Origin
Kettle Falls, WA
Morning in Kettle Falls on Monday
Local time
9:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kettle Falls, WA to Tacoma, WA
Drive Time
6h 5m
Distance
332.9 mi
536 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 53m
★
6 AM
6h 5m
8 AM
6h 31m
10 AM
6h 14m
12 PM
6h 12m
3 PM
6h 16m
5 PM
6h 30m
8 PM
5h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Kettle Falls, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 332.9 miles and takes about 6h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 395, North Railroad Street, South Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
166.5 miles from Kettle Falls, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 5m drive with frequent turns across 332.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 395 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 5m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kettle Falls, WA to Tacoma, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 395 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Railroad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 395 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Browne Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 18 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SR 18 west | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 395
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kettle Falls, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on East 3rd Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
East 3rd Avenue
2
Continue on North Highway 395
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
North Highway 395
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward North Railroad Street
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Railroad Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto North Railroad Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Railroad Street
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Main Street
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Main Street
6
Exit the rotary
108 ft
·
2 sec
7
Turn straight onto South Main Street
38 mi
·
48 min
·
South Main Street
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
9
Exit the roundabout
184 ft
·
2 sec
10
Turn straight
10 mi
·
12 min
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
12
Exit the roundabout
0.9 mi
·
1 min
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
14
Exit the roundabout
12 mi
·
15 min
15
Keep slight right to continue on US 395: Spokane
8.5 mi
·
18 min
·
US 395: Spokane
16
Continue on North Browne Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Browne Street
17
Take the ramp slight right
3.0 mi
·
3 min
18
Keep slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr
19
Keep slight left
195 mi
·
3 hr 31 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 West: Auburn
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
WA 18 West: Auburn
21
Keep slight left to continue on SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
449 ft
·
13 sec
·
SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
22
Merge slight right onto Snoqualmie Parkway
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Snoqualmie Parkway
23
Continue on State Route 18
27 mi
·
34 min
·
State Route 18
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
25
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
26
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 5 South: Tacoma
27
Merge slight left
7.2 mi
·
9 min
28
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
29
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
30
Keep slight left to continue on I 705 North: City Center
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 705 North: City Center
31
Merge slight right
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
32
Take the exit slight left toward A Street, City Center
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
A Street, City Center
33
Keep slight left to continue on South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
34
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South 15th Street
35
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
36
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 11th Street
37
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.5 miles from Kettle Falls, WA, or about 3h 2m 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.5 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 59m
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 Kettle Falls, 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 Kettle Falls, WA
This is one driving day of about 332.9 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kettle Falls, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 166.5 mi from Kettle Falls, WA · 3h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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 166.5 miles from Kettle Falls, 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
$69.87 one way
$139.74 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
117 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $72.96 | $145.93 |
| premium | $5.77 | $75.64 | $151.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $73.96 | $147.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.9 | 1 | $34.95 | $15.98 |
| Efficient EV | 83.2 | 0 | $29.13 | $13.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 133.2 | 1 | $46.61 | $21.31 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in Tacoma on Monday
Local time
9:42 AM
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
7 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
6h 5m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kettle Falls, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 332.9 miles and takes about 6h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 395, North Railroad Street, South Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 166.5 miles from Kettle Falls, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $69.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 5m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kettle Falls, WA to Tacoma, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kettle Falls, WA to Tacoma, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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