Origin
Bellingham, WA
Afternoon in Bellingham on Thursday
Local time
2:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellingham, WA to Arlington, WA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
50 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bellingham, WA to Arlington, WA covers 50 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, State Highway 530 Northeast, WA 530 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.9 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 50 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and State Highway 530 Northeast. The longest continuous stretch is about 43.9 miles on I 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 43.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Highway 530 Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near West Champion Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (West Champion Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Lakeway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Champion Street
Turn left onto West Champion Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Lakeway Drive
Turn left onto Lakeway Drive
Navigation decision point
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Seattle
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
8
45.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington, Sauk-Suiattle Reservation
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 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington, Sauk...
5
48.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
WA 530
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bellingham, WA and Arlington, WA, road signs point toward Darrington and Sauk-Suiattle Reservation.
Darrington
45.7 mi in
|
~55m
Sauk-Suiattle Reservation
45.7 mi in
|
~55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 43.9 mi | 49m |
| State Highway 530 Northeast | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| WA 530 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Magnolia Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dupont Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lakeway Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ellis Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 43.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Arlington, WA.
1
Start on Dupont Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dupont Street
2
Continue on Prospect Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Prospect Street
3
Turn left onto West Champion Street
352 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Champion Street
4
Continue on West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Magnolia Street
5
Turn right onto Ellis Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ellis Street
6
Turn left onto Lakeway Drive
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Lakeway Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
8
Merge onto I 5
44 mi
·
49 min
·
I 5
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington, Sauk-Suiattle Reservation
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto WA 530
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 530 Northeast
11
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
51 ft
·
0 sec
·
WA 530
12
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
WA 530
13
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 530
14
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 530
15
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
96 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
16
Continue on West Division Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Division Street
17
Enter roundabout
124 ft
·
3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25 mi from Bellingham, WA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Bellingham, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, WA
The final approach into Arlington, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.46 one way
$20.93 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.35 | $22.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
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
Arlington, WA
Afternoon in Arlington on Thursday
Local time
2:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Burlington, WA
25 mi in
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
1 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 Bellingham, WA to Arlington, WA covers 50 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, State Highway 530 Northeast, 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 25 miles from Bellingham, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.46 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 straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (West Champion Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Lakeway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Between Bellingham, WA and Arlington, WA, road signs point toward Darrington and Sauk-Suiattle Reservation.
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