Origin
Snohomish, WA
Night in Snohomish on Friday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Snohomish, 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
1h 21m
Distance
59.5 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Snohomish, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 59.5-mile drive from Snohomish, WA to Tacoma, WA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-405 and I-5, with a brief segment on State Route 9, this route is heavily highway-focused, making up 94% of the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it's an economical option for connecting these two Pacific Coast communities. Expect a consistent, efficient drive that gets you to your destination without much fuss. This trip is perfect for a quick move between cities or a day trip where you want to maximize your time at your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 59.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 94% of the journey on major interstates like I-405 and I-5. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 23.5 miles on I-405, offering a period of consistent speed and flow. While State Route 9 provides a brief change of pace, the majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent on these primary arteries. The road character is largely defined by efficient travel, designed for covering distance quickly rather than lingering on scenic views. Prepare for a drive that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B smoothly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 405 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.8 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
12.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue
7
57.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 23.5 mi | 29m |
| I 5 | 20.3 mi | 25m |
| State Route 9 | 9.4 mi | 15m |
| State Route 522 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| 2nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 705 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tacoma Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 15th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 23.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Snohomish, WA and Tacoma, WA.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward WA 9
4
Turn straight onto WA 9
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
State Route 9
5
Continue on WA 9
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 9
Use the left / uturn lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward WA 522 West: Seattle
7
Merge onto WA 522
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 522
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn slight left onto I 405
23 mi
·
29 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 5
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 133
Toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
13
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 705 North: City Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 705
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 705
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward A Street, City Center
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on South 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Tacoma Avenue South
20
Turn right onto South 11th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 11th Street
21
Arrive at destination
South 11th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.8 mi from Snohomish, WA · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 miles from Snohomish, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.45 one way
$24.91 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $13.06 | $26.12 |
| premium | $5.77 | $13.51 | $27.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.14 | $26.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:49AM PDT until April 17 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:33AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 21m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Snohomish, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 59.5 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, I 5, State Route 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.8 miles from Snohomish, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.45 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 59.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Snohomish, WA to Tacoma, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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