The drive from Bellingham, WA to Bremerton, WA covers 118.8 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Southeast Sedgwick Road, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.4 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.86 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 118.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 9m highway drive covering 118.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Southeast Sedgwick Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.4 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 25 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 89.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Southeast Sedgwick Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 118.8 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 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 91.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
91.2 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward West Seattle Bridge, Columbian Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 163A
Toward West Seattle Bridge, Columbian Way
6
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
7
115.9 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward WA 304 East: Bremerton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 36
Toward WA 304 East: Bremerton
6
117.9 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
89.4 mi
1h 46m
Southeast Sedgwick Road
7.2 mi
13m
Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
4.8 mi
29m
State Highway 16 Southwest
3.7 mi
5m
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi
10m
West Seattle Bridge
2.2 mi
3m
State Highway 3 West
1.8 mi
2m
Charleston Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 89.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Bremerton, 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
89 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 163AToward West Seattle Bridge, Columbian WayUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
11
Continue on West Seattle Bridge
2.2 mi·3 min·West Seattle Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi·10 min·Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Barton Street
171 ft·2 sec·Southwest Barton Street
14
Turn slight right onto Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
0.1 mi·12 sec·Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
15
Turn straight onto WA 160
4.8 mi·29 min·Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
16
Continue on WA 160
0.3 mi·1 min·Southworth Ferry
17
Continue on WA 160
7.2 mi·13 min·Southeast Sedgwick Road
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Bremerton
19
Merge onto WA 16
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 16 Southwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on WA 16
1.8 mi·2 min·State Highway 3 West
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Exit 36Toward WA 304 East: BremertonUse the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on WA 304
1.3 mi·2 min·Charleston Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on WA 304
0.3 mi·51 sec·North Callow Avenue
24
Turn right onto 6th Street
1.0 mi·3 min·6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
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 59.4 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.4 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremerton, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bellingham, 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 Bellingham, WA
This is one driving day of about 118.8 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Bellingham, 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 89.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.4 mi from Bellingham, WA
· 1h 13m into the drive
The midpoint is around 59.4 miles from Bellingham, 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 89.4 miles.
Arriving in Bremerton, WA
The final approach into Bremerton, 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 Bremerton, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 4.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.86 one way
$49.73 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$26.08
$52.15
premium
$5.77
$26.98
$53.96
diesel
$5.61
$26.23
$52.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.47
$5.70
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.40
$4.75
EV Truck/SUV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bellingham, WA
Morning
in Bellingham on Friday
Local time
8:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bremerton, WA
Morning
in Bremerton on Friday
Local time
8:22 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
12 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
3h 9m 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 Bremerton, WA covers 118.8 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Southeast Sedgwick Road, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.4 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 $24.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 118.8 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 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 91.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bellingham, WA to Bremerton, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
