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Trip from Monroe, WA to Bellingham, WA

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

76 mi

122 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m

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 Snohomish County, Washington, United States

Monroe, WA

Wikimedia Commons

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

Bellingham, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Monroe, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 76 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 5, US 2, East Holly Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.7 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.95 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

38 miles from Monroe, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 76 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and US 2. The longest continuous stretch is about 58.7 miles on I 5.

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 58.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and US 2. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 2.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 2): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.3 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 2

Turn left onto US 2

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
14.9 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
5
15.3 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 5

Merge onto I 5

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
74 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Take the exit toward Lakeway Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 253 Toward Lakeway Drive
4
74.2 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | King Street

Turn right onto King Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 58.7 mi 1h 8m
US 2 14.6 mi 19m
East Holly Street 0.6 mi 1m
Dupont Street 0.5 mi 1m
Lakeway Drive 0.4 mi 1m
South Lewis Street 0.3 mi <1m
Prospect Street 0.3 mi <1m
King Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 58.7 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on WA 203

0.3 mi · 52 sec · South Lewis Street
2

Turn left onto US 2

15 mi · 19 min · US 2
Use the left lane.
3

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
4

Merge onto I 5

59 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 27 sec
Exit 253 Toward Lakeway Drive
6

Turn right onto King Street

471 ft · 9 sec · King Street
7

Turn right onto Lakeway Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lakeway Drive
8

Continue on East Holly Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Holly Street
9

Turn right onto Bay Street

77 ft · 2 sec · Bay Street
10

Turn left onto Prospect Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Prospect Street
11

Continue on Dupont Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dupont Street
12

Arrive at destination

Dupont 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 38 miles from Monroe, WA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.7 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 76 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38 miles or 47m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellingham, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Monroe, 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 Monroe, WA

This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monroe, 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 I 5 for about 58.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38 mi from Monroe, WA · 47m into the drive

city in Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marysville, WA

38 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

Nooksack, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marysville, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38 miles from Monroe, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bellingham, 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.

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 2.6
View on nps.gov
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...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour Free near mile 70.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.95 one way

$31.90 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $16.66 $33.31
premium $5.77 $17.27 $34.54
diesel $5.64 $16.88 $33.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.8 0 $7.98 $3.65
Efficient EV 19 0 $6.65 $3.04
EV Truck/SUV 30.4 0 $10.64 $4.86

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Monroe, WA

Afternoon in Monroe on Monday

Local time

2:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bellingham, WA

Afternoon in Bellingham on Monday

Local time

2:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Chance Light Rain

SSW 9 mph 45% chance 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

4 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 35m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Monroe, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 76 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, US 2, East Holly 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 38 miles from Monroe, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.95 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 35m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 2): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.3 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Monroe, WA to Bellingham, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bellingham, WA to Monroe, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

75.7 mi 1h 34m

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