The drive from Seattle, WA to Birch Bay, WA covers 110 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Birch Bay Lynden Road, Blaine Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.02 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.
Midpoint
55 miles from Seattle, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 110 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 14m highway drive covering 110 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Birch Bay Lynden Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 104 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 104 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Birch Bay Lynden Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Seattle, WA to Birch Bay, WA is easy. At 2h 14m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|4th Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|University Street
Turn right onto University Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
104.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward Birch Bay, Lynden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Birch Bay, Lynden
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
104 mi
2h 2m
Birch Bay Lynden Road
3 mi
4m
Blaine Road
1.3 mi
2m
Alderson Road
0.8 mi
2m
4th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
University Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Madison Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 104 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Birch Bay, WA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Madison Street
204 ft·11 sec·Madison Street
3
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·4th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto University Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·University Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 5 North
6
Merge onto I 5
104 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Birch Bay, Lynden
8
Turn left onto Birch Bay Lynden Road
3.0 mi·4 min·Birch Bay Lynden Road
9
Turn left onto WA 548
1.3 mi·2 min·Blaine Road
10
Turn right onto Alderson Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Alderson Road
11
Turn right
45 ft·3 sec
12
Arrive at destination
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 55 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55 miles or 1h 6m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birch Bay, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Seattle, 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 Seattle, WA
This is one driving day of about 110 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Seattle, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 104 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55 mi from Seattle, WA
· 1h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.02 one way
$46.04 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$24.14
$48.29
premium
$5.77
$24.98
$49.96
diesel
$5.61
$24.29
$48.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
BoA Georgetown WA3-129 (Seattle, WA)
Seattle, WA
Electrify America
4 DCFC
VOLVO CAR USA SEATTLE DC2
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
EVROADWAY WA-S-COLLEGE01
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
CITY LIGHT SOUTH SERVICE 2
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
CITY LIGHT SOUTH SERVICE 1
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
VOLVO CAR USA SEATTLE DC3
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
CITY LIGHT N BEACON HILL 2
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
VOLVO CAR USA SEATTLE DC1
Seattle, WA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 13
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.40
$7.04
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Seattle, WA
Night
in Seattle on Friday
Local time
10:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birch Bay, WA
Night
in Birch Bay on Friday
Local time
10:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°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
9 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
2h 14m 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 Seattle, WA to Birch Bay, WA covers 110 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Birch Bay Lynden Road, Blaine Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55 miles from Seattle, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.02 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.
The drive from Seattle, WA to Birch Bay, WA is easy. At 2h 14m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Seattle, WA to Birch Bay, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
