Tacoma to Anacortes is 111.1 miles and takes about 2h 24m via I 5 and State Route 20, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive with a high percentage of time spent on major roads. If you're looking for a relatively quick journey with minimal fuss, this route is a solid option.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.6 miles from Tacoma, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 111.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of it on major roads like I 5 and State Route 20. Expect a smooth experience for the majority of your journey, including a significant stretch of 92.2 miles on I 5 without interruption. While the initial part of the drive is on the interstate, you'll transition to State Route 20, which offers a different feel as you approach your destination. The overall character is one of efficiency and direct travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 92.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 20. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 111.1 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 19 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
6
107 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|State Route 20 Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
92.2 mi
1h 52m
State Route 20
7 mi
9m
Memorial Highway
4 mi
6m
State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi
3m
R Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
I 705
0.8 mi
1m
West Division Street
0.8 mi
2m
Commercial Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 92.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Anacortes, 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
92 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward WA 536 West: Kincaid Street
11
Turn left onto WA 536
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Kincaid Street
12
Turn right onto WA 536
0.3 mi·27 sec·South 3rd Street
13
Continue on WA 536
0.8 mi·2 min·West Division Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on WA 536
4.0 mi·6 min·Memorial Highway
15
Take the ramp onto WA 536
0.3 mi·29 sec·WA 536
16
Merge onto WA 20
7.0 mi·9 min·State Route 20
17
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi·3 min·State Route 20 Spur
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
18
Turn right onto R Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·R Avenue
19
Keep slight left at fork onto R Avenue
90 ft·5 sec·R Avenue
20
Keep slight right at fork onto R Avenue
0.4 mi·58 sec·R Avenue
21
Enter roundabout onto R Avenue
101 ft·5 sec·R Avenue
22
Continue on R Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·R Avenue
23
Turn left onto 20th Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·20th Street
24
Turn right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.5 mi·1 min·Commercial Avenue
25
Turn left onto WA 20 SPUR
11 ft·0 sec·12th Street
26
Arrive at destination
WA 20 SPUR
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 24m duration, this is a perfect one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave Tacoma in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. With only 0 designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, especially during the 92.2-mile stretch on I 5. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23, and it's always wise to top off before heading into potentially less populated areas. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition for the highway driving.
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 55.6 miles from Tacoma, WA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.2 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.6 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anacortes, 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 111.1 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Tacoma, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 92.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.6 mi from Tacoma, WA
· 1h 9m into the drive
The midpoint is around 55.6 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Anacortes, WA
The final approach into Anacortes, 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 Anacortes, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 111.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.25 one way
$46.50 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$24.39
$48.77
premium
$5.77
$25.23
$50.46
diesel
$5.61
$24.53
$49.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.3
0
$11.67
$5.33
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
EV Truck/SUV
44.4
0
$15.55
$7.11
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tacoma, WA
Morning
in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
9:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Anacortes, WA
Morning
in Anacortes on Saturday
Local time
9:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
12 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
2h 24m 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 Tacoma, WA to Anacortes, WA covers 111.1 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 20, Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.6 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 $23.25 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 19 significant decision points across 111.1 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 Anacortes, 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.
