The drive from Bellingham, WA to Port Angeles, WA covers 119.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Route 20, Olympic Highway, I 5 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.6 miles on State Route 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.93 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
59.6 miles from Bellingham, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 119.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Bellingham, WA to Port Angeles, WA covers 119.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
503 ft0 ft
Total Climb
1,134 ft
Total Descent
1,163 ft
Highest Point
503 ft
~8.5 mi in
Elevation Range
503 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 25 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.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 119.1 miles you will encounter 25 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 36.2 miles (WA 20 / State Route 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These 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
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
6
36.2 mi into trip|~48m in|WA 20 / State Route 20
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 20 / State Route 20 toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
7
36.3 mi into trip|~48m in|WA 20 / State Route 20
Enter roundabout onto WA 20 / State Route 20 toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
6
72.3 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|WA 20 / Water Street
At end of road, turn left onto WA 20 / Water Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
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 Port Angeles, WA, road signs point toward Anacortes, Oak Harbor and Port Townsend Ferry.
Anacortes
24.4 mi in|~31m
Oak Harbor
36.2 mi in|~48m|via WA 20
Port Townsend Ferry
36.2 mi in|~48m|via WA 20
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 20
37.6 mi
59m
Olympic Highway
32.6 mi
48m
I 5
22.6 mi
26m
WA 20
9.5 mi
14m
Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry
5.8 mi
34m
Engle Road
3.3 mi
6m
East Sims Way
1.7 mi
4m
East Front Street
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
State Route 20
— 37.6 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Port Angeles, 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
23 mi·26 min·I 5
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WA 20: Burlington, Anacortes
10
Turn left onto WA 20
11 mi·16 min·State Route 20
11
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 20
302 ft·4 sec·State Route 20
Toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
12
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
286 ft·3 sec·State Route 20
Toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
13
Continue on WA 20
0.6 mi·1 min·State Route 20
Toward Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry
14
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
110 ft·2 sec·State Route 20
15
Continue on WA 20
7.9 mi·14 min·State Route 20
16
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
87 ft·1 sec·State Route 20
17
Continue on WA 20
4.7 mi·6 min·State Route 20
18
Continue on WA 20
255 ft·4 sec·State Route 20
19
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
52 ft·0 sec·State Route 20
20
Continue on WA 20
3.1 mi·6 min·State Route 20
21
Turn right onto WA 20
9.5 mi·14 min·WA 20
22
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
23
Continue on Engle Road
3.3 mi·6 min·Engle Road
24
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·29 sec
25
Turn left onto WA 20
92 ft·1 sec·State Route 20
26
Turn straight onto WA 20
5.8 mi·34 min·Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry
27
Continue on WA 20
0.1 mi·41 sec·Ferry Dock
Use the left / right lanes.
28
At end of road, turn left onto WA 20
0.3 mi·48 sec·Water Street
29
Turn straight onto WA 20
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Sims Way
30
Enter roundabout onto East Sims Way
82 ft·1 sec·East Sims Way
31
Continue on East Sims Way
1.5 mi·3 min·East Sims Way
32
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
113 ft·2 sec·West Sims Way
33
Continue on WA 20
0.3 mi·40 sec·West Sims Way
34
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
102 ft·1 sec·West Sims Way
35
Continue on WA 20
0.4 mi·47 sec·West Sims Way
36
Continue on WA 20
2.1 mi·3 min·State Route 20
37
Continue on WA 20
7.7 mi·11 min·State Route 20
38
Continue on WA 20
476 ft·8 sec·State Highway 20
39
Turn right onto US 101
33 mi·48 min·Olympic Highway
40
Take the exit onto US 101
392 ft·11 sec·East Front Street
41
Merge onto US 101
1.6 mi·3 min·East Front Street
42
Turn left onto US 101
231 ft·13 sec·North Lincoln Street
43
Turn left
231 ft·19 sec
44
Arrive at destination
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 59.6 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 80 miles or 2h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Angeles, 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 119.1 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 State Route 20 for about 37.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.6 mi from Bellingham, WA
· 1h 26m into the drive
The midpoint is around 59.6 miles from Bellingham, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Port Angeles, WA
The final approach into Port Angeles, 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 Port Angeles, 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.
San Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 41.1
With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of yea...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 119.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.93 one way
$49.85 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$26.14
$52.28
premium
$5.77
$27.05
$54.09
diesel
$5.61
$26.30
$52.59
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: 41.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.7
0
$12.51
$5.72
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.42
$4.76
EV Truck/SUV
47.6
0
$16.67
$7.62
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
Late night
in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Angeles, WA
Late night
in Port Angeles on Saturday
Local time
1:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°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
3 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
3h 30m 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 Port Angeles, WA covers 119.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 20, Olympic Highway, I 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.6 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 $24.93 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 119.1 miles you will encounter 25 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 36.2 miles (WA 20 / State Route 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bellingham, WA and Port Angeles, WA, road signs point toward Anacortes, Oak Harbor and Port Townsend Ferry.
