Origin
Bellingham, WA
Night in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellingham, WA to Seattle, 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 50m
Distance
89.2 mi
144 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Bellingham to Seattle covers 89.2 miles along the Pacific Coast, typically taking about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the journey. The drive connects two major hubs within Washington, keeping you entirely within the Pacific Coast region. It is a straightforward, highway-focused transit that prioritizes efficiency over detours. If you are looking for a quick and reliable way to move between these two cities, this trip offers a simple, no-fuss experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.6 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 86.7 mi | 1h 43m |
| West Magnolia Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dupont Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lakeway Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ellis Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Seattle, 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
87 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
13
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about long-distance pacing. Because there are no mandatory stops required to cover the 89.2 miles, you can complete the trip in one go if you prefer. Keep in mind that I-5 is the backbone of your journey, so check for traffic conditions before you leave to ensure your 1 hour and 50 minute estimate holds true. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, maintain a steady speed and keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the interstate. Utilizing the local streets to exit the city center is your only real navigation challenge, so familiarize yourself with the initial turn-by-turn directions before you pull away.
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 44.6 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 56m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, 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 89.2 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 86.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.6 miles from Bellingham, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.7 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 88.9 — 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
7
88.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
7
88.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.67 one way
$37.34 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $19.58 | $39.16 |
| premium | $5.77 | $20.26 | $40.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.69 | $39.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.37 | $4.28 |
| Efficient EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.49 | $5.71 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Seattle, WA
Night in Seattle on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 to 8 mph
3% chance
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
3 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
1h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 89.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient commute, as 97% of this trip is spent on the highway. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-5, which accounts for 86.7 miles of the total distance. The remaining portion of the journey involves navigating local streets like West Magnolia and Dupont in Bellingham to reach the main arterial road. While the route is functional and fast, it lacks the variety of technical backroads, favoring a steady, interstate-focused pace. You will find that the personality of this drive is consistent, offering a predictable rhythm as you head south toward Seattle.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and West Magnolia Street. 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 Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 50m drive. You will face about 10 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 89.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Seattle, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Seattle, WA
More trips to Seattle, WA
Explore more options from Bellingham, WA or browse trips ending in Seattle, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.