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 24 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Tacoma include Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Qatar Airways. 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 22m and costs around $38 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $44 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 Europcar and Dollar, among others, in Seattle.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including FlixBus, Amtrak and Greyhound. From Bellingham, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 217 km and will cost you around $21. From Yakima, the ticket costs about $67 for a journey of 274 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 Qatar Airways. 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 22m and costs around $38 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $44 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 Europcar and Dollar, among others, in Seattle.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tacoma, including FlixBus, Amtrak and Greyhound. From Bellingham, the bus ride to Tacoma takes 217 km and will cost you around $21. From Yakima, the ticket costs about $67 for a journey of 274 km.

Airlines serving Tacoma

KLM
Good (1,461 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,818 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,772 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,244 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,239 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,886 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,127 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,370 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,541 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,745 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (901 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,536 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,700 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,760 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,420 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,180 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (387 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,972 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,155 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Tacoma

Average rates range from around $171 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $337 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 $46 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 98% 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)
$203+
Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma Waterfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1442 reviews)
$193+
Best Western Plus Tacoma Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 391 reviews)
$119+
Country Inn & Suites Seattle-Tacoma Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2981 reviews)
$94+
Hotel Murano
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1788 reviews)
$98+
Marriott Tacoma Downtown
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 390 reviews)
$139+

Renting a car in Tacoma

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $36 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 56% 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 Intermediate (Chevrolet Bolt EUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 71% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $36 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 56% 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 Intermediate (Chevrolet Bolt EUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Spark or similar) are, on average, 71% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.