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Trip from Redmond, WA to Bellingham, WA

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 50m

Distance

87.5 mi

141 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m

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

Downtown Redmond, WA, WA

Redmond, WA

Harrison Reilly

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

Bellingham, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 87.5-mile drive from Redmond, WA, to Bellingham, WA, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I-5 and I-405, with a short section on Redmond Way at the start. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this route offers a straightforward journey with no designated stops, allowing you to set your own pace. It's a highway-focused drive that keeps you moving efficiently through the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Consider this an excellent option if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two Washington cities.

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

43.7 miles from Redmond, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 87.5-mile trip, with 93% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I-5 and I-405. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 70.2 miles on I-5. This means you'll experience consistent speeds and a generally smooth ride, though it may feel monotonous at times. The route begins with a brief segment on local roads before merging onto the faster-paced interstate system. You'll spend most of your time in the flow of highway traffic, making good time between Redmond and Bellingham.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 70.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Redmond Way.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 87.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Redmond Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Redmond Way

Turn right onto Redmond Way

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward I 405 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 405 North
6
4.4 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 405

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.7 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
5
15.3 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 5

Merge onto I 5

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Redmond, WA to Bellingham, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.

Vancouver British Columbia

14.7 mi in | ~21m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 70.2 mi 1h 22m
I 405 11.4 mi 14m
Redmond Way 2.1 mi 4m
Northeast 85th Street 0.9 mi 1m
East Holly Street 0.6 mi 1m
Dupont Street 0.5 mi 1m
Lakeway Drive 0.4 mi 1m
Prospect Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 70.2 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on WA 202

30 ft · 7 sec · 164th Avenue Northeast
2

Turn right onto Redmond Way

2.1 mi · 4 min · Redmond Way
Use the right lane.
3

Continue on Northeast 85th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northeast 85th Street
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 405 North Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 405

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 405
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

8.4 mi · 10 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

1.9 mi · 2 min · I 405
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 5

70 mi · 1 hr 22 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 27 sec
Exit 253 Toward Lakeway Drive
11

Turn right onto King Street

471 ft · 9 sec · King Street
12

Turn right onto Lakeway Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Lakeway Drive
13

Continue on East Holly Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Holly Street
14

Turn right onto Bay Street

77 ft · 2 sec · Bay Street
15

Turn left onto Prospect Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Prospect Street
16

Continue on Dupont Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dupont Street
17

Arrive at destination

Dupont Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 50-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can leave whenever it suits you, but an early morning departure will help you avoid potential traffic on I-5. With no required stops, you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps pulling over at a rest area on I-5 if you need to stretch. Factor in the estimated $18 fuel cost for your budget. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of the transition from Redmond Way onto I-405, as this initial merge can sometimes have moderate traffic, especially during peak hours.

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 43.7 miles from Redmond, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.7 miles or 56m 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 32m

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 Redmond, 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 Redmond, WA

This is one driving day of about 87.5 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Redmond, 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 70.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.7 mi from Redmond, WA · 56m into the drive

city in Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marysville, WA

44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marysville, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Redmond, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.2 miles.

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

$18.31 one way

$36.63 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $19.21 $38.41
premium $5.77 $19.87 $39.74
diesel $5.61 $19.32 $38.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.3 0 $9.19 $4.20
Efficient EV 21.9 0 $7.66 $3.50
EV Truck/SUV 35 0 $12.25 $5.60

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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 data refreshed 16 hours ago

Origin

Redmond, WA

Late night in Redmond on Wednesday

Local time

4:43 AM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Rain

SSW 14 mph 98% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 14 at 11:13AM PDT until April 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 14 at 11:13AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

Destination

Bellingham, WA

Late night in Bellingham on Wednesday

Local time

4:43 AM

PDT

Current temp

59°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

10 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 50m 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 Redmond, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 87.5 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, Redmond Way. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.7 miles from Redmond, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.31 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 87.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Redmond Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Redmond, WA to Bellingham, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.

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