Origin
Ferndale, WA
Morning in Ferndale on Friday
Local time
11:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ferndale, WA to Bellingham, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
8.1 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ferndale, WA
Engin Akyurt
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 8.1-mile drive from Ferndale to Bellingham, Washington, will only take about 12 minutes, making it a perfect quick trip. With a modest fuel cost of around $2, it's an economical journey. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 63% of it being on the interstate. Since it's so brief, it's ideal as a single-day excursion and doesn't require an overnight stay. You'll be traveling within the Pacific Coast region for the entirety of this drive, staying within Washington state.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 12m. Total distance: 8.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 63% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.1 miles on I-5, indicating a good portion of the journey involves consistent, higher speeds. While the majority is interstate, the route also incorporates local roads like Northwest Avenue and Main Street, offering a slight change of pace as you approach your destination. This mix provides a straightforward driving experience that transitions from open highway to more populated areas.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 5.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ferndale, WA to Bellingham, WA is easy. At 12m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (Northwest Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
6.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Northwest Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Northwest Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Northwest Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Elm Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 257 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dupont Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 5.1 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ferndale, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
3
Merge onto I 5
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 5
4
Take the exit
260 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 257
Toward Northwest Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on 257
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
257
Toward Northwest Avenue
6
Turn straight onto Northwest Avenue
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
Northwest Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto Northwest Avenue
117 ft
·
6 sec
·
Northwest Avenue
8
Continue on Northwest Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest Avenue
9
Continue on Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Elm Street
10
Turn slight left onto Dupont Street
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
Dupont Street
11
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.70 one way
$3.39 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $1.78 | $3.56 |
| premium | $5.77 | $1.84 | $3.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.79 | $3.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.71 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Bellingham, WA
Morning in Bellingham on Friday
Local time
11:19 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
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
12m 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 Ferndale, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 8.1 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Northwest Avenue, Main 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 4.1 miles from Ferndale, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.70 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.
The drive from Ferndale, WA to Bellingham, WA is easy. At 12m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (Northwest Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Ferndale, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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