How far is Tacoma, WA from Grand Coulee, WA?

The driving distance from Tacoma, WA to Grand Coulee, WA is about 241.7 miles (389 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.2 miles (269.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
241.74 mi
04h 55m
Flight
167.22 mi
269.11 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Tacoma.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
167.22 mi
Kilometers
269.11 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
241.74 mi
Kilometers
389.05 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

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 04h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grand Coulee
Tue, May 26, 9:39 AM PDT
Return by in Tacoma
Tue, May 26, 2:35 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tacoma
2026-05-26T04:43
Arrive Grand Coulee
Tue, May 26, 9:39 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:08 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Tacoma
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Ellensburg
WA

City in Kittitas County, Washington, United States

From Tacoma
120.7 mi
02h 27m
To Grand Coulee
121 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Tuesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph W
Destination
69°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma and Grand Coulee.

  1. 1

    Start on South 11th Street

    686 ft · 29 sec · South 11th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Market Street

    759 ft · 31 sec · Market Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South 13th Street

    920 ft · 36 sec · South 13th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto I 705 SB Ramp

    65 m · 11 sec · I 705 SB Ramp

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward Port of Tacoma

    869 ft · 21 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight right

    1.3 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North: Seattle

    1819 ft · 44 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North: Seattle

    1395 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    7.7 mi · 10 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation

    2644 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto State Route 18

    27.3 mi · 35 min · State Route 18

  12. 12

    Continue on Snoqualmie Parkway

    656 ft · 8 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Spokane

    3019 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    125.5 mi · 2 hr 17 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake

    2490 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Burke Spur

    689 ft · 10 sec · Burke Spur

  17. 17

    Turn right

    20 mi · 27 min

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southwest

    120 m · 14 sec · 5th Avenue Southwest

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Alder Street Southwest

    2032 ft · 56 sec · Alder Street Southwest

  20. 20

    Continue on Alder Street Northwest

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Alder Street Northwest

  21. 21

    Turn right

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  22. 22

    Turn left

    21.3 mi · 29 min

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Coulee Boulevard

    25.1 mi · 33 min · Coulee Boulevard

  25. 25

    Continue on Grand Coulee Avenue

    2795 ft · 57 sec · Grand Coulee Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Midway Avenue

    1992 ft · 1 min · Midway Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Spokane Way

    6 m · 1 sec · Spokane Way

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Spokane Way

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Tacoma and Grand Coulee.

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 East
126 mi · 52%
State Route 18
27.3 mi · 11%
Coulee Boulevard
25.1 mi · 10%
I 5 North
8.28 mi · 3%
Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway
4.32 mi · 2%
Alder Street Northwest
1.6 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 90 East

Merge slight left

126 mi · 02h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+74.5 mi
167.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ellensburg
02h 27m from Tacoma
Leave By
7:08 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Tacoma and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Grand Coulee.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Tacoma to Grand Coulee?

The road trip is about 241.7 miles (389 km) and usually takes 04h 55m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ellensburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.7 miles from Tacoma and 121 miles from Grand Coulee.

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

The direct path is about 167.2 miles (269.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 74.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.64 one way or $89.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Tacoma and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Grand Coulee.

Stop Ideas Near Ellensburg

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

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

RAIL

Columbia Station

51 mi away
Kittitas & South Columbia Sts.
BUS

Quincy, Washington

59 mi away
102 B St NE
BUS

Leavenworth, Washington

67 mi away
Hwy 2 and 12th St.
RAIL

Leavenworth

68 mi away
11645 North Rd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Tacoma and Grand Coulee. Straight-line distance: 167.22 mi (269.11 km).

Tacoma

#1 Tacoma

The third most populous city in Washington.

Population219,945
Coordinates47.2528800, -122.4442900
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Grand Coulee

#2 Grand Coulee

City in Grant County, Washington, United States

Population1,050
Coordinates47.9415400, -119.0033500
Altitude452
CountryUnited States
Start: Tacoma (-122.44429, 47.25288)
End: Grand Coulee (-119.00335, 47.94154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 389 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.53 gal
32.29 L · about $44.64
Round trip
$89.27
17.06 gal · 64.58 L
Estimated CO2
75.8 kg one way
Round trip: 151.6 kg / 334 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $44.64 $89.27
Mid-grade $5.57 $47.49 $94.97
Premium $5.77 $49.23 $98.45
Diesel $5.47 $46.63 $93.27

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 · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Tacoma and Grand Coulee. The current time is 04:43:12.

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.