Origin
Tacoma, WA
Afternoon in Tacoma on Saturday
Local time
12:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Manchester, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
31.5 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manchester, WA
Mylo Kaye
Trip Overview
Tacoma to Manchester is 31.5 miles and takes about 48 minutes via WA 16, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within Washington state. You'll primarily be on major roadways, making it a simple transit rather than an exploration. Given its short duration and limited stops, this route is ideal for a quick trip or as a segment within a larger journey. The drive is entirely within the Pacific Coast region, offering a familiar landscape for those traveling in the area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| Phillips Road Southeast | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Locker Road Southeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Mullenix Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Colchester Drive East | 1 mi | 1m |
| South 11th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Colchester Drive Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 19.4 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Manchester, WA.
1
Start on South 11th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
2
Turn left onto South Sprague Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sprague Avenue
3
Continue on Sprague Ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Sprague Ramp
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
6
Merge onto WA 16
19 mi
·
24 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward Mullenix Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto Southeast Mullenix Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Mullenix Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Phillips Road Southeast
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Phillips Road Southeast
10
Turn right onto WA 160
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
11
Turn left onto Locker Road Southeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Locker Road Southeast
12
Turn left onto Southeast Southworth Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Southworth Drive
13
Turn right onto Colchester Drive Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Colchester Drive Southeast
14
Continue on Colchester Drive East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Colchester Drive East
15
Turn right onto East Main Street
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.8 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 22 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WA 16
Merge onto WA 16
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Mullenix Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mullenix Road
5
22 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Southeast Mullenix Road
Turn right onto Southeast Mullenix Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.59 one way
$13.19 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.91 | $13.83 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.95 | $13.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Manchester, WA
Afternoon in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
12:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
14 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
48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 62% of the journey utilizing major roads. You'll experience stretches of faster driving, including the longest continuous segment of 19.4 miles on WA 16. The route transitions from city proximity to more open highway as you progress. While not a winding scenic byway, the highway portions offer a consistent pace. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal complexity, allowing you to maintain a steady speed for most of the trip.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.4 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and Phillips Road Southeast. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (WA 16): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tacoma, WA to Manchester, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.
Bremerton
1.9 mi in
|
~5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 31.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.4 miles on WA 16. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Manchester, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (WA 16): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester, WA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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