Origin
Blaine, WA
Late night in Blaine on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, WA to Bellingham, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
21.5 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 21.5-mile drive from Blaine to Bellingham, WA, is easily manageable in about 26 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I-5, which accounts for 88% of the journey, offering a straightforward highway-focused experience. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this route is budget-friendly and requires no overnight stays. Since both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region and the state of Washington, you're staying within familiar territory. It's a quick hop that gets you where you need to go without much fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 21.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 88% of the mileage on I-5. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.8 miles on the interstate, allowing for a consistent pace. While the majority of the route utilizes the efficiency of I-5, there are brief transitions onto Northwest Avenue and Elm Street as you approach your destination. This means the character shifts slightly from open highway to more local road conditions near the end of your journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 18.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near WA 548 / Peace Portal Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (WA 548 / Peace Portal Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WA 548 / Peace Portal Drive
At end of road, turn right onto WA 548 / Peace Portal Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 5 South
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
19.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Northwest Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 257
Toward Northwest Avenue
5
19.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Northwest Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Northwest Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| Northwest Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| H Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Peace Portal Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 257 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dupont Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 18.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on H Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
H Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto WA 548
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Peace Portal Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 5 South
4
Merge onto I 5
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 5
5
Take the exit
260 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 257
Toward Northwest Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on 257
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
257
Toward Northwest Avenue
7
Turn straight onto Northwest Avenue
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
Northwest Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto Northwest Avenue
117 ft
·
6 sec
·
Northwest Avenue
9
Continue on Northwest Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest Avenue
10
Continue on Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Elm Street
11
Turn slight left onto Dupont Street
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Dupont Street
12
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.86 round trip
$5.23/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $4.71 | $9.42 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.88 | $9.77 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $4.63 | $9.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Bellingham, WA
Late night in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
26m 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 Blaine, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 21.5 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Northwest Avenue, Elm Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.7 miles from Blaine, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.43 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 is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (WA 548 / Peace Portal Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Blaine, WA to Bellingham, 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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bellingham, WA
More trips to Bellingham, WA
Explore more options from Blaine, WA or browse trips ending in Bellingham, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.