Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Tacoma travel guide

Tacoma Tourism | Tacoma Guide

You're Going to Love Tacoma

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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Tacoma has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Tacoma

If you’re looking for affordable options, Lobster Shop (4015 Ruston Way) and Asado (2810 6th Avenue) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Amor Wine + Tapas (705 Pacific Ave) and Cooper's Food and Drink (5928 N 26th St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Tacoma.

When to visit Tacoma

Tacoma in December
Estimated hotel price
$122
1 night at 3-star hotel
Tacoma in December
Estimated hotel price
$122
1 night at 3-star hotel

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″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Tacoma

Plane

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, Air France and Aeromexico. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Denver and takes around 3h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Tacoma. The train journey from Tacoma to Vancouver takes 3h 07m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $37 for a 4h 25m trip. The train station in Tacoma is called Tacoma, and is located 1.2 miles from the city center.

Car

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 Dollar and Turo, among others, in Seattle.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including Amtrak, FlixBus and Bus. From Bellingham, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 135 miles and will cost you around $42. From Richmond, the ticket costs about $110 for a journey of 190 miles.

Plane

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, Air France and Aeromexico. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Denver and takes around 3h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Tacoma. The train journey from Tacoma to Vancouver takes 3h 07m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $37 for a 4h 25m trip. The train station in Tacoma is called Tacoma, and is located 1.2 miles from the city center.

Car

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 Dollar and Turo, among others, in Seattle.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including Amtrak, FlixBus and Bus. From Bellingham, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 135 miles and will cost you around $42. From Richmond, the ticket costs about $110 for a journey of 190 miles.

Airports near Tacoma

BFISeattle King County/Boeing
PAEEverett Paine Field
SEASeattle/Tacoma Intl

Airlines serving Tacoma

Lufthansa
Good (7,409 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,386 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,367 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,961 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,737 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,966 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,925 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,925 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,339 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,622 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (850 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,156 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,486 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,251 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,896 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,324 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (998 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (359 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,367 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Tacoma

Where to stay in Tacoma

Average rates range from around $201 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $338 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Best Western Plus Downtown Tacoma and Best Western Lakewood. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Tacoma, with prices from $50 to $307 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Tacoma are about 37% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Tacoma by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Tacoma

Most booked hotels in Tacoma

See all
Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, 657 reviews)
$237+
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Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma Waterfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1399 reviews)
$222+
View
Country Inn & Suites Seattle-Tacoma Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2836 reviews)
$135+
View
Hotel Murano
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1706 reviews)
$122+
View
Marriott Tacoma Downtown
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 381 reviews)
$144+
View
DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle-Airport
4 stars
Good (7.2, 3019 reviews)
$119+
View

Renting a car in Tacoma

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $56 per day, on average, or $167 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 18% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Standard (Ford Edge or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Versa or similar) are, on average, 10% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $56 per day, on average, or $167 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 18% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Standard (Ford Edge or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Versa or similar) are, on average, 10% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Tacoma

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$41/day

Supplier choice

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$44/day

Standard
Find car rentals in Tacoma

Tacoma Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Tacoma city guide for the best Tacoma travel tips. To help you organize your Tacoma trip ideas, this Tacoma visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.