Origin
Bellingham, WA
Night in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellingham, WA to Monroe, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
75.7 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 75.7-mile drive from Bellingham, WA to Monroe, WA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 34 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it requires no overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $16. You'll primarily navigate I-5 and US-2, with a brief segment on West Magnolia Street. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, expect a consistent travel experience. This route is ideal for those seeking an efficient drive with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.8 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 58.3 mi | 1h 7m |
| US 2 | 14.6 mi | 19m |
| West Magnolia Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dupont Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Lewis Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lakeway Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ellis Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 58.3 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Monroe, 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
58 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 194
Toward US 2 East: Wenatchee, Everett Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 2 East: Snohomish, Wenatchee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 2
13 mi
·
17 min
·
US 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 2
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
US 2
13
Take the exit
161 ft
·
4 sec
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto WA 203
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Lewis Street
15
Arrive at destination
WA 203
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1-hour and 34-minute drive, flexibility is key. You can comfortably depart at any time of day, though avoiding peak commute hours on I-5 will ensure the smoothest experience. With no designated stops included in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps utilizing the services available along the 58.3-mile stretch of I-5. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $16 cost suggests a full tank will suffice, but it's always wise to be aware of your range, especially when covering highway miles.
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 37.8 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.3 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 46m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monroe, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bellingham, WA
This is one driving day of about 75.7 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 58.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Bellingham, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 60.4 — 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
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 2 East: Wenatchee, Everett Avenue
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 194
Toward US 2 East: Wenatchee, Everett Avenue
8
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 2 East: Snohomish, Wenatchee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 2 East: Snohomish, Wenatchee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.84 one way
$31.69 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $16.62 | $33.23 |
| premium | $5.77 | $17.19 | $34.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.71 | $33.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.63 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.84 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Monroe, WA
Night in Monroe on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 34m 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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 73.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The road character for this trip is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 96% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 58.3 miles on I-5, providing a smooth, high-speed travel segment. While the majority is interstate, the transition to US-2 will introduce a different feel, likely with more local traffic and potentially varied speed limits as you approach Monroe. This route prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than offering a winding scenic tour.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and US 2. You will hit about 10 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 Effort
6/10
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 75.7 miles you will encounter 10 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bellingham, WA to Monroe, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Wenatchee along the way.
Wenatchee
60.4 mi in
|
~1h 13m
About the Cities
Arriving in Monroe, WA
Full guide →Monroe is a city in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. It is the home of the Evergreen State Fair, and the entrance to the Stevens Pass Highway.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 75.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.3 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 Monroe, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 Monroe, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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