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Trip from Redmond, WA to Bellingham, 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

87.5 mi

141 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Redmond, WA, WA

Redmond, WA

Harrison Reilly

city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the State of Washington, United States

Bellingham, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 87.5-mile drive from Redmond, WA, to Bellingham, WA, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I-5 and I-405, with a short section on Redmond Way at the start. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this route offers a straightforward journey with no designated stops, allowing you to set your own pace. It's a highway-focused drive that keeps you moving efficiently through the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Consider this an excellent option if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two Washington cities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

43.7 miles from Redmond, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 70.2 mi 1h 22m
I 405 11.4 mi 14m
Redmond Way 2.1 mi 4m
Northeast 85th Street 0.9 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 — 70.2 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Redmond, WA and Bellingham, WA.

1

Start on WA 202

30 ft · 7 sec · 164th Avenue Northeast
2

Turn right onto Redmond Way

2.1 mi · 4 min · Redmond Way
Use the right lane.
3

Continue on Northeast 85th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northeast 85th Street
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 405 North Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 405

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 405
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

8.4 mi · 10 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

1.9 mi · 2 min · I 405
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 5

70 mi · 1 hr 22 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 27 sec
Exit 253 Toward Lakeway Drive
11

Turn right onto King Street

471 ft · 9 sec · King Street
12

Turn right onto Lakeway Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lakeway Drive
13

Continue on East Holly Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Holly Street
14

Turn right onto Bay Street

77 ft · 2 sec · Bay Street
15

Turn left onto Prospect Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Prospect Street
16

Continue on Dupont Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dupont Street
17

Arrive at destination

Dupont Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 50-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can leave whenever it suits you, but an early morning departure will help you avoid potential traffic on I-5. With no required stops, you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps pulling over at a rest area on I-5 if you need to stretch. Factor in the estimated $18 fuel cost for your budget. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of the transition from Redmond Way onto I-405, as this initial merge can sometimes have moderate traffic, especially during peak hours.

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 43.7 miles from Redmond, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 19 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.7 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 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 Redmond, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Redmond, WA

This is one driving day of about 87.5 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Redmond, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 70.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marysville, WA

44 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

Martha Lake, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arlington, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Redmond, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.2 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Redmond Way

Turn right onto Redmond Way

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward I 405 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 405 North
6
4.4 mi into trip | ~8m 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.
7
14.7 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia

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. Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
5
15.3 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 5

Merge onto I 5

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.31 one way

$36.63 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $19.21 $38.41
premium $5.77 $19.87 $39.74
diesel $5.61 $19.32 $38.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 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 26.3 0 $9.19 $4.20
Efficient EV 21.9 0 $7.66 $3.50
EV Truck/SUV 35 0 $12.25 $5.60

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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Redmond, WA

Night in Redmond on Saturday

Local time

9:20 PM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Rain

SSW 14 mph 98% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 14 at 11:13AM PDT until April 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 14 at 11:13AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

Destination

Bellingham, WA

Night in Bellingham on Saturday

Local time

9:20 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°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

10 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

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 87.5-mile trip, with 93% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I-5 and I-405. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 70.2 miles on I-5. This means you'll experience consistent speeds and a generally smooth ride, though it may feel monotonous at times. The route begins with a brief segment on local roads before merging onto the faster-paced interstate system. You'll spend most of your time in the flow of highway traffic, making good time between Redmond and Bellingham.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.2 mi on I 5.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Redmond Way.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Redmond Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Redmond, WA to Bellingham, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.

Vancouver British Columbia

14.7 mi in | ~21m

About the Cities

Starting in Redmond, WA

Full guide →

Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, on the Eastside of Lake Washington. It is a suburb of Seattle, 15 miles (24 km) away. Redmond is home to Microsoft Corporation, which has a large presence in the area. It is also home to Nintendo of America and numerous other companies. It is the self-proclaimed Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.

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 1h 50m. Total distance: 87.5 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 (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.2 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.

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: near the start (Redmond Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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