How far is Bellingham, WA from Cottage Lake, WA?

The driving distance from Bellingham, WA to Cottage Lake, WA is about 85.5 miles (137.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 72.6 miles (116.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 38m 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
85.53 mi
01h 49m
Flight
72.65 mi
116.92 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
72.65 mi
Kilometers
116.92 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
85.53 mi
Kilometers
137.64 km
Drive Time
01h 49m

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 01h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cottage Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 6:25 AM PDT
Return by in Bellingham
Sun, Apr 19, 8:14 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bellingham
2026-04-19T04:35
Arrive Cottage Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 6:25 AM PDT
Route Timing
01h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM PDT

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

Leave by
2:52 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
Arlington
WA

City in northern Snohomish County, Washington, United States

From Bellingham
42.8 mi
00h 54m
To Cottage Lake
42.8 mi
00h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
9 mph SSE
Destination
66°F
Sunday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bellingham and Cottage Lake.

  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

    69.6 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton

    1.5 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1.5 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    5.2 mi · 6 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward WA 522 East: Woodinville

    1012 ft · 29 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Duvall, Northeast 195th Street

    1165 ft · 28 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    93 m · 8 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Northeast North Woodinville Way

    1.3 km · 2 min · Northeast North Woodinville Way

  17. 17

    Continue on Northeast Woodinville Duvall Road

    3 mi · 5 min · Northeast Woodinville Duvall Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Avondale Road Northeast

    1.4 km · 2 min · Avondale Road Northeast

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Northeast 159th Street

    1078 ft · 1 min · Northeast 159th Street

  20. 20

    Turn sharp left onto 195th Place Northeast

    127 m · 18 sec · 195th Place Northeast

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 195th Place Northeast

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 5 South
69.9 mi · 82%
I 405 South
6.99 mi · 8%
Northeast Woodinville Duvall Road
2.98 mi · 3%
Avondale Road Northeast
0.84 mi · 1%
Northeast North Woodinville Way
0.79 mi · 1%
West Magnolia Street
0.5 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 5 South

Merge slight left

69.6 mi · 01h 22m

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
01h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.9 mi
72.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arlington
00h 54m from Bellingham
Leave By
2:52 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Bellingham and Chance Light Rain near Cottage Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bellingham to Cottage Lake?

The road trip is about 85.5 miles (137.6 km) and usually takes 01h 49m 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?

Arlington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.8 miles from Bellingham and 42.8 miles from Cottage Lake.

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

The direct path is about 72.6 miles (116.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.9 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 2:52 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.80 one way or $31.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Bellingham and Chance Light Rain near Cottage Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Arlington

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Arlington, 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 Arlington.

RAIL

Stanwood station

17 mi away
27111 Florence Way
RAIL

Everett Station

25 mi away
3201 Smith Ave.
RAIL

Skagit Transportation Center

30 mi away
105 East Kincaid St.
BUS

Monroe, Washington

40 mi away
118 North Lewis St., Suite 112

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bellingham and Cottage Lake. Straight-line distance: 72.65 mi (116.92 km).

Bellingham

#1 Bellingham

The most populous city in Whatcom County, Washington.

Population93,955
Coordinates48.7595500, -122.4882200
Altitude21
CountryUnited States
Cottage Lake

#2 Cottage Lake

Census designated place

Population22,494
Coordinates47.7442700, -122.0773500
Altitude72
CountryUnited States
Start: Bellingham (-122.48822, 48.75955)
End: Cottage Lake (-122.07735, 47.74427)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 138 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.02 gal
11.42 L · about $15.80
Round trip
$31.61
6.04 gal · 22.84 L
Estimated CO2
26.8 kg one way
Round trip: 53.7 kg / 118 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $15.80 $31.61
Mid-grade $5.57 $16.81 $33.62
Premium $5.77 $17.43 $34.86
Diesel $5.47 $16.51 $33.02

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Bellingham and Cottage Lake. The current time is 04:35:57.

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.