Origin
Auburn, WA
Late night in Auburn on Wednesday
Local time
5:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
19m
Distance
14 mi
22 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 14-mile drive from Auburn to Tacoma, Washington, will take you about 19 minutes to complete. It's a local road trip, perfect for a single day of exploration within the Pacific Coast region. With a projected fuel cost of just $3, this is an economical option for getting between these two Washington cities. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging, hands-on driving experience rather than a straightforward highway cruise. You won't need an overnight stay for this journey, and its brevity allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
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
7 miles from Auburn, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with no highway percentage to speak of. This means you'll be navigating city streets and local roads for the entire 14 miles, primarily using C Street Southwest and WA 18 West. There isn't a 'longest stretch' here in the traditional sense, as the journey is broken up by frequent intersections and turns. The road's personality is that of a typical urban and suburban transit, requiring your attention for constant adjustments. You'll likely experience a mix of traffic conditions as you make your way across town.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
C Street Southwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA is easy. At 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 18 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 18 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 705 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| A Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 15 Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
C Street Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
C Street Southwest
3
Take the ramp right toward WA 18 West
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
WA 18 West
4
Merge slight left onto State Route 18
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 5 South: Tacoma
8
Merge slight left
7.2 mi
·
9 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
335 ft
·
8 sec
·
I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 705 North: City Center
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 705 North: City Center
12
Merge slight right
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
13
Take the exit slight left toward A Street, City Center
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
A Street, City Center
14
Keep slight left to continue on South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
15
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South 15th Street
16
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
17
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 11th Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only 14 miles and takes around 19 minutes, you have the advantage of flexibility. There's no need to rush or plan extensive stops, and the $3 fuel cost means you likely won't need to worry about refueling during the journey. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic, which can make the frequent turns feel more demanding. Keep an eye out for local signage as you navigate the many turns; it's easy to miss a turn when you're focused on the road itself. This short distance is ideal for a spontaneous outing or as a quick connector between other activities in the area.
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 7 miles from Auburn, WA, or about 9m into the drive.
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 14 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
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 Auburn, 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 Auburn, WA
This is one driving day of about 14 miles and 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Auburn, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7 mi from Auburn, WA · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7 miles from Auburn, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$2.93 one way
$5.86 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.07 | $6.15 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Wednesday
Local time
5:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
21 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
19m 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 Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 14 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are C Street Southwest, WA 18 West, State Route 18. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7 miles from Auburn, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.93 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.
The drive from Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA is easy. At 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Auburn, WA to Tacoma, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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