The drive from Tacoma, WA to Airway Heights, WA covers 290.2 miles and takes about 5h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, State Route 18, I 5 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 246.2 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.1 miles from Tacoma, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 290.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 28m highway drive covering 290.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and State Route 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 246.2 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 246.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Market Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 290.2 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 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|South 13th Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
7
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
7
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
9.8 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
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 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservat...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
246.2 mi
4h 26m
State Route 18
27.3 mi
34m
I 5
7.7 mi
9m
South Hayford Road
3.3 mi
5m
West Sunset Highway
1.5 mi
2m
I 705
0.8 mi
1m
West Aero Road
0.4 mi
<1m
South 13th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 246.2 mi, about 4h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Airway Heights, WA.
1
Start on South 11th Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·South 11th Street
2
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Market Street
3
Turn left onto South 13th Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·South 13th Street
4
Turn right onto I 705 SB Ramp
213 ft·11 sec·I 705 SB Ramp
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Port of Tacoma
6
Merge onto I 705
0.8 mi·1 min·I 705
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
7.7 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 142AToward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot ReservationUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto WA 18
27 mi·34 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
14
Merge onto I 90
246 mi·4 hr 26 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward SR 902 West: Medical Lake
16
Enter roundabout onto WA 902
283 ft·5 sec·West Aero Road
17
Continue on WA 902
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Aero Road
18
Enter roundabout onto WA 902
100 ft·2 sec·West Aero Road
19
Continue on WA 902
411 ft·8 sec·West Aero Road
20
Enter roundabout onto West Geiger Boulevard
27 ft·0 sec·West Geiger Boulevard
21
Continue on West Geiger Boulevard
0.2 mi·23 sec·West Geiger Boulevard
22
Turn left onto South Hayford Road
3.3 mi·5 min·South Hayford Road
23
Turn straight
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward 2: West Sunset Highway
24
Turn left onto US 2
0.5 mi·56 sec·West Sunset Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto West Sunset Highway
118 ft·2 sec·West Sunset Highway
26
Continue on West Sunset Highway
1.0 mi·1 min·West Sunset Highway
27
Turn right onto South Lundstrom Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·South Lundstrom Street
28
Turn left onto West 12th Avenue
42 ft·1 sec·West 12th Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
West 12th Avenue
Trip Plan
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 145.1 miles from Tacoma, WA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.2 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 64 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.1 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Airway Heights, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, WA
This is one driving day of about 290.2 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Tacoma, 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 I 90 for about 246.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 145.1 mi from Tacoma, WA
· 2h 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 145.1 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Airway Heights, WA
The final approach into Airway Heights, 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 Airway Heights, WA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.74 one way
$121.47 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$63.70
$127.39
premium
$5.77
$65.90
$131.80
diesel
$5.61
$64.07
$128.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.1
1
$30.47
$13.93
Efficient EV
72.6
0
$25.39
$11.61
EV Truck/SUV
116.1
1
$40.63
$18.57
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tacoma, WA
Afternoon
in Tacoma on Friday
Local time
12:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Airway Heights, WA
Afternoon
in Airway Heights on Friday
Local time
12:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
15 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
5h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Tacoma, WA to Airway Heights, WA covers 290.2 miles and takes about 5h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, State Route 18, I 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145.1 miles from Tacoma, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.74 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 290.2 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 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tacoma, WA to Airway Heights, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
