This 149.9-mile drive from Ocean Park, WA, to Tacoma, WA, is designed for a single day, taking an estimated 3 hours and 35 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on US 101 and I-5, with a segment on WA 8, making it a highway-focused experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $31, it's an economical trip. The route offers a straightforward journey within Washington's Pacific Coast region. This drive is well-suited as a day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and minimal need for overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75 miles from Ocean Park, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 149.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that is 83% highway, meaning you'll spend a good amount of time on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68.7 miles on US 101, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While largely highway-focused, the transition between US 101 and I-5 will shift the driving experience, moving from a more scenic coastal highway feel to the efficiency of interstate travel. This route balances open road driving with the practicalities of reaching your destination efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 101 is the longest continuous segment at about 68.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 101 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 146.5 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 149.9 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 146.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
146.5 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South...
9
146.7 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street West, Tacoma Mall
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South...
8
146.9 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
6
147.2 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|WA 16
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16 toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
147.7 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward Sprague Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward Sprague Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 101
68.7 mi
1h 39m
I 5
26.7 mi
33m
WA 8
21.1 mi
26m
Olympic Highway
10.1 mi
12m
Pacific Way
7.7 mi
13m
State Route 107
7.1 mi
12m
Pacific Avenue North
2.8 mi
5m
South 11th Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 101
— 68.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ocean Park, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Bay Avenue
522 ft·18 sec·Bay Avenue
2
Turn right onto WA 103
0.6 mi·1 min·Vernon Avenue
3
Continue on WA 103
7.7 mi·13 min·Pacific Way
4
Continue on WA 103
2.8 mi·5 min·Pacific Avenue North
5
Turn left onto US 101
15 mi·23 min·US 101
6
Turn left onto US 101
30 mi·43 min·US 101
7
Enter roundabout onto US 101
104 ft·1 sec·US 101
8
Continue on US 101
18 mi·25 min·US 101
9
Turn right onto WA 107
7.1 mi·12 min·State Route 107
10
Continue on WA 107
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
12
Merge onto US 12
10 mi·12 min·Olympic Highway
13
Continue on WA 8
21 mi·26 min·WA 8
14
Merge onto US 101
5.4 mi·7 min·US 101
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
16
Merge onto I 5
27 mi·33 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 132Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street West, Tacoma MallUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, BremertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16
0.5 mi·43 sec·WA 16
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward Sprague AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec·Sprague Ramp
23
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Sprague Avenue
24
Turn right onto South 11th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·South 11th Street
25
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and enjoy a less congested start to your 3-hour, 35-minute drive. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 68.7-mile stretch on US 101, as services might be less frequent. The $31 fuel estimate suggests a manageable cost for this trip. Given the duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day without needing an overnight stay.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75 miles from Ocean Park, WA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.7 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 33 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
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 Ocean Park, 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 Ocean Park, WA
This is one driving day of about 149.9 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Ocean Park, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 101 for about 68.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75 mi from Ocean Park, WA
· 1h 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.37 one way
$62.75 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$32.90
$65.80
premium
$5.77
$34.04
$68.08
diesel
$5.61
$33.10
$66.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45
0
$15.74
$7.20
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.12
$6.00
EV Truck/SUV
60
0
$20.99
$9.59
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 Jun 20, 2022
Origin
Ocean Park, WA
Late night
in Ocean Park on Saturday
Local time
12:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tacoma, WA
Late night
in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
12:47 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
2 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
3h 35m 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 Ocean Park, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 149.9 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 101, I 5, WA 8. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75 miles from Ocean Park, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 149.9 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 146.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ocean Park, WA to Tacoma, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
