Origin
Tukwila, WA
Afternoon in Tukwila on Saturday
Local time
12:16 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tukwila, WA to Bellingham, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
99.9 mi
161 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tukwila, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Bellingham, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tukwila, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 99.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Interurban Avenue South, East Holly Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 96.8 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.91 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
50 miles from Tukwila, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 96.8 mi | 1h 55m |
| Interurban Avenue South | 0.7 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 |
| 58th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| King Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 96.8 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tukwila, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on South 144th Street
47 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 144th Street
2
Turn left onto 58th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
58th Avenue South
3
Continue on South 141st Place
445 ft
·
19 sec
·
South 141st Place
4
Turn left onto Interurban Avenue South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interurban Avenue South
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 5 North
6
Merge onto I 5
97 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 253
Toward Lakeway Drive
8
Turn right onto King Street
471 ft
·
9 sec
·
King Street
9
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeway Drive
10
Continue on East Holly Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Holly Street
11
Turn right onto Bay Street
77 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bay Street
12
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Prospect Street
13
Continue on Dupont Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dupont Street
14
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 50 miles from Tukwila, WA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.8 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
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 Tukwila, 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 Tukwila, WA
This is one driving day of about 99.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Tukwila, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 96.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50 miles from Tukwila, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 98.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
58th Avenue South
Turn left onto 58th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Interurban Avenue South
Turn left onto Interurban Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 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
98 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward Lakeway Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 253
Toward Lakeway Drive
4
98.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
King Street
Turn right onto King Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.91 one way
$41.82 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $21.93 | $43.85 |
| premium | $5.77 | $22.69 | $45.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.06 | $44.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30 | 0 | $10.49 | $4.80 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.74 | $4.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.39 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Bellingham, WA
Afternoon in Bellingham on Saturday
Local time
12:16 PM
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
7 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
2h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
99.9 mi in 2h 4m, mostly highway — 96.8 mi of that is on I 5.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.8 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Interurban Avenue South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 58th Avenue South.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tukwila, WA to Bellingham, WA is easy. At 2h 4m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (58th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Interurban Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 99.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.8 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (58th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Interurban Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bellingham, WA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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