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 179
Toward 220th Street Southwest
6
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
220th Street Southwest
Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.90 one way
$21.81 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.83 | $23.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 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 | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
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
Meadowdale, WA
Morning in Meadowdale on Sunday
Local time
7:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°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
5 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 13m 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 a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 52.1-mile trip, as 88% of the route utilizes major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-5, including a 45-mile stretch without needing to exit. While the profile suggests a primary focus on high-speed travel, the route does incorporate local roads like 76th Avenue West and 220nd Street Southwest, offering brief changes in scenery and pace before rejoining the interstate. This blend ensures a consistent travel speed for most of the journey.
88% 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: 45 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 76th Avenue West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Market Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.1 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 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Meadowdale, WA, road signs begin pointing toward 220Th Street Southwest along the way.
220Th Street Southwest
47 mi in
|
~1h
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45 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 Meadowdale, 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 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meadowdale, 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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