This 106.4-mile drive from Bellingham, WA to Kent, WA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking about 2 hours and 13 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-5, I-405, and the Valley Freeway, this route is almost entirely highway driving at 95%. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, it's an economical option for traversing the Pacific Coast region within Washington. This journey is best suited as a day trip, allowing ample flexibility for when you depart and how you manage your time on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.2 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
69.6 mi
1h 21m
I 405
26.7 mi
33m
Valley Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
Central Avenue North
1.3 mi
3m
West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi
1m
Dupont Street
0.5 mi
1m
Lakeway Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Prospect Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 69.6 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Kent, 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
70 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 182Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, RentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 405
0.9 mi·1 min·I 405
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
26 mi·32 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 2Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·57 sec
Toward WA 167 South: AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto WA 167
4.6 mi·5 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward 84th Avenue South, North Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Central Avenue North
1.3 mi·3 min·Central Avenue North
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto East Gowe Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Gowe Street
18
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
10 ft·0 sec·2nd Avenue South
19
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given this is a manageable 106.4-mile trip that takes just over 2 hours, there's no need to rush. You can plan your departure for any time, but consider avoiding peak commute hours through the Seattle metro area if possible. With no designated stops in the data, plan for fuel and rest breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel it's necessary. The $22 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always monitor your gauge. A practical tip for this route: be aware of the multiple lane changes and potential traffic congestion as you approach and navigate through the greater Seattle area on I-405.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.2 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.6 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.2 miles or 1h 5m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kent, 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 106.4 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Bellingham, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 69.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 104.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 182
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
8
99.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
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 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue Sou...
7
99.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
7
104.7 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.27 one way
$44.54 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$23.35
$46.71
premium
$5.77
$24.16
$48.32
diesel
$5.61
$23.49
$46.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.9
0
$11.17
$5.11
Efficient EV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
EV Truck/SUV
42.6
0
$14.90
$6.81
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Bellingham, WA
Late night
in Bellingham on Tuesday
Local time
2:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kent, WA
Late night
in Kent on Tuesday
Local time
2:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 13m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 88.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 106.4-mile journey. With 95% of the drive on major freeways like I-5 and I-405, the pace is generally quick. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 69.6 miles on I-5, offering a consistent driving rhythm. While primarily interstate, the route transitions between different major arteries, providing some variation in the urban and suburban landscapes you'll pass through. This drive is characterized by its efficiency and directness.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 106.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bellingham, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Renton and Rainier Avenue South.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 106.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.6 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 Kent, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Kent, WA before heading back.
