Origin
Arlington, WA
Night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
9:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, WA to Bellevue, WA
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, WA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Arlington to Bellevue, you are looking at a straightforward 47.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, it serves as a highly efficient day trip that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for this commute. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, it is designed for speed and reliability rather than leisure. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, the lack of necessary stops makes this a simple, predictable transit between two major hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.8 miles from Arlington, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined by its heavy reliance on the interstate system, with 95% of your travel occurring on highways. You will navigate via WA 530, I-5, and I-405, creating a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 25.4 miles on I-5, which accounts for the bulk of your driving time. Because this is a high-speed, highway-focused drive, the experience is functional and utilitarian. Expect a steady, predictable pace as you transition from the more rural feel of Arlington into the dense, multi-lane infrastructure surrounding Bellevue.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 29.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 47.6 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 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
29.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
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.
Exit 182
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
6
31.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
46.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward Northeast 4th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13A
Toward Northeast 4th Street
6
46.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
Northeast 4th Street
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Arlington, WA to Bellevue, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Renton along the way.
Renton
29.7 mi in
|
~38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 25.4 mi | 31m |
| I 405 | 16 mi | 20m |
| WA 530 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Northeast 4th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 108th Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Division Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Division Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 25.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, WA and Bellevue, WA.
1
Start on this road
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on East Division Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Division Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
78 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
4
Continue on West Division Street
345 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Division Street
5
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 530
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
42 ft
·
0 sec
·
WA 530
7
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
WA 530
8
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
58 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 530
9
Continue on WA 530
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
WA 530
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
11
Merge onto I 5
25 mi
·
31 min
·
I 5
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 182
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 405
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 405
Use the none lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 13A
Toward Northeast 4th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 4th Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto 108th Avenue Northeast
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
108th Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right
45 ft
·
3 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1-hour duration, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though planning around peak traffic on I-5 and I-405 is essential to maintain your estimated arrival window. Since the trip is short and requires zero planned stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Arlington to keep your total trip costs near the $10 mark. Because this route is entirely highway-based, stay alert during the transition between major interstates where lane changes become frequent. Take advantage of the trip's brevity by keeping your schedule open, as the quick transit time allows you to maximize your day at your destination in Bellevue.
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 23.8 miles from Arlington, WA, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.4 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 47.6 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.8 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, WA
This is one driving day of about 47.6 miles and 1h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arlington, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 25.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.8 mi from Arlington, WA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 47.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Arlington, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bellevue, WA
The final approach into Bellevue, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bellevue, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.99 one way
$19.98 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $10.43 | $20.87 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.81 | $21.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.58 | $21.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Bellevue, WA
Night in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
9:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°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
13 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 2m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, WA to Bellevue, WA covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, WA 530. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.8 miles from Arlington, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 47.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Arlington, WA to Bellevue, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Renton along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bellevue, WA
More from Arlington, WA
More trips to Bellevue, WA
Explore more options from Arlington, WA or browse trips ending in Bellevue, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.
Explore maps for Arlington, WA or Bellevue, WA on MapSof.net.