With a population of 198,397, Tacoma is a must-see destination in Washington, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Tacoma deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
If you’re looking for affordable options, Lobster Shop South (4015 Ruston Way) and Asado (2810 6th Avenue) are great picks.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Tacoma in July, when the average temperature is 66.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 6.7″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Tacoma, with an average rainfall of 0.7″.
When flying to Tacoma, you’ll arrive at Seattle/Tacoma Airport (SEA), which is located 15 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Tacoma include American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Finnair. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Las Vegas and takes around 2h 37m.
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Tacoma. The train journey from Tacoma to Vancouver takes 3h 07m and costs around $27 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $34 for a 4h 25m trip. The train station in Tacoma is called Tacoma, and is located 1.2 miles from the city center.
Another option to get to Tacoma is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 25 miles from Tacoma. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Fox, among others, in Seattle.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including Quick Shuttle, Amtrak and Bus. From Richmond, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 210 miles and will cost you around $16. From Portland, the ticket costs about $76 for a journey of 215 miles.
Average rates range from around $228 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $578 and up for a 5-star experience.
Renting a car in Tacoma costs $48 per day, on average, or $96 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Tacoma is the Hertz branch at 4802 S Tacoma Way, which is 3 miles from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 21% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Tacoma (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Intermediate (Chevrolet Bolt EUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Leaf or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.