Origin
Tacoma, WA
Night in Tacoma on Thursday
Local time
9:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Bothell East, WA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bothell East, WA
Spencer Lee Eiseman
Trip Overview
This 52.1-mile drive from Tacoma to Bothell East, WA, is designed for a single day, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete. It’s a largely highway-focused route, with 90% of the journey on major interstates like I-405 and I-5. Budget around $11 for fuel for this short trip, which is easily manageable without needing an overnight stop. Given its relatively quick duration and focus on main roads, this route is ideal for a straightforward transit between the Pacific Coast regions of Washington state. You'll find this drive efficient and predictable, perfect for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for 90% of this 52.1-mile trip. You'll primarily be on I-405 and I-5, offering a consistent driving pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.2 miles on I-405, allowing for a solid period of steady travel. While the route is predominantly interstate, keep an eye out for the transition as you approach your destination in Bothell East, where local roads like Maltby Road will come into play. This drive prioritizes efficiency over varied scenery, making it a predictable journey.
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 26.2 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 1.5 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 52.1 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
22.2 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
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 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
22.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
48.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward WA 527 North: Bothell, Mill Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward WA 527 North: Bothell, Mill Creek
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tacoma, WA and Bothell East, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Mill Creek.
Bellevue
22.2 mi in
|
~29m
Mill Creek
48.8 mi in
|
~1h 3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 26.2 mi | 32m |
| I 5 | 20.1 mi | 25m |
| Maltby Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Bothell-Everett Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| I 705 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 39th Avenue Southeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 209th Place Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 26.2 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Bothell East, 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: Seattle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
448 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 405
19 mi
·
24 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 26
Toward WA 527 North: Bothell, Mill Creek
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
340 ft
·
8 sec
Toward WA 527 North: Mill Creek
16
Turn straight onto WA 527
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bothell-Everett Highway
17
Turn right onto WA 524
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Maltby Road
18
Turn right onto 39th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
39th Avenue Southeast
19
Turn right onto 209th Place Southeast
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
209th Place Southeast
20
Turn left onto 37th Avenue Southeast
416 ft
·
18 sec
·
37th Avenue Southeast
21
Arrive at destination
37th Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.1 mi from Tacoma, WA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bothell East, WA
The final approach into Bothell East, 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
$10.90 one way
$21.81 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.83 | $23.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Bothell East, WA
Night in Bothell East on Thursday
Local time
9:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°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
17 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 10m 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 Bothell East, WA covers 52.1 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, I 5, Maltby Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.1 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 $10.90 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 52.1 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Tacoma, WA and Bothell East, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Mill Creek.
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