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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Fife, Washington
Fife
Stop in Fife for 2–3 h to see Emerald Queen Casino or grab a quick burger; not worth a night stay.
Fife is a small industrial suburb of Tacoma with a casino, a few diners and easy highway access. It suits a brief layover rather than a dedicated stay.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Fife
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–$80 excl. bed · Mid $80–$120 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Burger at Pick‑Quick | $6–$9 |
| Coffee | $2–$3 |
| Casino slot machine play | $0.25–$1 per spin |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SEA · Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport
- About 20 km (12 mi) north, shuttle or rideshare availableAbout 12 mi (20 km) north, shuttle or rideshare available
Typical fares
- I‑5 exit to Fife (car)
- Free; follow signs to exits 136/137
- Pierce Transit day pass
- ≈ $5 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Pierce Transit bus routes 500 and 501 run through Fife; drive on I‑5 or SR‑99 for car travel.
See and do
Known for
- Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel
- Drive‑In Pick‑Quick burgers
- Poodle Dog Restaurant (historic diner)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoma | Drive south on I‑5 or SR‑99, about 15 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Puyallup | Drive east on SR‑512, about 10 min | ≈20 min round trip |
Sleep
- Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel
- Casino hotel; rooms start around $120/night
- Motel 6 Tacoma – Fife
- From $100/night; outdoor pool, free coffee
- Quality Inn
- Standard rooms; price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Pick‑Quick is cash‑only and closed Dec 1–Feb 1.
- Casino entry may have age restrictions; check before visiting.
Fife is a typical suburban area; crime is low but keep an eye on vehicle safety at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fife, Washington yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel
- Drive‑In Pick‑Quick burgers
- Poodle Dog Restaurant (historic diner)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Fife (Washington), revision 5029406 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5029406
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Fife, WashingtonFife
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
US consular services are in Seattle; see /united-states/visa-requirements for details.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/fife-washington). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.