How far is Bellingham, WA from Anacortes, WA?

The driving distance from Bellingham, WA to Anacortes, WA is about 40.3 miles (64.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18 miles (28.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
40.31 mi
00h 55m
Flight
17.98 mi
28.94 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bellingham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
17.98 mi
Kilometers
28.94 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.31 mi
Kilometers
64.88 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Anacortes
Sat, Apr 18, 12:20 PM PDT
Return by in Bellingham
Sat, Apr 18, 1:16 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bellingham
2026-04-18T11:24
Arrive Anacortes
Sat, Apr 18, 12:20 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:38 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bellingham
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Burlington
WA

City in Skagit County, Washington, United States

From Bellingham
20.1 mi
00h 27m
To Anacortes
20.2 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph ESE
Destination
60°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bellingham and Anacortes.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham and Anacortes.

  1. 1

    Start on Dupont Street

    2418 ft · 1 min · Dupont Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Prospect Street

    1102 ft · 38 sec · Prospect Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Champion Street

    107 m · 12 sec · West Champion Street

  4. 4

    Continue on West Magnolia Street

    2616 ft · 1 min · West Magnolia Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Ellis Street

    700 ft · 27 sec · Ellis Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Lakeway Drive

    1207 ft · 49 sec · Lakeway Drive

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 South: Seattle

    1346 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    22.6 mi · 26 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 20: Burlington, Anacortes

    2470 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto State Route 20

    11.3 mi · 16 min · State Route 20

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on State Route 20 Spur

    2.6 mi · 4 min · State Route 20 Spur

  12. 12

    Turn right onto R Avenue

    1793 ft · 47 sec · R Avenue

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on R Avenue

    28 m · 5 sec · R Avenue

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on R Avenue

    2282 ft · 58 sec · R Avenue

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward R Avenue

    31 m · 6 sec · R Avenue

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto R Avenue

    602 ft · 21 sec · R Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 20th Street

    562 ft · 26 sec · 20th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Commercial Avenue

    2385 ft · 1 min · Commercial Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto 12th Street

    3 m · 1 sec · 12th Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 12th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bellingham and Anacortes.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 5 South
22.8 mi · 57%
State Route 20
11.3 mi · 28%
State Route 20 Spur
2.62 mi · 7%
R Avenue
0.92 mi · 2%
West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi · 1%
WA 20
0.47 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 5 South

Merge slight left

22.6 mi · 00h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.3 mi
18 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burlington
00h 27m from Bellingham
Leave By
4:38 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain leaving Bellingham and Mostly Cloudy near Anacortes.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bellingham to Anacortes?

The road trip is about 40.3 miles (64.9 km) and usually takes 00h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Burlington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.1 miles from Bellingham and 20.2 miles from Anacortes.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 18 miles (28.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:38 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.43 one way or $14.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain around Bellingham and Mostly Cloudy near Anacortes.

Stop Ideas Near Burlington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Burlington, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burlington.

RAIL

Skagit Transportation Center

4 mi away
105 East Kincaid St.
RAIL

Stanwood station

26 mi away
27111 Florence Way
RAIL

Bellingham station

30 mi away
401 Harris Avenue
RAIL

Everett Station

56 mi away
3201 Smith Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bellingham and Anacortes. Straight-line distance: 17.98 mi (28.94 km).

Bellingham

#1 Bellingham

The most populous city in Whatcom County, Washington.

Population93,955
Coordinates48.7595500, -122.4882200
Altitude21
CountryUnited States
Anacortes

#2 Anacortes

City in Washington, United States

Population17,715
Coordinates48.5126000, -122.6126700
Altitude7
CountryUnited States
Start: Bellingham (-122.48822, 48.75955)
End: Anacortes (-122.61267, 48.5126)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 65 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.42 gal
5.39 L · about $7.43
Round trip
$14.86
2.84 gal · 10.78 L
Estimated CO2
12.6 kg one way
Round trip: 25.2 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $7.43 $14.86
Mid-grade $5.57 $7.91 $15.81
Premium $5.77 $8.19 $16.39
Diesel $5.47 $7.76 $15.53

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Washington · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Bellingham and Anacortes. The current time is 11:24:31.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.