Connecting Longview to Bellingham, this 216.6-mile journey across Washington State typically takes about 4 hours and 22 minutes of drive time. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, it is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $45 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Pacific Coast locales. While the trip covers significant ground, the straightforward nature of the path makes it an efficient way to travel north. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route provides a reliable connection between these two Washington hubs.
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
108.3 miles from Longview, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
211.9 mi
4h 10m
Washington Way
0.8 mi
1m
North Kelso Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
West Cowlitz Way
0.6 mi
1m
East Holly Street
0.6 mi
1m
Dupont Street
0.5 mi
1m
Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi
1m
Prospect Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 211.9 mi, about 4h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longview, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on Olympia Way
120 ft·4 sec·Olympia Way
2
Enter roundabout onto 16th Avenue
444 ft·15 sec·16th Avenue
3
Continue on 16th Avenue
238 ft·8 sec·16th Avenue
4
Continue on Washington Way
0.8 mi·1 min·Washington Way
5
Continue on WA 4
0.6 mi·1 min·West Cowlitz Way
6
Turn left onto North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Pacific Avenue
7
Continue on North Kelso Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Kelso Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
9
Merge onto I 5
92 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
120 mi·2 hr 24 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward Lakeway Drive
12
Turn right onto King Street
471 ft·9 sec·King Street
13
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Lakeway Drive
14
Continue on East Holly Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Holly Street
15
Turn right onto Bay Street
77 ft·2 sec·Bay Street
16
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Prospect Street
17
Continue on Dupont Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dupont Street
18
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Trip Plan
To keep your travel efficient, plan for at least one stop during the 4 hour and 22 minute duration. Since the route relies so heavily on I-5, traffic patterns near major urban centers can fluctuate, so checking road conditions before you depart is a smart move. Given the $45 fuel estimate, topping off your tank in Longview is a simple way to ensure you have enough range to reach Bellingham without stress. Because the trip is manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to time your departure to avoid peak commute hours on the interstate. Remember that with such a long stretch on a single highway, pacing yourself with regular breaks is the best way to stay alert throughout the 216.6-mile trek.
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 108.3 miles from Longview, WA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.9 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.3 miles or 2h 8m 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 32m
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 Longview, 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 Longview, WA
This is one driving day of about 216.6 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Longview, 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 211.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 214.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|16th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 16th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|North Pacific Avenue
Turn left onto North Pacific Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
214.7 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward Lakeway Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 253
Toward Lakeway Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.33 one way
$90.67 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$47.54
$95.08
premium
$5.77
$49.19
$98.37
diesel
$5.61
$47.82
$95.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65
0
$22.74
$10.40
Efficient EV
54.2
0
$18.95
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.32
$13.86
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Longview, WA
Late night
in Longview on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bellingham, WA
Late night
in Bellingham on Tuesday
Local time
2:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
22 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
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.
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 highly efficient experience, as 98% of this drive takes place on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-5, which accounts for a single, 211.9-mile stretch of uninterrupted interstate driving. The path is defined by its consistency, moving away from local roads like Washington Way and North Kelso Avenue almost immediately to prioritize speed. Because the route is dominated by this long highway corridor, you can count on a predictable and steady pace behind the wheel. It is a no-nonsense transit experience designed for getting you from point A to point B as directly as possible.
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: 211.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near 16th Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
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 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (16th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.6 miles (North Pacific Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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".
The longest stretch is about 211.9 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: near the start (16th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.6 miles (North Pacific Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bellingham, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
