Bellingham to Longview is 216.3 miles and takes about 4h 22m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington, traveling south from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. Expect a mostly highway experience for the entirety of the trip. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward path, this is a great option for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.2 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
211.7 mi
4h 9m
Washington Way
0.7 mi
1m
Cowlitz Way
0.7 mi
1m
North Kelso Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi
1m
Dupont Street
0.5 mi
1m
15th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Lakeway Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 211.7 mi, about 4h 9m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 560 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,710 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,418
Quietest
2 AM
~455 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Longview, 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
119 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
93 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward North Kelso Avenue
11
Turn right onto North Kelso Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Kelso Avenue
12
Continue on North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Pacific Avenue
13
Turn right onto WA 4
0.7 mi·1 min·Cowlitz Way
14
Continue on Washington Way
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Way
15
Turn left onto 15th Avenue
0.2 mi·43 sec·15th Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Hudson Street
147 ft·8 sec·Hudson Street
17
Turn right onto Olympia Way
308 ft·10 sec·Olympia Way
18
Arrive at destination
Olympia Way
Trip Plan
To make the most of this straightforward drive, consider leaving Bellingham in the morning to give yourself ample daylight for the 4h 22m trip. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $44 budget is an estimate, and it's always wise to top off before entering longer stretches like the 211.7 miles on I 5. The 98% highway profile means you can cover ground efficiently, so plan to arrive in Longview well before evening.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 108.2 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.7 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 48 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Longview, 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 216.3 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 211.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 108.2 miles from Bellingham, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 211.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 120.4 — 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
5
1.8 mi into trip|~5m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
120.4 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.54 one way
$91.08 round trip
$5.35/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.56
$47.31
$94.63
premium
$5.76
$49.02
$98.03
diesel
$5.60
$47.68
$95.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.9
0
$22.71
$10.38
Efficient EV
54.1
0
$18.93
$8.65
EV Truck/SUV
86.5
1
$30.28
$13.84
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Aug 22, 2026
Origin
Bellingham, WA
Evening
in Bellingham on Wednesday
Local time
8:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
S 5 to 9 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued August 21 at 1:09PM PDT until August 22 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued August 21 at 1:09PM PDT until August 22 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Longview, WA
Evening
in Longview on Wednesday
Local time
8:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Cloudy
W 1 to 5 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued August 21 at 1:09PM PDT until August 22 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued August 21 at 1:09PM PDT until August 22 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 98% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your 4h 22m on I 5. The longest stretch you'll be on this freeway is 211.7 miles. You'll transition to Washington Way and Cowlitz Way for the final portion of the drive, which will feel like a noticeable shift from interstate cruising to more local surface roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 211.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Washington Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near West Champion Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Bellingham, the "City of Subdued Excitement", is a city of 92,000 people in northwest Washington State, on Bellingham Bay. It is known for its laid-back, progressive style, and is committed to caring for its environment. Western Washington University attracts students from across the region. This keeps the city relatively young and vibrant, and contributes to an unusually rich local cultural scene. Outdoor adventure is a key reason why people live and visit here, as it's within an hour of Mount Baker skiing, the North Cascades and the salt waters around the San Juan Islands.
Top landmarks
•Fairhaven — neighborhood of Bellingham, Washington, USA
•SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention — museum in Bellingham, Washington
•Mount Baker Theatre — theater in Bellingham, Washington
Longview, the City of Trees, is a city in Southwest Washington State along the Columbia River, and across the Cowlitz River from Kelso. It was established in 1923 by R. A. Long, who intended it to become the "Chicago of the West".
Top landmarks
•Lewis and Clark Bridge — historic bridge in Washington state and Oregon, USA
•Longview Community Church-Saint Helen's Addition — church in Longiew, Washington, U.S.
•R. A. Long High School — high school in Longview, Cowlitz County, Washington
The longest stretch is about 211.7 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Longview, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
