Trip from Bellingham, WA to College Place, WA

Drive Time

6h 46m

Distance

352.7 mi

568 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$74

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

6h 34m ★

6 AM

6h 46m

8 AM

7h 10m

10 AM

6h 54m

12 PM

6h 52m

3 PM

6h 56m

5 PM

7h 9m

8 PM

6h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bellingham, WA

William Jacobs

College Place, WA

david hou

Trip Overview

Traveling from Bellingham to College Place covers 352.7 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 46 minutes of drive time. This journey is best suited as a single-day trip, though it requires a focused effort behind the wheel to complete in one go. You will primarily navigate a path across Washington using a combination of I-5, I-90, and I-82. Budgeting approximately $74 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the costs associated with this distance. Since the route stays entirely within Washington, you will transition from the coastal environment of Bellingham toward the inland landscape of College Place. While it is a manageable haul, the duration makes it a substantial commitment that benefits from a well-planned itinerary.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

176.4 miles from Bellingham, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience, as 98% of this route consists of major interstates. You will spend a significant portion of your time maintaining consistent highway speeds, with your longest uninterrupted stretch lasting 100.5 miles along I-90. The character of the road is defined by its efficiency rather than technical curves or local winding lanes. Because you are relying almost exclusively on the interstate system, the drive feels like a steady, purposeful transit across the state. Being prepared for long, repetitive highway miles is essential, as the route is designed for moving quickly between your origin and destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 100.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 71.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 352.7 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 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

71.5 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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

90.4 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle

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 11 Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle

90.8 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 90 East: Spokane

191.9 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in | US 97

Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima

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. Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima

293.9 mi into trip | ~5h 36m in | US 12

Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco

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 102 Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco

Towns Along This Route

Between Bellingham, WA and College Place, WA, road signs point toward Renton, Seattle, I‑182 East and Pasco.

Renton

71.5 mi in | ~1h 26m

Seattle

90.4 mi in | ~1h 50m

I‑182 East

293.9 mi in | ~5h 36m | via US 12

Pasco

293.9 mi in | ~5h 36m | via US 12

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	100.5 mi	1h 51m
I 5	69.6 mi	1h 21m
I 82	64.1 mi	1h 8m
US 12	54.8 mi	1h 2m
US 97	37.8 mi	42m
I 405	18 mi	22m
Wallula Avenue	2.1 mi	3m
Old Highway 12	1.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 100.5 mi, about 1h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and College Place, WA.

Start on Dupont Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dupont Street

Continue on Prospect Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Prospect Street

Turn left onto West Champion Street

352 ft · 11 sec · West Champion Street

Continue on West Magnolia Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Magnolia Street

Turn right onto Ellis Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Ellis Street

Turn left onto Lakeway Drive

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Lakeway Drive

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 5 South: Seattle

Merge onto I 5

70 mi · 1 hr 21 min · I 5

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 182 Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 405

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 405

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

17 mi · 21 min · I 405

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 11 Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Spokane Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 90

101 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 90

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto US 97

38 mi · 42 min · US 97

Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12

64 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 82; US 12

Take the exit onto US 12

55 mi · 1 hr 2 min · US 12

Exit 102 Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Spalding Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Spalding Road

Turn left onto Old Highway 12

1.2 mi · 2 min · Old Highway 12

Turn right onto Wallula Avenue

2.1 mi · 3 min · Wallula Avenue

Enter roundabout

17 ft · 0 sec

Continue

103 ft · 4 sec

Continue on North College Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · North College Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto North College Avenue

0.3 mi · 40 sec · North College Avenue

Turn left onto East Whitman Drive

61 ft · 1 sec · East Whitman Drive

Arrive at destination

East Whitman Drive

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 6 hour and 46 minute journey, aim to depart early in the morning to beat potential congestion near the larger urban corridors. Planning for at least one dedicated stop is highly recommended to break up the drive and keep you alert behind the wheel. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between the interstate segments, and aim to keep your tank topped off to avoid unexpected price spikes. Since you have a 100.5-mile stretch on I-90, ensure you have your podcasts or music playlists ready to go before you merge onto the freeway. Flexibility is your friend here, so adjust your pace if you encounter heavy traffic along the way.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 176.4 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 3h 27m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.5 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 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 176.4 miles or 3h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College Place, 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 352.7 miles and 6h 46m.

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 I 90 for about 100.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 176.4 mi from Bellingham, WA · 3h 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Monroe, WA

176 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

Kenmore, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yakima, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 176.4 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 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.5 miles.

Arriving in College Place, WA

The final approach into College Place, 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 College Place, WA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$74.03 one way

$148.05 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 123 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$77.30	$154.60
premium	$5.77	$80.14	$160.27
diesel	$5.64	$78.36	$156.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$74

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$99–$124

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 123.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	105.8	1	$37.03	$16.93
Efficient EV	88.2	1	$30.86	$14.11
EV Truck/SUV	141.1	1	$49.38	$22.57

Gas CO2

123 kg

EV CO2

41 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Bellingham, WA

Evening in Bellingham on Sunday

Local time

6:09 PM

PDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

College Place, WA

Evening in College Place on Sunday

Local time

6:09 PM

PDT

Current temp

37°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

52°F

Monroe, WA

176 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

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 46m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 College Place, WA covers 352.7 miles and takes about 6h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, I 5, I 82. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 176.4 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 $74.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Bellingham, WA and College Place, WA, road signs point toward Renton, Seattle, I‑182 East and Pasco.

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Trip from Bellingham, WA to College Place, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in College Place, WA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Bellingham, WA

College Place, WA

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 46m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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