Origin
Mount Vernon, WA
Night in Mount Vernon on Sunday
Local time
9:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Vernon, WA to Bellingham, WA
Drive Time
39m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Vernon, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Bellingham, WA
William Jacobs
Trip Overview
Traveling between Mount Vernon and Bellingham is a quick, straightforward journey covering 28.5 miles along the Pacific Coast. With a total drive time of approximately 39 minutes, this route is easily managed as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend about $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a short trip. The drive utilizes I-5 as its primary artery, transitioning into local roads like Riverside Drive and East Holly Street upon arrival. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, the transition is seamless and familiar. It is a highly practical connection for those looking to move efficiently between these two Washington hubs.
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
14.2 miles from Mount Vernon, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 28.5-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your trip, specifically 24.9 miles, cruising uninterrupted on I-5. Because the route relies so heavily on the interstate, you can expect a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a winding or technical drive. The personality of the road shifts only at the very beginning and end as you navigate off the highway onto Riverside Drive and East Holly Street. Behind the wheel, it feels like a standard, functional transit route where the focus is on speed and efficiency rather than leisurely exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 24.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and East Holly Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Fulton Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Fulton Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (WA 538 / East College Way): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Fulton Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Fulton Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
WA 538 / East College Way
Turn left onto WA 538 / East College Way
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
5
26.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Lakeway Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 253
Toward Lakeway Drive
4
26.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
King Street
Turn right onto King Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 24.9 mi | 29m |
| East Holly Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Riverside Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dupont Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lakeway Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East College Way | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 24.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on North 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
North 5th Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Fulton Street
276 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Fulton Street
3
Turn right onto North 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
North 4th Street
4
Continue on Riverside Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Drive
5
Turn left onto WA 538
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East College Way
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 5
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 253
Toward Lakeway Drive
9
Turn right onto King Street
471 ft
·
9 sec
·
King Street
10
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeway Drive
11
Continue on East Holly Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Holly Street
12
Turn right onto Bay Street
77 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bay Street
13
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Prospect Street
14
Continue on Dupont Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dupont Street
15
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 39-minute duration, you have total flexibility regarding your departure time, as there is no need to worry about long-distance pacing or fatigue. Since the entire trip requires only about $6 in fuel, you can easily budget for a round trip without needing to plan for additional refueling stops. While the drive is simple, keep a close eye on traffic patterns when transitioning from I-5 to the local streets of Bellingham. Because the highway stretch is so long and dominant, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds before you merge. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to spend more time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
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 14.2 miles from Mount Vernon, WA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 28.5 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.2 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
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 Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, WA
This is one driving day of about 28.5 miles and 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mount Vernon, 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 24.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.2 mi from Mount Vernon, WA · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.2 miles from Mount Vernon, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.98 one way
$11.96 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $6.25 | $12.49 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.48 | $12.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Night in Bellingham on Sunday
Local time
9:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
39m 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 Mount Vernon, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 28.5 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, East Holly Street, Riverside Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 miles from Mount Vernon, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.98 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 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Fulton Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (WA 538 / East College Way): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mount Vernon, WA to Bellingham, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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