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 December
Estimated hotel price
$116
1 night at 3-star hotel
Tacoma in December
Estimated hotel price
$116
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 24 km 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 50m.

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 1.9 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Tacoma is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 41 km from Tacoma. You’ll find branches of Turo and Sixt, 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 306 km and will cost you around $110. From Spokane, the ticket costs about $104 for a journey of 756 km.

Plane

When flying to Tacoma, you’ll arrive at Seattle/Tacoma Airport (SEA), which is located 24 km 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 50m.

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 1.9 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Tacoma is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 41 km from Tacoma. You’ll find branches of Turo and Sixt, 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 306 km and will cost you around $110. From Spokane, the ticket costs about $104 for a journey of 756 km.

Airports near Tacoma

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

Airlines serving Tacoma

KLM
Good (1,443 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,749 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,704 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,124 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,209 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,863 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,099 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,210 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,528 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,488 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (895 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,666 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,672 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,376 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,356 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,147 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,439 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (381 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,130 reviews)
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Where to stay in Tacoma

Average rates range from around $170 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $334 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Best Western Plus Downtown Tacoma and Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Tacoma. 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 59% 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, 697 reviews)
$203+
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Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma Waterfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1442 reviews)
$181+
View
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 641 reviews)
$262+
View
Country Inn & Suites Seattle-Tacoma Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2971 reviews)
$85+
View
Hotel Murano
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1786 reviews)
$98+
View
Holiday Inn Tacoma Mall By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 531 reviews)
$95+
View

Renting a car in Tacoma

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $38 per day, on average, or $150 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 36% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $3.14 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 $37.70 and $50.27. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Intermediate (Class Intermediate SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $38 per day, on average, or $150 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 36% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $3.14 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 $37.70 and $50.27. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Intermediate (Class Intermediate SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Tacoma

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$28/day

Compact

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$34/day

Standard
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