Bellingham to Richland is 284.4 miles and takes about 5h 43m via I-5 and I-90, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This largely highway route takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Washington to the interior, a significant change in scenery and climate. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complexity, making it a good choice if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. With 95% of the trip on major highways, it's set up for a smooth transit.
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
142.2 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
127.8 mi
2h 20m
I 5
69.6 mi
1h 21m
State Route 243
54.2 mi
1h 12m
I 405
18 mi
22m
Vantage Highway
8.3 mi
11m
Stevens Drive
1.2 mi
3m
WA 26
0.8 mi
<1m
West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 127.8 mi, about 2h 20m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 141 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,297 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,127
Quietest
2 AM
~130 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Richland, 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
17 mi·21 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 90
128 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward WA 26 East: Othello, Pullman
16
Turn straight onto WA 26
0.8 mi·59 sec·WA 26
17
Turn right onto WA 243
14 mi·21 min·State Route 243
18
Enter roundabout onto WA 243
96 ft·1 sec·State Route 243
Toward Yakima
19
Continue on WA 243
40 mi·51 min·State Route 243
Toward Yakima
20
Enter roundabout
99 ft·1 sec
21
Continue
313 ft·5 sec
22
Turn straight onto WA 240
8.3 mi·11 min·Vantage Highway
23
Continue on WA 240 Bus
0.4 mi·49 sec·Jadwin Avenue
24
Turn right onto Catskill Street
285 ft·8 sec·Catskill Street
25
Turn left onto Stevens Drive
1.2 mi·3 min·Stevens Drive
26
Turn left onto Williams Boulevard
111 ft·3 sec·Williams Boulevard
27
Arrive at destination
Williams Boulevard
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Bellingham in the morning will allow you to reach Richland with plenty of daylight to spare. Given the total duration of under 6 hours, this is easily a one-day trip, so you don't need to worry about overnight stays. Plan for one main stop to stretch your legs and refuel, perhaps before you hit the longest stretch on I-90. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the final leg on State Route 243, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate.
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 142.2 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.8 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 63 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.2 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richland, 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 284.4 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 90 for about 127.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 90.8 — 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
6
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
90.4 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
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 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
7
90.8 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.34 one way
$122.67 round trip
$5.48/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.72
$64.06
$128.11
premium
$5.94
$66.48
$132.95
diesel
$6.18
$69.19
$138.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.86
$13.65
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.89
$11.38
EV Truck/SUV
113.8
1
$39.82
$18.20
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bellingham, WA
Morning
in Bellingham on Tuesday
Local time
11:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richland, WA
Morning
in Richland on Tuesday
Local time
11:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 1 mph2% chanceLive forecast
51°F
North Bend, WA
142 mi in
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
1 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
5h 43m 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.
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 88.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on major highways, with 95% of the 284.4 miles occurring on roads like I-5 and I-90. You'll encounter a long stretch of 127.8 miles on I-90, indicating a significant period of uninterrupted highway cruising. The transition to surface roads happens towards the end, specifically on State Route 243, where you'll notice a change in the road environment and potentially more varied traffic patterns.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 5. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 284.4 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 73.3 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,532 ft43 ft
Total Climb
2,489 ft
Total Descent
31 ft
Highest Point
2,532 ft
~142.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,489 ft
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 Richland, WA, road signs point toward Renton, Seattle, Pullman and Yakima.
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
Richland is a city of 51,000 people (2020) in the Columbia River Plateau, where the Yakima River flows into the Columbia. It is the closest city to the Hanford Nuclear Site, where development of its historic nuclear reactor lead to a large national research lab and a waste remediation effort that is the single largest construction project in the country.
Richland is one of the Tri-Cities of Washington, which also includes Kennewick and Pasco. The Tri-Cities are the third most populous metropolitan area in the state, after Seattle-Tacoma and Spokane.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 284.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m 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 127.8 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Richland, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 73.3 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richland, WA before the return drive.
