How far is Clear Lake, WA from Tacoma, WA?

The driving distance from Clear Lake, WA to Tacoma, WA is about 102.5 miles (164.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.3 miles (135.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
102.48 mi
01h 52m
Flight
84.26 mi
135.61 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clear Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.26 mi
Kilometers
135.61 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
102.48 mi
Kilometers
164.93 km
Drive Time
01h 52m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tacoma
Thu, Oct 15, 2:22 PM PDT
Return by in Clear Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 4:15 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clear Lake
2026-10-15T12:29
Arrive Tacoma
Thu, Oct 15, 2:22 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:53 AM to 11:53 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:44 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clear Lake
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Martha Lake
WA

Census designated place

From Clear Lake
51.2 mi
00h 56m
To Tacoma
51.3 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 mph NNW
Destination
70°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 8:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clear Lake and Tacoma.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake and Tacoma.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    8 m · 4 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Lake Street

    55 m · 17 sec · Lake Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto State Route 9

    3.2 mi · 6 min · State Route 9

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward College Way

    18 m · 1 sec · College Way

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto College Way

    543 ft · 10 sec · College Way

  6. 6

    Continue on East College Way

    3.5 mi · 8 min · East College Way

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on West College Way

    124 m · 15 sec · West College Way

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left toward I 5 South: Seattle

    1930 ft · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    93.2 mi · 1 hr 53 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 7 South, I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome

    785 ft · 19 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 705 North: City Center, Tacoma Dome Station

    102 m · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 705 North: City Center

    2087 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    1554 ft · 22 sec

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward A Street, City Center

    1550 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on South 15 Street, Pacific Avenue

    1048 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on South 15th Street

    1462 ft · 60 sec · South 15th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South

    1516 ft · 49 sec · Tacoma Avenue South

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South 11th Street

    13 m · 2 sec · South 11th Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 11th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clear Lake and Tacoma.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 5 South
93.6 mi · 91%
East College Way
3.48 mi · 3%
State Route 9
3.18 mi · 3%
I 705 North
0.75 mi · 1%
A Street
0.29 mi
Tacoma Avenue South
0.29 mi
Longest Stretch

I 5 South

Merge slight right

93.2 mi · 01h 53m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.2 mi
84.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Martha Lake
00h 56m from Clear Lake
Leave By
2:44 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clear Lake and Mostly Sunny near Tacoma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clear Lake to Tacoma?

The road trip is about 102.5 miles (164.9 km) and usually takes 01h 52m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Martha Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.2 miles from Clear Lake and 51.3 miles from Tacoma.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 84.3 miles (135.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:44 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.67 one way or $39.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Clear Lake and Mostly Sunny near Tacoma.

Stop Ideas Near Martha Lake

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Martha Lake, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Martha Lake.

RAIL

Edmonds station

12 mi away
211 Railroad Ave.
RAIL

Everett Station

14 mi away
3201 Smith Ave.
BUS

Monroe, Washington

20 mi away
118 North Lewis St., Suite 112
BUS

Monroe (Eastbound), WA

20 mi away
19746 US Highway 2

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clear Lake and Tacoma. Straight-line distance: 84.26 mi (135.61 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clear Lake

Situated at an elevation of 46 feet within the floodplain of the Skagit River Valley, this Skagit County community is centered around its namesake lake.

Population0
Coordinates48.4642700, -122.2340400
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Tacoma

#2 Tacoma

The third most populous city in Washington.

Population219,945
Coordinates47.2528800, -122.4442900
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Start: (-122.233975, 48.464273)
End: South 11th Street (-122.444267, 47.25278)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 165 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.62 gal
13.69 L · about $19.67
Round trip
$39.35
7.24 gal · 27.38 L
Estimated CO2
32.2 kg one way
Round trip: 64.3 kg / 142 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.44 $19.67 $39.35
Mid-grade $5.72 $20.70 $41.41
Premium $5.98 $21.64 $43.27
Diesel $7.29 $26.40 $52.79

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Washington · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Clear Lake and Tacoma. The current time is 12:29:49.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.