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Trip from Bellingham, WA to Port Townsend, WA

Drive Time

2h 18m

Distance

73 mi

118 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

19 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m

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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city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the State of Washington, United States

Bellingham, WA

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Washington, United States

Port Townsend, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bellingham, WA to Port Townsend, WA covers 73 miles and takes about 2h 18m 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, I 5, WA 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.9 miles on State Route 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.32 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

36.5 miles from Bellingham, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 18m highway drive covering 73 miles, with most of the trip on State Route 20 and I 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.9 miles on State Route 20.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 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 27.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 20 and I 5. You will hit about 19 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.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73 miles you will encounter 19 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 1.4 miles (Lakeway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 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

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
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

Towns Along This Route

Between Bellingham, WA and Port Townsend, 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 27.9 mi 44m
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
South Main Street 0.6 mi 1m
West Magnolia Street 0.5 mi 1m
Dupont Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Route 20 — 27.9 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham, WA and Port Townsend, 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 · 38 sec · Ferry Dock
Use the left / right lanes.
28

At end of road, turn right onto Water Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Water Street
29

Turn left onto Quincy Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Quincy Street
30

Continue on Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Jefferson Street
31

Turn right onto Tyler Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Tyler Street
32

Arrive at destination

Tyler Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.5 miles from Bellingham, WA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.9 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 73 miles or 2h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36.5 miles or 48m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Townsend, 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 73 miles and 2h 18m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on State Route 20 for about 27.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.5 mi from Bellingham, WA · 48m into the drive

city in Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marysville, WA

37 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

Bremerton, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nooksack, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Bellingham, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Port Townsend, WA

The final approach into Port Townsend, 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 Townsend, 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

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...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 42.8
Caution: Wildlife Viewing Guidelines
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.32 one way

$30.64 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $16.00 $32.00
premium $5.77 $16.59 $33.17
diesel $5.64 $16.22 $32.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Bob's Burgers & Brews - Tesla Supercharger

Burlington, WA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Fairfield Inn & Suites Burlington - Tesla Supercharger

Burlington, WA

Tesla

10 DCFC

Bellingham, WA

Bellingham, WA

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

8 DCFC

Sedro Woolley ROW

Sedro Woolley, WA

RED_E

8 DCFC

Kroger-Fred Meyer 25 (Bellingham, WA)

Bellingham, WA

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Lummi Bay Market 260

Bellingham, WA

EV Connect

4 DCFC

Fred Meyer 667 (Bellingham, WA)

Bellingham, WA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

RAG - CJDR Bellingham

Bellingham, WA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 5 EV Connect: 3 Electrify America: 2 RED_E: 2 Tesla: 2 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 Blink Network: 1 eVgo Network: 1 EVCS: 1 FLO: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.9 0 $7.66 $3.50
Efficient EV 18.3 0 $6.39 $2.92
EV Truck/SUV 29.2 0 $10.22 $4.67

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Bellingham, WA

Afternoon in Bellingham on Monday

Local time

2:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Port Townsend, WA

Afternoon in Port Townsend on Monday

Local time

2:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

41°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

1 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

2h 18m 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 Townsend, WA covers 73 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 20, I 5, WA 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.5 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 $15.32 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 73 miles you will encounter 19 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 1.4 miles (Lakeway Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Between Bellingham, WA and Port Townsend, WA, road signs point toward Anacortes, Oak Harbor and Port Townsend Ferry.

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Return Trip

Port Townsend, WA to Bellingham, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

73.4 mi 2h 19m

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