Origin
Normandy Park, WA
Late night in Normandy Park on Friday
Local time
12:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Normandy Park, WA to Bellingham, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
103 mi
166 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Normandy Park, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Normandy Park, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 103 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, WA 509, 1st Avenue South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.4 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.5 miles from Normandy Park, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 91.4 mi | 1h 49m |
| WA 509 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| 1st Avenue South | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Holly 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
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,880 veh/hr typical · worst 5,613
Quietest
2 AM
~425 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Normandy Park, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on 4th Avenue Southwest
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
4th Avenue Southwest
2
Turn slight right onto Southwest Normandy Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Southwest Normandy Road
3
Turn left onto WA 509
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue South
4
Turn right onto South 160th Street
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 160th Street
5
Continue on South 160th Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
South 160th Street
6
Enter roundabout
22 ft
·
0 sec
Toward WA 509 North: Seattle
7
Continue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward WA 509 North: Seattle
8
Merge onto WA 509
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
WA 509
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on WA 99
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
1st Avenue South Bridge
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Michigan Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto South Michigan Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Michigan Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn slight right onto South Bailey Street
279 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Bailey Street
Use the slight right / right lanes.
13
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 5, I 90
Use the left lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
15
Merge onto I 5
91 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 253
Toward Lakeway Drive
17
Turn right onto King Street
471 ft
·
9 sec
·
King Street
18
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeway Drive
19
Continue on East Holly Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Holly Street
20
Turn right onto Bay Street
77 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bay Street
21
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Prospect Street
22
Continue on Dupont Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dupont Street
23
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Trip Plan
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 51.5 miles from Normandy Park, WA, or about 1h 6m 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 23 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 6m 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 46m
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 Normandy Park, 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 Normandy Park, WA
This is one driving day of about 103 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Normandy Park, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.5 miles from Normandy Park, 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 91.4 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Enter roundabout toward WA 509 North: Seattle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward WA 509 North: Seattle
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WA 509
Merge onto WA 509
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.2 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
8.4 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
9 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
$21.69 one way
$43.37 round trip
$5.35/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.56 | $22.53 | $45.06 |
| premium | $5.76 | $23.34 | $46.68 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $22.70 | $45.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Bellingham, WA
Late night in Bellingham on Friday
Local time
12:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
2h 11m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
103 mi in 2h 11m, mostly highway — 91.4 mi of that is on I 5.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?
8/10
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 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 103 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 2.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (WA 509): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
475 ft
2 ft
Total Climb
1,168 ft
Total Descent
1,400 ft
Highest Point
475 ft
~96.4 mi in
Elevation Range
473 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Normandy Park, WA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Tracy House — historic house in Washington, United States
Arriving in Bellingham, WA
Full guide →Founded 1852
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
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 2h 11m. Total distance: 103 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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 2.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (WA 509): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bellingham, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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