This 72.2-mile drive from Freeland, WA to Tacoma, WA is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes I-5 and State Route 525, offering a highway-focused experience across the Pacific Coast region. There are no designated stops in this data, suggesting a straightforward transit. Given its relatively short duration and highway profile, this drive is well-suited for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Freeland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 72.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 72.2-mile journey, with 79% of the route on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.9 miles on I-5, providing a solid period of consistent travel. You'll navigate via I-5 and State Route 525, with Mukilteo Speedway also part of the main roads. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel, minimizing slower, local road segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 47.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 525. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
22.3 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
7
70.4 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 705 North: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 705 North: City Center
8
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
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 Freeland, WA to Tacoma, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Seattle
21.6 mi in|~53m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
47.9 mi
59m
State Route 525
8.8 mi
13m
Mukilteo Speedway
7.4 mi
13m
Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry
3 mi
20m
Paine Field Boulevard
0.8 mi
<1m
WA 525
0.4 mi
2m
84th Street Southwest
0.4 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 47.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Freeland, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on Scott Road
0.2 mi·39 sec·Scott Road
3
Turn left onto WA 525
8.8 mi·13 min·State Route 525
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on 2
409 ft·9 sec·2
5
Turn right onto WA 525
200 ft·11 sec·Ferry Dock
6
Continue on WA 525
3.0 mi·20 min·Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry
7
Continue on WA 525
0.4 mi·2 min·WA 525
Use the right lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto WA 525
1.9 mi·4 min·Mukilteo Speedway
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto WA 526
0.4 mi·44 sec·84th Street Southwest
10
Turn right onto WA 525 Spur
0.8 mi·58 sec·Paine Field Boulevard
11
Turn slight left onto WA 525
5.5 mi·8 min·Mukilteo Speedway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward SeattleUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
491 ft·12 sec
Toward I 5 South: SeattleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5
48 mi·59 min·I 5
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 133Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
16
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft·8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi·22 sec·I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward A Street, City CenterUse the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific AvenueUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi·49 sec·Tacoma Avenue South
23
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft·1 sec·South 11th Street
24
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, 1-hour and 59-minute drive, flexibility is key. Leaving Freeland, WA, you can depart at your convenience, though avoiding peak commute times on I-5 into Tacoma will enhance your experience. With a fuel cost of only $15, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Pay attention to signage for State Route 525 and Mukilteo Speedway as you transition between main roads. Since there are no specific stops recommended, plan your breaks based on your personal comfort and the longest stretch of 47.9 miles on I-5.
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 36.1 miles from Freeland, WA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 16 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 43m
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 Freeland, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Freeland, WA
This is one driving day of about 72.2 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Freeland, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 47.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.1 mi from Freeland, WA
· 1h 11m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.11 one way
$30.22 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$15.85
$31.69
premium
$5.77
$16.40
$32.79
diesel
$5.61
$15.94
$31.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.7
0
$7.58
$3.47
Efficient EV
18.1
0
$6.32
$2.89
EV Truck/SUV
28.9
0
$10.11
$4.62
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Freeland, WA
Afternoon
in Freeland on Friday
Local time
4:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Afternoon
in Tacoma on Friday
Local time
4:52 PM
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
4 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
1h 59m 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 Freeland, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 72.2 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 525, Mukilteo Speedway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.1 miles from Freeland, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.11 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.2 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Freeland, WA to Tacoma, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
