How far is Bellingham, WA from Yelm, WA?

The driving distance from Bellingham, WA to Yelm, WA is about 151.2 miles (243.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 125.7 miles (202.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
151.2 mi
03h 15m
Flight
125.7 mi
202.29 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bellingham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
125.7 mi
Kilometers
202.29 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
151.2 mi
Kilometers
243.34 km
Drive Time
03h 15m

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 03h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Yelm
Thu, Apr 23, 3:19 AM PDT
Return by in Bellingham
Thu, Apr 23, 6:34 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bellingham
2026-04-23T00:03
Arrive Yelm
Thu, Apr 23, 3:19 AM PDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:28 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bellingham
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Mountlake Terrace
WA

City in Snohomish County, Washington, United States

From Bellingham
75.6 mi
01h 37m
To Yelm
75.7 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SSW
Destination
66°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    118.6 mi · 2 hr 23 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    16.9 mi · 21 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually

    2790 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Mounts Road Southwest

    64 m · 7 sec · Mounts Road Southwest

  12. 12

    Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Nisqually Road Southwest

  13. 13

    Continue on Old Pacific Highway Southeast

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Old Pacific Highway Southeast

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Reservation Road Southeast

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Reservation Road Southeast

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

    61 m · 3 sec · Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

    1091 ft · 21 sec · Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Yelm Highway Southeast

    35 m · 2 sec · Yelm Highway Southeast

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Yelm Highway Southeast

    4.2 mi · 7 min · Yelm Highway Southeast

  19. 19

    Continue on Yelm Highway Southeast

    122 m · 10 sec · Yelm Highway Southeast

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward WA 510 Alternate

    35 m · 2 sec · WA 510 Alternate

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto WA 510 Alternate

    1.4 km · 2 min · WA 510 Alternate

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast

    1 km · 2 min · Killion Road Southeast

  23. 23

    Turn left onto West Yelm Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Yelm Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North 1st Street

    50 m · 6 sec · North 1st Street

  25. 25

    Turn right

    17 m · 4 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 5 South
136 mi · 90%
Yelm Highway Southeast
4.27 mi · 3%
Reservation Road Southeast
2.74 mi · 2%
Nisqually Road Southwest
2.15 mi · 1%
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.65 mi · 1%
WA 510 Alternate
0.92 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 5 South

Merge slight left

119 mi · 02h 23m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.5 mi
125.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mountlake Terrace
01h 37m from Bellingham
Leave By
10:28 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bellingham and Mostly Sunny near Yelm.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 151.2 miles (243.3 km) and usually takes 03h 15m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mountlake Terrace is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.6 miles from Bellingham and 75.7 miles from Yelm.

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

The direct path is about 125.7 miles (202.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:28 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.94 one way or $55.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bellingham and Mostly Sunny near Yelm.

Stop Ideas Near Mountlake Terrace

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

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

RAIL

Edmonds station

6 mi away
211 Railroad Ave.
OTHER

Seattle (Ferry - Pier 69), Washington

20 mi away
2701 Alaskan Way
RAIL

King Street Station

21 mi away
303 South Jackson Street
RAIL

Everett Station

22 mi away
3201 Smith Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bellingham and Yelm. Straight-line distance: 125.7 mi (202.29 km).

Bellingham

#1 Bellingham

The most populous city in Whatcom County, Washington.

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

#2 Yelm

City in Thurston County, Washington, United States

Population9,591
Coordinates46.9420400, -122.6059600
Altitude105
CountryUnited States
Start: Bellingham (-122.48822, 48.75955)
End: Yelm (-122.60596, 46.94204)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 243 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.34 gal
20.2 L · about $27.94
Round trip
$55.89
10.68 gal · 40.4 L
Estimated CO2
47.5 kg one way
Round trip: 94.9 kg / 209 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $27.94 $55.89
Mid-grade $5.57 $29.73 $59.46
Premium $5.77 $30.82 $61.63
Diesel $5.47 $29.19 $58.39

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Bellingham and Yelm. The current time is 00:03:09.

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.