Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
150.3 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
The drive from Olympia, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 150.3 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Union Avenue Southeast, Plum Street Southeast, Lakeway Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.97 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.1 miles from Olympia, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 150.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Union Avenue Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Plum Street Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lakeway Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| King Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Holly Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bay Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Prospect Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dupont Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Olympia, WA and Bellingham, WA.
Start on Capitol Way South
Turn right onto Union Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Plum Street Southeast
Take the ramp straight
Merge slight left
Keep slight right
Take the exit slight right toward Lakeway Drive
Turn right onto King Street
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
Continue on East Holly Street
Turn right onto Bay Street
Turn left onto Prospect Street
Continue on Dupont Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.1 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellingham, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Olympia, 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 Olympia, WA
This is one driving day of about 150.3 miles and 2h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.1 mi from Olympia, WA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75.1 miles from Olympia, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$30.97 one way
$61.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $32.94 | $65.88 |
| premium | $5.77 | $34.15 | $68.30 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $32.35 | $64.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.78 | $7.21 |
| Efficient EV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.15 | $6.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.04 | $9.62 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Olympia on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
36°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Kenmore, WA
75 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Olympia, WA or browse trips ending in Bellingham, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.
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