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Trip from Lake Stevens, 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

1h 23m

Distance

64 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

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

Downtown Lake Stevens, WA, WA

Lake Stevens, WA

JOHN CALLERY

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

Bellingham, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 64-mile drive from Lake Stevens to Bellingham, Washington, is a quick 1 hour and 23 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, with 89% of the journey on highways like I-5. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, and with no designated stops in the data, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between two points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. It offers a practical and uncomplicated transit experience.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 64 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 64-mile trip. With 89% of the route on major roads, the pace is generally fast, primarily utilizing I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch on this journey is 53.6 miles on I-5, indicating long periods of consistent highway driving. While mostly interstate, the route does incorporate some local roads like 64th Street Northeast and State Route 9, offering brief diversions from the main freeway. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and short segments on more local thoroughfares.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 53.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 64th Street Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near WA 92 / State Route 92.

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 1h 23m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (WA 92 / State Route 92): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.5 miles (WA 92 / State Route 92): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.2 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | WA 92 / State Route 92

Enter roundabout onto WA 92 / State Route 92

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | WA 92 / State Route 92

Enter roundabout onto WA 92 / State Route 92

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
8.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia

Navigation decision point

Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
5
8.5 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 5

Merge onto I 5

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
62.1 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Take the exit toward Lakeway Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 253 Toward Lakeway Drive

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 53.6 mi 1h 1m
64th Street Northeast 2.7 mi 4m
State Route 9 1.8 mi 2m
State Route 92 1.7 mi 3m
Grade Road 1.2 mi 2m
4th Street 0.7 mi 1m
East Holly Street 0.6 mi 1m
Dupont Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 53.6 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Stevens, WA and Bellingham, WA.

1

Start on Main Street

377 ft · 19 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto Grade Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Grade Road
3

Turn left onto WA 92

0.3 mi · 37 sec · State Route 92
4

Enter roundabout onto WA 92

82 ft · 4 sec · State Route 92
5

Continue on WA 92

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Route 92
6

Enter roundabout onto WA 92

100 ft · 2 sec · State Route 92
7

Continue on WA 92

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Route 92
8

Continue on WA 9

1.8 mi · 2 min · State Route 9
9

Turn left onto WA 528

2.7 mi · 4 min · 64th Street Northeast
10

Continue on WA 528

0.7 mi · 1 min · 4th Street
11

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
12

Merge onto I 5

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 27 sec
Exit 253 Toward Lakeway Drive
14

Turn right onto King Street

471 ft · 9 sec · King Street
15

Turn right onto Lakeway Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lakeway Drive
16

Continue on East Holly Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Holly Street
17

Turn right onto Bay Street

77 ft · 2 sec · Bay Street
18

Turn left onto Prospect Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Prospect Street
19

Continue on Dupont Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dupont Street
20

Arrive at destination

Dupont Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32 mi from Lake Stevens, WA · 43m into the drive

city in Skagit County, Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Burlington, WA

32 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

Arlington, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Burlington, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32 miles from Lake Stevens, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bellingham, WA

The final approach into Bellingham, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.39 one way

$26.79 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $14.05 $28.09
premium $5.77 $14.53 $29.07
diesel $5.61 $14.13 $28.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.2 0 $6.72 $3.07
Efficient EV 16 0 $5.60 $2.56
EV Truck/SUV 25.6 0 $8.96 $4.10

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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

Lake Stevens, WA

Evening in Lake Stevens on Friday

Local time

8:39 PM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bellingham, WA

Evening in Bellingham on Friday

Local time

8:39 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

58°F

Burlington, WA

32 mi in

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

13 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

1h 23m 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 Lake Stevens, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 5, 64th Street Northeast, State Route 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 32 miles from Lake Stevens, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.39 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 1h 23m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (WA 92 / State Route 92): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.5 miles (WA 92 / State Route 92): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.2 miles: Navigation decision point.

The route from Lake Stevens, 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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