Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
110.4 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Photo: William Jacobs
The drive from Bellingham, WA to East Port Orchard, WA covers 110.4 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry, Southeast Sedgwick Road 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 $23.17 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
55.2 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
This is a 2h 54m highway drive covering 110.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.4 miles on I 5.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near West Champion Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.7 miles (West Champion Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto West Champion Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Seattle
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
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
Keep slight right at fork toward Spokane Street, West Seattle Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Long Lake Road Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 89.4 mi | 1h 46m |
| Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry | 4.8 mi | 29m |
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Fauntleroy Way Southwest | 3.7 mi | 10m |
| West Seattle Bridge | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Salmonberry Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Harris Road Southeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Magnolia Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and East Port Orchard, WA.
Start on Dupont Street
Continue on Prospect Street
Turn left onto West Champion Street
Continue on West Magnolia Street
Turn right onto Ellis Street
Turn left onto Lakeway Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on West Seattle Bridge
Continue on Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Barton Street
Turn slight right onto Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
Turn straight onto WA 160
Continue on WA 160
Continue on WA 160
Turn right onto Long Lake Road Southeast
Turn left onto Southeast Salmonberry Road
Enter roundabout onto Southeast Salmonberry Road
Continue on Southeast Salmonberry Road
Turn right onto Harris Road Southeast
At end of road, turn left onto McKinley Place Southeast
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Port Orchard, WA than in the middle of the route.
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 110.4 miles and 2h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.2 mi from Bellingham, WA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.2 miles from Bellingham, 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 89.4 miles.
The final approach into East Port Orchard, 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 East Port Orchard, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.17 one way
$46.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $24.20 | $48.39 |
| premium | $5.77 | $25.08 | $50.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.53 | $49.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
| Efficient EV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.66 | $4.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.46 | $7.07 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
3:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in East Port Orchard on Saturday
Local time
3:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Kenmore, WA
55 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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