Spanning 110.4 miles, this trip from Bellingham to East Port Orchard is a straightforward journey that typically takes 2 hours and 54 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $23 for fuel to cover the distance across the Pacific Coast region. By utilizing a mix of I-5 and the Fauntleroy - Southworth ferry, you gain a practical, highway-focused route that balances speed with coastal navigation. It is an efficient way to travel between these two Washington locations, offering a reliable path for those looking to reach the Port Orchard area directly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
55.2 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
89.4 mi
1h 46m
Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
4.8 mi
29m
Southeast Sedgwick Road
4.7 mi
8m
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi
10m
West Seattle Bridge
2.2 mi
3m
Southeast Salmonberry Road
1.4 mi
2m
Harris Road Southeast
0.8 mi
1m
West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 89.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and East Port Orchard, WA.
1
Start on Dupont Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dupont Street
2
Continue on Prospect Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Prospect Street
3
Turn left onto West Champion Street
352 ft·11 sec·West Champion Street
4
Continue on West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Magnolia Street
5
Turn right onto Ellis Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Ellis Street
6
Turn left onto Lakeway Drive
0.2 mi·48 sec·Lakeway Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
8
Merge onto I 5
89 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 163AToward West Seattle Bridge, Columbian WayUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
11
Continue on West Seattle Bridge
2.2 mi·3 min·West Seattle Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi·10 min·Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Barton Street
171 ft·2 sec·Southwest Barton Street
14
Turn slight right onto Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
0.1 mi·12 sec·Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
15
Turn straight onto WA 160
4.8 mi·29 min·Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
16
Continue on WA 160
0.3 mi·1 min·Southworth Ferry
17
Continue on WA 160
4.7 mi·8 min·Southeast Sedgwick Road
18
Turn right onto Long Lake Road Southeast
0.5 mi·57 sec·Long Lake Road Southeast
19
Turn left onto Southeast Salmonberry Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Southeast Salmonberry Road
20
Enter roundabout onto Southeast Salmonberry Road
93 ft·1 sec·Southeast Salmonberry Road
21
Continue on Southeast Salmonberry Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Southeast Salmonberry Road
22
Turn right onto Harris Road Southeast
0.8 mi·1 min·Harris Road Southeast
23
At end of road, turn left onto McKinley Place Southeast
292 ft·12 sec·McKinley Place Southeast
24
Arrive at destination
McKinley Place Southeast
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 54-minute drive, plan for at least one stop to break up the monotony of the long I-5 stretch. Since you are relying on a ferry crossing, checking the schedule in advance is essential to avoid unexpected delays in your travel time. Leaving early in the day can help you navigate the interstate traffic more effectively, giving you more flexibility once you arrive in East Port Orchard. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $23, so fueling up in Bellingham before departing can streamline your trip. Since this is a short route, use that extra time to plan your arrival around the ferry transit times rather than rushing through the interstate portion.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.2 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.2 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Port Orchard, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bellingham, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bellingham, WA
This is one driving day of about 110.4 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Bellingham, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 89.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 91.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|West Champion Street
Turn left onto West Champion Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|Lakeway Drive
Turn left onto Lakeway Drive
Navigation decision point
6
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Seattle
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
8
91.2 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward West Seattle Bridge, Columbian Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 163A
Toward West Seattle Bridge, Columbian Way
6
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.11 one way
$46.21 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$24.23
$48.46
premium
$5.77
$25.07
$50.14
diesel
$5.61
$24.37
$48.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
Efficient EV
27.6
0
$9.66
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bellingham, WA
Late night
in Bellingham on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Port Orchard, WA
Late night
in East Port Orchard on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-heavy experience, as 81% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-5, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 89.4 miles that keeps the pace steady. The character of the drive shifts noticeably once you transition off the interstate to navigate the Fauntleroy - Southworth ferry crossing. Following this, you will finish the trip on Southeast Sedgwick Road, which provides a slower, more localized conclusion to your journey. This combination creates a trip that starts with the predictable rhythm of a major thoroughfare before moving into the specific, localized roads required to reach the East Port Orchard destination.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near West Champion Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.4 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (West Champion Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Lakeway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 110.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.4 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at East Port Orchard, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (West Champion Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Lakeway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Port Orchard, WA before heading back.
