Origin
Tacoma, WA
Late night in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Southworth, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southworth, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Trip Overview
This 30.5-mile drive from Tacoma to Southworth, Washington, takes approximately 46 minutes and is a straightforward, highway-focused trip. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an easy option for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes WA 16, Southeast Mullenix Road, and Banner Road Southeast, offering a quick connection between two points within the Pacific Coast region. Its short duration and low cost make it an accessible journey for anyone looking for a brief, efficient trip without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| Southeast Mullenix Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Banner Road Southeast | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Olalla Valley Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Southworth Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Sprague Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 19.4 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Southworth, 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
19 mi
·
24 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward Mullenix Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto Southeast Mullenix Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast Mullenix Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Olalla Valley Road Southeast
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Olalla Valley Road Southeast
10
Continue on Southeast Olalla Valley Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Olalla Valley Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto Banner Road Southeast
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Banner Road Southeast
12
Turn right onto WA 160
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
13
Turn left onto Cottonwood Drive Southeast
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cottonwood Drive Southeast
14
Continue on Southeast Cottonwood Drive
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Southeast Cottonwood Drive
15
Turn left onto Stohlton Road Southeast
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Stohlton Road Southeast
16
Turn right onto Southeast Southworth Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Southworth Drive
17
Turn right
35 ft
·
2 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.2 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 22 — 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
21.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Mullenix Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mullenix Road
5
22 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Southeast Mullenix Road
Turn right onto Southeast Mullenix Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.38 one way
$12.77 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.69 | $13.39 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.93 | $13.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.73 | $13.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Southworth, WA
Late night in Southworth on Sunday
Local time
2:59 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
46m 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 drive that is about 64% highway, meaning you'll encounter some faster-paced sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 19.4 miles, primarily on WA 16, which allows for consistent travel. As you transition to Southeast Mullenix Road and Banner Road Southeast, the character of the drive will likely shift to more local road conditions. This mix offers a varied driving experience, moving from open highway to potentially more winding or residential roads.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.4 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and Southeast Mullenix Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
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 30.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 Southworth, 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 46m. Total distance: 30.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.4 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 Southworth, 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 1.7 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Southworth, 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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