How far is Oak Harbor, WA from Bellingham, WA?

The driving distance from Oak Harbor, WA to Bellingham, WA is about 52.6 miles (84.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33 miles (53.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 14m 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
52.56 mi
01h 07m
Flight
32.99 mi
53.1 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oak Harbor.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.99 mi
Kilometers
53.1 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.56 mi
Kilometers
84.59 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bellingham
Sun, Apr 19, 4:24 AM PDT
Return by in Oak Harbor
Sun, Apr 19, 5:31 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oak Harbor
2026-04-19T03:16
Arrive Bellingham
Sun, Apr 19, 4:24 AM PDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM PDT

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

Leave by
4:16 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oak Harbor
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 Oak Harbor
26.2 mi
00h 33m
To Bellingham
26.3 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph N
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
9 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oak Harbor and Bellingham.

  1. 1

    Start on Southeast Midway Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Southeast Midway Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto State Route 20

    1.5 mi · 3 min · State Route 20

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Route 20

    22 m · 2 sec · State Route 20

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto State Route 20

    4.7 mi · 7 min · State Route 20

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Route 20

    26 m · 1 sec · State Route 20

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto State Route 20

    7.9 mi · 14 min · State Route 20

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Route 20

    43 m · 4 sec · State Route 20

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto State Route 20

    3088 ft · 1 min · State Route 20

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on State Route 20

    61 m · 5 sec · State Route 20

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Sharpes Corner

    5 m · 1 sec · State Route 20

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary onto State Route 20

    11.7 mi · 17 min · State Route 20

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    2035 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    22.7 mi · 26 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Lakeway Drive

    725 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto King Street

    144 m · 9 sec · King Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Lakeway Drive

    2003 ft · 1 min · Lakeway Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on East Holly Street

    3179 ft · 2 min · East Holly Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Bay Street

    24 m · 3 sec · Bay Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Prospect Street

    1333 ft · 39 sec · Prospect Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Dupont Street

    2429 ft · 1 min · Dupont Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Dupont Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Route 20
49.6 mi · 94%
Southeast Midway Boulevard
0.92 mi · 2%
East Holly Street
0.6 mi · 1%
Lakeway Drive
0.52 mi · 1%
Dupont Street
0.46 mi · 1%
Prospect Street
0.25 mi
Longest Stretch

State Route 20

Merge slight left

22.7 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
01h 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.6 mi
33 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burlington
00h 33m from Oak Harbor
Leave By
4:16 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy leaving Oak Harbor and Light Rain Likely near Bellingham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Oak Harbor to Bellingham?

The road trip is about 52.6 miles (84.6 km) and usually takes 01h 07m 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 26.2 miles from Oak Harbor and 26.3 miles from Bellingham.

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

The direct path is about 33 miles (53.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.6 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 4:16 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.68 one way or $19.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Oak Harbor and Bellingham. Straight-line distance: 32.99 mi (53.1 km).

Oak Harbor

#1 Oak Harbor

City in Washington

Population23,643
Coordinates48.2931600, -122.6432200
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Bellingham

#2 Bellingham

The most populous city in Whatcom County, Washington.

Population93,955
Coordinates48.7595500, -122.4882200
Altitude21
CountryUnited States
Start: Southeast Midway Boulevard (-122.643298, 48.29316)
End: Dupont Street (-122.488104, 48.759626)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.85 gal
7.02 L · about $9.68
Round trip
$19.36
3.7 gal · 14.04 L
Estimated CO2
16.4 kg one way
Round trip: 32.9 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $9.68 $19.36
Mid-grade $5.57 $10.30 $20.60
Premium $5.77 $10.68 $21.35
Diesel $5.47 $10.11 $20.23

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 Oak Harbor and Bellingham. The current time is 03:16:49.

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.