Origin
Tacoma, WA
Evening in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
8:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Brier, WA
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brier, WA
Harrison Reilly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Tacoma to Brier, you are looking at a 49.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. This route is designed as a straightforward, highway-focused drive, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. Since you will remain within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, you won't need to worry about complex regional transitions or overnight stays. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical commute between these two points. Because the trip is short and efficient, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24.7 miles from Tacoma, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a very focused experience, as 91% of your journey takes place on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-5, which accounts for a 43.9-mile stretch of the trip. This is a classic interstate grind, characterized by high-speed transit rather than winding, scenic backroads. Once you transition off the main highway, you will navigate local surface streets including 236th Street Southwest and 228th Street Southwest to reach your final destination. Keep in mind that this is primarily a functional drive, so prepare for a steady pace behind the wheel for the duration of the hour-long trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 43.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 236th Street Southwest. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 49.3 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 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 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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
46 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward 236th Street Southwest, Mountlake Terrace
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 178
Toward 236th Street Southwest, Mountlake Terrac...
6
46.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
236th Street Southwest
Turn right onto 236th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
Cedar Way
Turn left onto Cedar Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Tacoma, WA and Brier, WA, road signs point toward 236Th Street Southwest and Mountlake Terrace.
236Th Street Southwest
46 mi in
|
~59m
Mountlake Terrace
46 mi in
|
~59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 43.9 mi | 54m |
| 236th Street Southwest | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| 228th Street Southwest | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| I 705 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Brier Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 44th Avenue West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 43.9 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Brier, 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
Use the none lane.
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
44 mi
·
54 min
·
I 5
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 178
Toward 236th Street Southwest, Mountlake Terrace
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto 236th Street Southwest
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
236th Street Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Cedar Way
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Cedar Way
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on 44th Avenue West
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
44th Avenue West
14
Turn right onto 228th Street Southwest
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
228th Street Southwest
Use the none lane.
15
Turn right onto Brier Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Brier Road
Use the none lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Brier Road
Trip Plan
Because this route is entirely highway-dependent, aim to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours on I-5, which can significantly impact your 1 hour and 7 minute travel time. You do not need to factor in any planned stops, as the 49.3-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep your $10 fuel estimate in mind, though city driving may fluctuate your actual consumption. Since the majority of your time is spent on a single interstate stretch, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained highway speeds. Use the flexibility of this short drive to your advantage by leaving during off-peak windows to ensure a smoother, more predictable arrival in Brier.
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 24.7 miles from Tacoma, WA, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.9 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 49.3 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.7 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brier, 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 49.3 miles and 1h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tacoma, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 43.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.7 mi from Tacoma, WA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 49.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.7 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Brier, WA
The final approach into Brier, 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 Brier, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.35 one way
$20.69 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $10.81 | $21.61 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.20 | $22.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.95 | $21.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Brier, WA
Evening in Brier on Sunday
Local time
8:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 7m 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 Brier, WA covers 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, 236th Street Southwest, 228th Street Southwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.7 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 $10.35 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 13 significant decision points across 49.3 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 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 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Tacoma, WA and Brier, WA, road signs point toward 236Th Street Southwest and Mountlake Terrace.
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