Trip from Tacoma, WA to Mead, WA

Data updated 47 minutes ago

Drive Time

5h 49m

Distance

304.4 mi

490 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 36m ★

6 AM

5h 49m

8 AM

6h 15m

10 AM

5h 58m

12 PM

5h 56m

3 PM

6h 0m

5 PM

6h 14m

8 PM

5h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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Mead, WA

Dmytro Glazunov

Trip Overview

This 304.4-mile drive from Tacoma, WA, to Mead, WA, will take you approximately 5 hours and 49 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-90, with portions on State Route 18 and I-5, offering a highway-focused experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $64, it's a budget-friendly journey. This drive is entirely within the Pacific Coast region. Given its manageable length and highway nature, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day.

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

152.2 miles from Tacoma, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 257 miles on I-90, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While the profile is largely highway, the initial segments on I-5 and SR 18 will transition you into the main thrust of I-90. This road's personality is geared towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 31 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 257 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.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 304.4 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 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Market Street

Turn right onto Market Street

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | South 13th Street

Turn left onto South 13th Street

Navigation decision point

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

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

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	257 mi	4h 38m
State Route 18	27.3 mi	34m
I 5	7.7 mi	9m
North Spokane Corridor	3.3 mi	4m
North Freya Street	1.4 mi	3m
South Freya Street	1 mi	2m
I 705	0.8 mi	1m
North Market Street	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 257 mi, about 4h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Mead, WA.

Start on South 11th Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · South 11th Street

Turn right onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Market Street

Turn left onto South 13th Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · South 13th Street

Turn right onto I 705 SB Ramp

213 ft · 11 sec · I 705 SB Ramp

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward Port of Tacoma

Merge onto I 705

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 705

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward I 5 North: Seattle Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward I 5 North: Seattle Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 5

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 5

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 142A Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto WA 18

27 mi · 34 min · State Route 18

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on WA 18

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Spokane

Merge onto I 90

252 mi · 4 hr 32 min · I 90

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395

5.3 mi · 6 min · I 90; US 2; US 395

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward Freya Street, Thor Street

Continue on East 3rd Avenue

0.3 mi · 48 sec · East 3rd Avenue

Turn left onto South Freya Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Freya Street

Continue on North Freya Way

0.3 mi · 47 sec · North Freya Way

Continue on North Greene Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Greene Street

Turn right onto East Carlisle Avenue

0.3 mi · 55 sec · East Carlisle Avenue

Turn left onto North Freya Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · North Freya Street

Enter roundabout onto East Wellesley Avenue

234 ft · 13 sec · East Wellesley Avenue

Continue on East Wellesley Avenue

408 ft · 17 sec · East Wellesley Avenue

Enter roundabout

17 ft · 0 sec

Continue

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Merge onto Future US 395

3.3 mi · 4 min · North Spokane Corridor

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward East Parksmith Drive

Turn right onto East Parksmith Drive

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East Parksmith Drive

Turn left onto North Market Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Market Street

Arrive at destination

North Market Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 304.4-mile journey, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic near Tacoma and Seattle. With a duration of nearly six hours, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, especially given the longest stretch of 257 miles on I-90. The fuel cost is estimated at $64, so ensure your tank is topped off before heading out. Keep an eye on I-90 for any potential construction delays, particularly as you approach the Spokane area.

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 152.2 miles from Tacoma, WA, or about 2h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 152.2 miles or 2h 54m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mead, 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 304.4 miles and 5h 49m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 257 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 152.2 mi from Tacoma, WA · 2h 54m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yakima, WA

152 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

Monroe, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yakima, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 152.2 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 257 miles.

Arriving in Mead, WA

The final approach into Mead, 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 Mead, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.71 one way

$127.42 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 107 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.58	$66.81	$133.62
premium	$5.77	$69.13	$138.25
diesel	$5.61	$67.21	$134.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	91.3	1	$31.96	$14.61
Efficient EV	76.1	0	$26.63	$12.18
EV Truck/SUV	121.8	1	$42.62	$19.48

Gas CO2

107 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Tacoma, WA

Night in Tacoma on Tuesday

Local time

11:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mead, WA

Night in Mead on Tuesday

Local time

11:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

54°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

5 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 49m 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 Mead, WA covers 304.4 miles and takes about 5h 49m 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 152.2 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 $63.71 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.