Origin
Arlington, WA
Evening in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, WA to Tacoma, WA
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
80.6 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, WA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
Spanning 80.6 miles from Arlington to Tacoma, this trip is a straightforward journey through the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 44 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $17, you can easily complete the entire trek without needing an overnight stay. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, it is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick visit, this drive is entirely manageable in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Arlington, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your time spent on high-speed routes. You will spend the vast majority of your journey—74.3 miles—on I-5, which serves as the primary artery connecting these two cities. While you start on WA 530, you will quickly transition to the interstate for a consistent, high-speed pace. Upon reaching the end of your trip, you will navigate via I-705 to complete the final leg into Tacoma. Prepare for a predictable, efficient experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding secondary roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 74.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 530. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 78.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 80.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
78.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Ta...
7
78.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m 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...
7
78.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 705 North: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 705 North: City Center
8
79.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
79.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 74.3 mi | 1h 32m |
| WA 530 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| I 705 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tacoma Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 15th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Division Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Division Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 11th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 74.3 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on this road
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on East Division Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Division Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
78 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
4
Continue on West Division Street
345 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Division Street
5
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 530
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
42 ft
·
0 sec
·
WA 530
7
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
WA 530
8
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
58 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 530
9
Continue on WA 530
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
WA 530
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
11
Merge onto I 5
74 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
I 5
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
13
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
20
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
21
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
Because this route is essentially one long stretch of interstate, your main concern should be timing your departure to avoid peak traffic congestion common along the I-5 corridor. Since the drive is relatively short and requires zero planned stops, you have maximum flexibility to plan your day around your destination's schedule. Keep in mind that the lack of scheduled stops means you should be fueled up and ready to go before hitting the highway. Budgeting $17 for gas is a reliable baseline, but keep an eye on your tank before leaving Arlington to ensure you don't need to exit the flow of traffic for fuel. Embracing the direct nature of this 80.6-mile run allows you to arrive in Tacoma with minimal downtime.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.3 miles from Arlington, WA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tacoma, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, WA
This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arlington, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 74.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.3 mi from Arlington, WA · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.3 miles from Arlington, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.3 miles.
Arriving in Tacoma, WA
The final approach into Tacoma, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tacoma, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.92 one way
$33.83 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $17.67 | $35.33 |
| premium | $5.77 | $18.31 | $36.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.91 | $35.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.28 | $5.16 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Evening in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
15 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
1h 44m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, WA 530, I 705. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.3 miles from Arlington, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 80.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 78.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arlington, WA to Tacoma, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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