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Interstate-5

Interstate-5 exit by exit in Bellingham

Visitor Information about Bellingham, WA,

Bellingham, Whatcom County, State of Washington, USA

Interstate-5

Exits to the north

There is also a larger low resolution version of the map at the bottom of this page.

Bellingham is an interesting stop in your travels. It is the last major city before the U.S./Canadian Border. Visit our Bellingham City Page Bellingham’s beginnings, in 1853, were in coal mines, timber, and commercial salmon fishing. Today the mines are gone, the lumber mills are gone and only a paper mill and a small salmon fishing fleet remain. Page Organization Interstate 5 cuts right through the middle of Bellingham so we have organized a view of the city around the exits on the Interstate. The exits lead to Bellingham’s major tourist areas.

To see the I-5 Exits north of Exit 258 click below.

Exits North of Bellingham

Bellingham’s North End

Exit 258 Bakerview Rd / Bellingham Airport

Bakerview Road is an East/West road that cuts across the Northern Limit of Bellingham. At its West end is the Bellingham International Airport.

The area around the exit is becoming one of Bellingham’s newest shopping areas. Bakerview from here west for about 2 miles is all new shopping areas.

If you go East from Exit 258 for about a mile you will cross Northwest Avenue which is North from Exit 257 (below). If you continue East for about another mile you get to the North Entrance of the Bellis Fair regional shopping mall and surrounding shopping centers, this makes the Bakerview Exit the Southbound entrance to the Mall.

If you continue two blocks further the road intersects with Meridian North of Exit 256 (below). Click on the exit to see recommended businesses. Tourist Information

The tourist’s first stop should be the

Bellingham / Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau off Exit 253 at the corner of Potter and Lincoln Streets. It is truly a great resource with a friendly staff.

The Fisherman’s Memorial (shown above) is located in Tom Glenn Park on Bellingham’s waterfront. The park is a great place to take your children to fly kites. The easiest exit to the waterfront is I-5 Exit 253

North Bellingham area

Exit 257 Northwest Avenue

Northwest road heads north into Whatcom County from Exit 257. Although mainly residential there are also some berry farms and other agricultural uses along the road.

South of the exit on Northwest Avenue you enter the Birchwood shopping area in northern Bellingham. The Birchwood area homes were built in the 1950’s thru the 1970’s and in general the commercial area were built in the 1970’s. There is no lodging in this area.

The southern end of Northwest Avenue used to be US-99 before Interstate-5 was constructed. If you continue South from the exit you will eventually end up in the waterfront area or in downtown Bellingham.

North Bellingham area

Exit 256 Meridian St. / Sumas / Lynden/Lynden Border Crossing

Bellis Fair Shopping Mall

This exit takes you to Meridian Street to the south and to the north the Guide Meridian Road, WA-539 (State Highway SR-539) which goes north to the Lynden and Sumas Canadian Border Crossings

Meridian Street area around the exit is a major shopping area, built in the 1980’s and 90’s, in northern Bellingham. Bellis Fair regional mall is here in the northwest corner of the exit. There are several new motels and restaurants located in the area along with various shopping centers located all around the Mall.

If you travel north from the exit for approximately 1 mile you will come to the intersection with Bakerview Road. Turn left (west) on the Bakerview and you will find the north entrance to Bellis Fair and additional shopping opportunities in the shopping centers along the Bakerview from Meridian to Interstate-5 at the airport.

If you go South (left if Northbound on I-5) you will end up at the waterfront or in downtown Bellingham. If you go North on Meridian you can go all the way to the Canadian Border approximately 15 miles to the north.

The Lynden Border Crossing is open from 8 AM to Midnight. You also reach the cities of Everson (turn right on the Pole Road), Lynden (turn right on Main St.), Sumas (turn right on E.Badger Road), on this road by turning right at the signed roads. The Sumas Border Crossing is open 24 Hours. The Trans-Canada highway is about 2 miles North of the border at Sumas.

This sign on Interstate-5 lets you know you have arrived at Bellingham’s regional shopping mall located at the Meridian Exit 256 of Interstate-5.

North Bellingham area

Exit 255 Sunset Drive /Mt. Baker Scenic Byway

To Sunset Square shopping center, Mt. Baker Ski Area, and the Mt. Baker / Snoqualmie National Forest

Mt. Baker Highway – A Scenic Byway – See old growth forests –

Visit our Scenic Byway page.

Sunset Drive begins in a shopping area in Northeast Bellingham. Sunset Square mall is here along with a post office, fuel, a car wash, and other shopping.

If you continue East past the commercial area you head up the Mt. Baker Highway ending up at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Along the way there are numerous national forest campgrounds, trails, and the villages of Maple Falls and Glacier. You can spend many vacations worth of time visiting the activities available on the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway.

Big Rock Garden Park

One of the many sculptures and other art in the City’s Big Rock Garden Park. A peaceful stop in your travels especially if you like viewing art and walking through the woods.

It is located west of Lake Whatcom on Alabama Hill on Sylvan Street three blocks north of Alabama Street

Lake Whatcom

Twelve mile long Lake Whatcom lies east of Bellingham in a valley between Stewart and Lookout Mountains. Lookout Mountain is the mountain that lies east of Interstate-5 as you approach Bellingham from the south along Lake Samish about 20 mi. north of Mount Vernon. Lake Whatcom lies just over the mountain to the east of Lake Samish.

Lake Whatcom is easiest found by taking Exit 253 – Lakeway Ave. and going east on Lakeway Drive to Electric Ave. Turn left on Electric (a left turn lane provided) and go about 1.5 mi. to Blodel Donovan Park on Lake Whatcom.

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