How far is Rainier, WA from Tacoma, WA?

The driving distance from Rainier, WA to Tacoma, WA is about 37.5 miles (60.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.7 miles (44.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 38m 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
37.47 mi
00h 49m
Flight
27.69 mi
44.57 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rainier.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.69 mi
Kilometers
44.57 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.47 mi
Kilometers
60.31 km
Drive Time
00h 49m

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 00h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tacoma
Wed, Apr 22, 6:10 PM PDT
Return by in Rainier
Wed, Apr 22, 6:59 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rainier
2026-04-22T17:21
Arrive Tacoma
Wed, Apr 22, 6:10 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:49 AM to 10:49 AM PDT

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

Leave by
4:52 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rainier
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
DuPont
WA

City in the state of Washington

From Rainier
18.4 mi
00h 24m
To Tacoma
19.1 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
12 mph SW
Destination
56°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rainier and Tacoma.

  1. 1

    Start on Centre Street South

    38 m · 7 sec · Centre Street South

  2. 2

    Turn right onto State Route 507

    5.2 mi · 8 min · State Route 507

  3. 3

    Continue on 1st Street South

    687 ft · 32 sec · 1st Street South

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Southeast Mosman Avenue

    130 m · 12 sec · Southeast Mosman Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Southwest Mosman Avenue

    1514 ft · 46 sec · Southwest Mosman Avenue

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Longmire Street Southeast

    1092 ft · 36 sec · Longmire Street Southeast

  7. 7

    Turn left onto West Yelm Avenue

    1384 ft · 43 sec · West Yelm Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast

    1 km · 1 min · Killion Road Southeast

  9. 9

    Turn left onto WA 510 Alternate

    1.4 km · 2 min · WA 510 Alternate

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Yelm Highway Southeast

    39 m · 2 sec · Yelm Highway Southeast

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Yelm Highway Southeast

    4.2 mi · 8 min · Yelm Highway Southeast

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

    30 m · 2 sec · Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

    1106 ft · 21 sec · Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Reservation Road Southeast

    7 m · 1 sec · Reservation Road Southeast

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Reservation Road Southeast

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Old Pacific Highway Southeast

  17. 17

    Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Nisqually Road Southwest

  18. 18

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle

    1558 ft · 38 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    14.3 mi · 18 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street

    1248 ft · 21 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton, South 38th Street West, Tacoma Mall

    1086 ft · 19 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton

    1655 ft · 28 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton

    2562 ft · 44 sec

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward Sprague Avenue

    2552 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Continue on Sprague Ramp

    1467 ft · 44 sec · Sprague Ramp

  26. 26

    Continue on South Sprague Avenue

    2964 ft · 2 min · South Sprague Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto South 11th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · South 11th Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 11th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rainier 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
28 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
74.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 5 North
14.6 mi · 39%
State Route 507
5.19 mi · 14%
Yelm Highway Southeast
4.27 mi · 11%
Reservation Road Southeast
2.75 mi · 7%
Nisqually Road Southwest
2.12 mi · 6%
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.65 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 5 North

Merge slight left

14.3 mi · 00h 18m

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
00h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.8 mi
27.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
DuPont
00h 24m from Rainier
Leave By
4:52 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Rainier and Light Rain Likely near Tacoma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rainier to Tacoma?

The road trip is about 37.5 miles (60.3 km) and usually takes 00h 49m 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?

DuPont is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.4 miles from Rainier and 19.1 miles from Tacoma.

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

The direct path is about 27.7 miles (44.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.8 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 4:52 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.91 one way or $13.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Rainier and Light Rain Likely near Tacoma.

Stop Ideas Near DuPont

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around DuPont, 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 DuPont.

RAIL

Centennial Station

17 mi away
6600 Yelm Highway S.E.
RAIL

Tacoma Dome Station

23 mi away
1001 Puyallup Avenue
RAIL

Centralia station

49 mi away
210 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Tukwila station

50 mi away
7301 South 158th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rainier and Tacoma. Straight-line distance: 27.69 mi (44.57 km).

Rainier

#1 Rainier

City in Thurston County, Washington, United States

Population2,350
Coordinates46.8881500, -122.6884600
Altitude132
CountryUnited States
Tacoma

#2 Tacoma

The third most populous city in Washington.

Population219,945
Coordinates47.2528800, -122.4442900
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Start: Centre Street South (-122.688529, 46.888111)
End: South 11th Street (-122.444267, 47.25278)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 60 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.32 gal
5.01 L · about $6.91
Round trip
$13.82
2.64 gal · 10.02 L
Estimated CO2
11.7 kg one way
Round trip: 23.5 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $6.91 $13.82
Mid-grade $5.57 $7.35 $14.70
Premium $5.77 $7.62 $15.24
Diesel $5.47 $7.22 $14.43

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Rainier and Tacoma. The current time is 17:21:16.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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