How far is Waitsburg, WA from Tacoma, WA?

The driving distance from Waitsburg, WA to Tacoma, WA is about 278.2 miles (447.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 214.1 miles (344.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 29m 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
278.25 mi
04h 44m
Flight
214.11 mi
344.57 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waitsburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
214.11 mi
Kilometers
344.57 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
278.25 mi
Kilometers
447.8 km
Drive Time
04h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tacoma
Sun, Apr 19, 7:53 AM PDT
Return by in Waitsburg
Sun, Apr 19, 12:38 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waitsburg
2026-04-19T03:08
Arrive Tacoma
Sun, Apr 19, 7:53 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 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
7:30 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waitsburg
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
Selah
WA

City of the United States

From Waitsburg
144.2 mi
02h 22m
To Tacoma
134.1 mi
02h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SE
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
7 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Coppei Avenue

    33 m · 7 sec · Coppei Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Preston Avenue

    132 m · 9 sec · Preston Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Main Street

    44 m · 8 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West 2nd Street

    2304 ft · 39 sec · West 2nd Street

  5. 5

    Continue on State Highway 124

    7.7 mi · 11 min · State Highway 124

  6. 6

    Continue on East Second Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · East Second Street

  7. 7

    Continue on State Route 124

    35.5 mi · 53 min · State Route 124

  8. 8

    Turn slight right

    4 m · 1 sec

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right

    1036 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Lewis and Clark Trail

    6.6 mi · 7 min · Lewis and Clark Trail

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 182, US 12

    11.8 mi · 13 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima

    70.9 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    31 mi · 34 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West

    85.7 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 West: Auburn

    1248 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma

    137 m · 13 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight right onto Snoqualmie Parkway

    1780 ft · 25 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

  18. 18

    Continue on State Route 18

    26.7 mi · 34 min · State Route 18

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma

    2980 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma

    3094 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma

    1297 ft · 32 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 9 min

  23. 23

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

    785 ft · 19 sec

  24. 24

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

    102 m · 8 sec

  25. 25

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

    2087 ft · 51 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight right

    1554 ft · 22 sec

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight left toward A Street, City Center

    1550 ft · 38 sec

  28. 28

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

    1048 ft · 31 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on South 15th Street

    1462 ft · 60 sec · South 15th Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Tacoma Avenue South

    1516 ft · 49 sec · Tacoma Avenue South

  31. 31

    Turn right onto South 11th Street

    13 m · 2 sec · South 11th Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 11th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waitsburg 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
32 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 82 West
102 mi · 37%
I 90 West
85.7 mi · 31%
State Route 124
35.7 mi · 13%
State Route 18
26.7 mi · 10%
I 182
11.8 mi · 4%
I 5 South
8.04 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West

85.7 mi · 01h 36m

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 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+64.1 mi
214.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Selah
02h 22m from Waitsburg
Leave By
7:30 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain leaving Waitsburg 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 Waitsburg to Tacoma?

The road trip is about 278.2 miles (447.8 km) and usually takes 04h 44m 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?

Selah is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144.2 miles from Waitsburg and 134.1 miles from Tacoma.

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

The direct path is about 214.1 miles (344.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.1 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 7:30 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.39 one way or $102.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Rain around Waitsburg and Light Rain Likely near Tacoma.

Stop Ideas Near Selah

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

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

BUS

Quincy, Washington

83 mi away
102 B St NE
RAIL

Columbia Station

87 mi away
Kittitas & South Columbia Sts.
BUS

Ephrata, WA

103 mi away
1352 Basin Street SW
RAIL

Ephrata

105 mi away
24 Alder St NW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waitsburg and Tacoma. Straight-line distance: 214.11 mi (344.57 km).

Waitsburg

#1 Waitsburg

City in Walla Walla county, WA

Population1,254
Coordinates46.2704200, -118.1532900
Altitude385
CountryUnited States
Tacoma

#2 Tacoma

The third most populous city in Washington.

Population219,945
Coordinates47.2528800, -122.4442900
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Start: Coppei Avenue (-118.153225, 46.27042)
End: South 11th Street (-122.444267, 47.25278)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 448 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.82 gal
37.17 L · about $51.39
Round trip
$102.78
19.64 gal · 74.34 L
Estimated CO2
87.3 kg one way
Round trip: 174.5 kg / 385 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $51.39 $102.78
Mid-grade $5.57 $54.67 $109.34
Premium $5.77 $56.67 $113.34
Diesel $5.47 $53.69 $107.37

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Waitsburg and Tacoma. The current time is 03:08:24.

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.