This straightforward 100.9-mile drive from Burien, WA, to Bellingham, WA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 7 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-5, this route offers a direct connection between two points within the Pacific Coast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, it’s an economical option for a short getaway. The drive is predominantly highway, making it an efficient choice for those looking to cover ground quickly. Consider this route for its speed and convenience if you're aiming for a quick transit between these Washington cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.4 miles from Burien, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
91.4 mi
1h 49m
WA 509
4.8 mi
6m
East Holly Street
0.6 mi
1m
Southwest 148th Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Michigan Street
0.5 mi
1m
Dupont Street
0.5 mi
1m
Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi
1m
1st Avenue South Bridge
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 91.4 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burien, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on Southwest 148th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Southwest 148th Street
2
Continue on WA 518
0.1 mi·9 sec·State Route 518
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward WA 509 North: SeattleUse the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto WA 509
4.8 mi·6 min·WA 509
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on WA 99
0.4 mi·41 sec·1st Avenue South Bridge
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward Michigan StreetUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto South Michigan Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Michigan Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn slight right onto South Bailey Street
279 ft·9 sec·South Bailey Street
Use the slight right / right lanes.
9
Turn left
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 5, I 90Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
11
Merge onto I 5
91 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward Lakeway Drive
13
Turn right onto King Street
471 ft·9 sec·King Street
14
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Lakeway Drive
15
Continue on East Holly Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Holly Street
16
Turn right onto Bay Street
77 ft·2 sec·Bay Street
17
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Prospect Street
18
Continue on Dupont Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dupont Street
19
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour duration, this route offers a lot of flexibility for departure times. You can easily make this a morning trip or an afternoon excursion without feeling rushed. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, especially during the longest 91.4-mile stretch on I-5. Keep an eye on fuel levels, as the estimated $21 cost suggests a straightforward fill-up may be all you need. A practical tip: consider leaving Burien before morning rush hour to maximize your time on the road and minimize potential delays on I-5.
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 50.4 miles from Burien, WA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.4 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.4 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellingham, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burien, 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 Burien, WA
This is one driving day of about 100.9 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Burien, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 91.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 6.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward WA 509 North: Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 509 North: Seattle
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|WA 509
Merge onto WA 509
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.1 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward Michigan Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Michigan Street
6
6.3 mi into trip|~9m in|South Michigan Street
Keep slight left at fork onto South Michigan Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
6.8 mi into trip|~11m in
Turn left toward I 5, I 90
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 5, I 90
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.12 one way
$42.23 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$22.15
$44.29
premium
$5.77
$22.91
$45.83
diesel
$5.61
$22.28
$44.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.59
$4.84
Efficient EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.13
$6.46
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Burien, WA
Late night
in Burien on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bellingham, WA
Late night
in Bellingham on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 3 mph0% chanceLive 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
7 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 7m 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...
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 95% of this 100.9-mile journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 91.4 miles on I-5. This means you'll encounter consistent speeds and a predictable road surface for the majority of your trip. While WA 509 and East Holly Street will offer brief introductions to local roads, the character is overwhelmingly that of an interstate cruise. You'll spend most of your time on fast-paced highway driving, so be prepared for that kind of rhythm.
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: 91.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 509. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 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 12 significant decision points across 100.9 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 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (WA 509): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 100.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m 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 91.4 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 Bellingham, 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 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (WA 509): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bellingham, WA before heading back.
