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 4 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, STEEL CREEK TACOMA (1114 Broadway) and WOVEN Seafood & Chophouse by Roy Yamaguchi (3017 Ruston Way) 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 November
Estimated hotel price
$111
1 night at 3-star hotel
Tacoma in November
Estimated hotel price
$111
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 Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Los Angeles and takes around 2h 48m.

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 Fox and Dollar, among others, in Seattle.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Richmond, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 190 miles and will cost you around $110. From Richmond, the ticket costs about $55 for a journey of 195 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 Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Los Angeles and takes around 2h 48m.

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 Fox and Dollar, among others, in Seattle.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Richmond, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 190 miles and will cost you around $110. From Richmond, the ticket costs about $55 for a journey of 195 miles.

Airlines serving Tacoma

KLM
Good (1,458 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,789 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,755 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,215 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,224 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,878 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,118 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,325 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,533 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,739 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,522 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (898 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,692 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,732 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,405 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,364 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,171 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (387 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,907 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,145 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Tacoma

Average rates range from around $170 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $343 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 $47 to $309 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Tacoma are about 88% 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

Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, 698 reviews)
$215+
Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma Waterfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1442 reviews)
$194+
Country Inn & Suites Seattle-Tacoma Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2980 reviews)
$93+
Hotel Murano
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1789 reviews)
$114+
Marriott Tacoma Downtown
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 390 reviews)
$167+
Red Roof Inn Seattle Airport - SEATAC
2 stars
Good (7.3, 2809 reviews)
$61+

Renting a car in Tacoma

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $35 per day, on average, or $142 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 52% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $3.26 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 $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 70% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $35 per day, on average, or $142 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 52% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $3.26 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 $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 70% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.