Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 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
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tacoma, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Meadowdale, WA
JOHN CALLERY
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.
| 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 |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 119 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~6,546 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~652 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Meadowdale, WA.
Start on South 11th Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Turn right onto I 705 SB Ramp
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 705
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest
Turn right onto 76th Avenue West
Continue on 75th Place West
Turn right onto 162nd Street Southwest
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
5 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.
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 220th Street Southwest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.91 | $12.11 | $24.22 |
| premium | $6.08 | $12.47 | $24.94 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Tacoma on Wednesday
Local time
1:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Afternoon in Meadowdale on Wednesday
Local time
1:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
821 ft
Total Descent
976 ft
Highest Point
439 ft
~18.6 mi in
Elevation Range
418 ft
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
Founded 1875
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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