Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
190 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Photo: Chris G
The drive from Soap Lake, WA to Tacoma, WA covers 190 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Division Road Northwest, Alder Street Northwest, Alder Street Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
95 miles from Soap Lake, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 13m drive with frequent turns across 190 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Division Road Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alder Street Northwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alder Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Basin Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | 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.
Step-by-step road directions between Soap Lake, WA and Tacoma, WA.
Start on Division Street North
Continue on Division Road Northwest
Turn slight right
Turn left onto Alder Street Northwest
Continue on Alder Street Southwest
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Basin Street Southwest
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West: Seattle
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Keep slight left to continue on SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Merge slight right onto Snoqualmie Parkway
Continue on State Route 18
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome
Keep slight right to continue on I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station
Keep slight left to continue on I 705 North: City Center
Merge slight right
Take the exit slight left toward A Street, City Center
Keep slight left to continue on South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue
Continue on South 15th Street
Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South
Turn right onto South 11th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95 miles or 1h 36m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tacoma, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Soap Lake, 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 Soap Lake, WA
This is one driving day of about 190 miles and 3h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95 mi from Soap Lake, WA · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95 miles from Soap Lake, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$39.14 one way
$78.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $41.64 | $83.29 |
| premium | $5.77 | $43.17 | $86.34 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $40.89 | $81.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57 | 0 | $19.95 | $9.12 |
| Efficient EV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.63 | $7.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76 | 0 | $26.60 | $12.16 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Soap Lake on Saturday
Local time
4:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
4:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
52°F
Monroe, WA
95 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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