Road trip cost
At just 142 miles, the drive from Portland, OR to Tacoma, WA is a quick 2 hr 18 min trip — easy to do in a single morning or afternoon. Most drivers spend less than a tank of gas, making it one of the cheapest ways to travel between these two cities.
142 mi
2 hr 18 min
0
0
Key takeaway
Drive intensity
Doable in a single day.
Pre-filled with the Portland → Tacoma distance.
Estimated Trip Cost
$0.00
Per Person
$0.00
Gallons
0.00gal
Total miles: 142 (one way).
We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.
Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.
Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 142-mile route.
$15.97
one way · ~5.1 gal
$17.50
one way · ~5.1 gal
$19.52
one way · ~5.1 gal
At ~142 miles, a full tank in a typical sedan (~350-mile range) covers this drive end-to-end. Top up before you leave and you're set.
A modern EV with 230+ miles of real-world highway range can make this drive on a single charge. Start at 100% and you'll arrive with margin.
Route personality
Easy day tripEV-friendly corridorPortland, OR
Tacoma, WA
Late summer / early fall
Western wildfire smoke can drop visibility and force I-5 / I-80 detours — check InciWeb.
Fall–Spring
Pacific Northwest rain is steady October–April; allow extra braking distance on I-5 and US-101.
Driving is almost always cheaper here — short flights cost more than fuel once you factor in airport parking, bags and a rental car.
A one-way drive uses about $17 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.
Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.
Any vehicle works — short enough that fuel economy barely matters.
Low — one driver can comfortably handle this with a single break.
Most drivers complete this route in a single day. Leave early to avoid arriving tired in evening traffic.
This 142-mile route between Portland, OR and Tacoma, WA is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 2 hr 18 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.
The drive is about 142 miles and takes roughly 2 hr 18 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.
In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 5.1 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 6.5 gallons.
At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $17.50 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.
A typical gas sedan needs about 0 fuel stops one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 0 DC fast-charges.
Driving is almost always cheaper here — short flights cost more than fuel once you factor in airport parking, bags and a rental car.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.
Estimated 142-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.
Cheapest to drive
57 MPG · hybrid
~$9
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest EV
134 MPGe · ev
~$6
est. one-way charging cost
See full breakdownBest sedan
37 MPG · sedan
~$13
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest SUV for comfort
33 MPG · suv
~$15
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest truck for cargo
26 MPG · truck
~$19
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownRelated routes
Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.
Reverse drive
Tacoma to Portland driving cost
142 mi · 2.3 h
Other road trip cost estimates that start in Portland, OR.
Other routes with Tacoma, WA as the destination.
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Longer connected routes leaving Tacoma, WA — great for multi-day road trip planning.
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