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 Alaska Airlines, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Los Angeles and takes around 2h 47m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Tacoma. The train journey from Tacoma to Olympia takes 1h 30m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $29 for a 3h 07m 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 Turo 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 $55. From Spokane, the ticket costs about $104 for a journey of 470 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 Alaska Airlines, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Tacoma departs from Los Angeles and takes around 2h 47m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Tacoma. The train journey from Tacoma to Olympia takes 1h 30m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Vancouver, expect to pay about $29 for a 3h 07m 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 Turo 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 $55. From Spokane, the ticket costs about $104 for a journey of 470 miles.

Airports near Tacoma

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

Airlines serving Tacoma

KLM
Good (1,492 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,900 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,864 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,302 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,392 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,916 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,173 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,564 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (905 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,554 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,748 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,559 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,907 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,381 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (399 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,193 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,428 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,262 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,491 reviews)
Show more
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Where to stay in Tacoma

Average rates range from around $176 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $366 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 $49 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 89% 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, 726 reviews)
$215+
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Hampton Inn & Suites Seattle-Airport/28th Ave
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1807 reviews)
$135+
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Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma Waterfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1469 reviews)
$182+
View
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Tacoma
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 543 reviews)
$119+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 2983 reviews)
$116+
View
Hotel Murano
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1832 reviews)
$105+
View

Renting a car in Tacoma

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $47 per day, on average, or $189 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 21% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $4.32 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 $51.78 and $69.05. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Compact (Hyundai Venue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 49% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Tacoma costs $47 per day, on average, or $189 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 21% cheaper than airport locations in Tacoma.

Expect to pay $4.32 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 $51.78 and $69.05. The most frequently booked car type in Tacoma is Compact (Hyundai Venue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 49% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Tacoma

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$27/day

Economy

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$29/day

Intermediate
Find car rentals in Tacoma