Origin
Puyallup, WA
Evening in Puyallup on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Puyallup, WA to Tacoma, WA
Drive Time
20m
Distance
10.3 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Puyallup, WA
Shantanu Kumar
Trip Overview
Traveling between Puyallup and Tacoma is a quick, straightforward hop across the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Spanning just 10.3 miles, this drive typically takes about 20 minutes to complete, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. You will navigate a mix of local streets and a brief interstate segment, keeping your travel costs low with an estimated fuel budget of only $2. Because the route is so efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short excursion, this connection between these two cities is practical and easy to manage.
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
5.2 miles from Puyallup, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you alert as you transition between city environments. The route utilizes River Road, 3rd Street Southeast, and a short portion of I-5 to link the two locations. Only 10% of this journey involves highway driving, so you will spend the vast majority of your time on local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on River Road, which spans 5.4 miles of the total distance. The personality of this drive is defined by frequent turns rather than long, monotonous highway cruising, requiring you to stay focused on the local road layout.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
River Road is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 4th Street Southeast.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 10.3 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 0.2 miles (4th Street Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
4th Street Southeast
At end of road, turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
8.5 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
8.6 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
9.3 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
9.5 mi into trip
|
~18m 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 Along This Route
Between Puyallup, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Portland, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Dome Station and City Center.
Portland
7.2 mi in
|
~14m
Tacoma Dome
8.3 mi in
|
~15m
Tacoma Dome Station
8.5 mi in
|
~16m
City Center
9.3 mi in
|
~17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| River Road | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| I 5 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street Southeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 705 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Stewart | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bay Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tacoma Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
River Road
— 5.4 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Puyallup, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on this road
54 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
1 min
3
At end of road, turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
4th Street Southeast
4
Turn left onto 7th Avenue Southeast
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
7th Avenue Southeast
5
Turn sharp right onto 3rd Street Southeast
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
3rd Street Southeast
6
Continue on 2nd Street Northeast
443 ft
·
12 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
7
Turn left onto East Stewart
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Stewart
8
Turn slight right
196 ft
·
8 sec
9
Turn straight onto 4th Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
10
Turn left onto WA 167
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
River Road
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on WA 167
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bay Street
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 5 South: Olympia, Portland
13
Merge onto I 5
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 5
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
15
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
22
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 20-minute trip, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. With no planned stops required, you can easily navigate the route at any time of day that suits your plans. Keep in mind that the majority of your travel occurs on local infrastructure, so be prepared for standard city traffic patterns. Given the low $2 fuel cost, you do not need to worry about complex refueling logistics or rest breaks. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between 3rd Street Southeast and River Road before you depart to ensure a smooth journey.
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 5.2 miles from Puyallup, WA, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.4 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 10.3 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.2 miles or 10m 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 Puyallup, 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 Puyallup, WA
This is one driving day of about 10.3 miles and 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Puyallup, 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 River Road for about 5.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.2 mi from Puyallup, WA · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 10.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.2 miles from Puyallup, 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
$2.16 one way
$4.32 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $2.26 | $4.51 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.34 | $4.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.90 | $0.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
7:51 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
20m 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 Puyallup, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 10.3 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are River Road, I 5, 3rd Street Southeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.2 miles from Puyallup, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.16 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 17 significant decision points across 10.3 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 0.2 miles (4th Street Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Puyallup, WA and Tacoma, WA, road signs point toward Portland, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Dome Station and City Center.
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