Origin
Rocky Point, WA
Night in Rocky Point on Friday
Local time
10:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rocky Point, WA to Tacoma, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
34.3 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rocky Point, WA
Harrison Reilly
Trip Overview
Rocky Point, WA to Tacoma, WA is 34.3 miles and takes about 50 minutes via State Highway 16, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a short, efficient drive between these two locations. Given the short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip without requiring an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 34.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a longest stretch of 26.1 miles on State Highway 16. The route utilizes State Highway 3 West and Rocky Point Road Northwest, offering a consistent driving experience that leans towards efficiency rather than winding scenic byways. Expect a relatively smooth and direct path for most of your travel time.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 16 and State Highway 3 West. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near Arsenal Way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (Arsenal Way): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (West Loxie Eagans Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Arsenal Way
At end of road, turn right onto Arsenal Way
Navigation decision point
3
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
West Loxie Eagans Boulevard
Turn left onto West Loxie Eagans Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward WA 3 South: Tacoma, Shelton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 3 South: Tacoma, Shelton
3
3.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
WA 3 / State Highway 3 Northwest
Merge onto WA 3 / State Highway 3 Northwest
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
32 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
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 Rocky Point, WA to Tacoma, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Shelton along the way.
Shelton
3 mi in
|
~6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 16 | 26.1 mi | 32m |
| State Highway 3 West | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Rocky Point Road Northwest | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Sprague Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Loxie Eagans Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Marion Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| State Highway 3 Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 16
— 26.1 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rocky Point, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on Rocky Point Road Northwest
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Rocky Point Road Northwest
2
Turn straight onto Marine Drive
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Marine Drive
3
Continue on Adele Avenue
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Adele Avenue
4
Continue on North Marion Avenue
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Marion Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto Arsenal Way
467 ft
·
12 sec
·
Arsenal Way
6
Turn left onto West Loxie Eagans Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
West Loxie Eagans Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward WA 3 South: Tacoma, Shelton
8
Merge onto WA 3
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
State Highway 3 Northwest
9
Continue on WA 3
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 3 West
10
Continue on WA 16
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
West State Route 16
11
Continue on WA 16
26 mi
·
32 min
·
State Highway 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Sprague Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
14
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Sprague Ramp
15
Continue on South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sprague Avenue
16
Turn right onto South 11th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
17
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.2 mi from Rocky Point, WA · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Rocky Point, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tacoma, WA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Tacoma, WA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.36 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.79 | $15.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.57 | $15.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Night in Tacoma on Friday
Local time
10:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
50m 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 Rocky Point, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 34.3 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 16, State Highway 3 West, Rocky Point Road Northwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.2 miles from Rocky Point, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.18 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 straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (Arsenal Way): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (West Loxie Eagans Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Rocky Point, WA to Tacoma, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Shelton along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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