Origin
White Center, WA
Late night in White Center on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from White Center, WA to Tacoma, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
White Center, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 30.5-mile drive from White Center, WA, to Tacoma, WA, is easily accomplished in about 42 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The route primarily utilizes I-5 and WA 599, contributing to its highway-focused profile. You'll spend about 77% of your time on major highways. Given its short distance and duration, no overnight stay is necessary, and you can expect a practical, efficient trip as you travel within the Pacific Coast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 21.5 mi | 26m |
| West Marginal Way South | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| WA 599 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Roxbury Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Olson Place Southwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 705 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| WA 509 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tacoma Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 21.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between White Center, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Southwest Roxbury Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Roxbury Street
2
Turn slight left onto Olson Place Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Olson Place Southwest
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward WA 509 North: Seattle
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto WA 509
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
WA 509
5
Take the exit
494 ft
·
12 sec
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way, Transfer Station
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto WA 99
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Marginal Way South
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on WA 599
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 599
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5
21 mi
·
26 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
12
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
19
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
20
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 29.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way
9
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way, Transfer Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way, Transfer...
7
28.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome St...
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward A Street, City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward A Street, City Center
9
29.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
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
Tacoma, WA
Late night in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
3 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
42m 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 drive for most of this 30.5-mile trip, with 77% of the mileage on major roads like I-5 and WA 599. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 21.5 miles on I-5, allowing for steady progress. While the route is predominantly high-speed highway, you will also encounter sections of West Marginal Way South. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of interstate travel and a brief taste of more local arterial roads as you approach your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and West Marginal Way South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 30.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between White Center, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Transfer Station, Tacoma Dome and Tacoma Dome Station.
Transfer Station
1.9 mi in
|
~4m
Tacoma Dome
28.5 mi in
|
~38m
Tacoma Dome Station
28.7 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 30.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 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 Tacoma, 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tacoma, 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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