Vancouver region Interstate 5 - Commute times
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Commute times for the I-5 corridor in the Vancouver region
Commute times
This page displays average (mean) and reliable (95th percentile) morning and evening peak commute times for weekday trips on I-5 in the Vancouver region from the I-205 interchange to the Interstate Bridge near the Oregon border.
The average peak commute times indicate how long it took, on average, to make these trips during the worst part of the morning (or evening) commute in a given year. The reliable peak commute time shows how much time someone traveling during the worst part of the morning or evening commute would have to allow for their trip in order to arrive at their destination on time on 19 out of 20 days. For details on the methodology used to calculate commute times, refer to WSDOT's
Handbook for Corridor Capacity Evaluation (PDF 5.9MB).
Sources: WSDOT Transportation Safety and Systems Analysis Division and WSDOT TRACFLOW (https://tracflow.wsdot.wa.gov/)
Note: Transit commute travel times were not collected in 2017 or 2018. Highway (GP lane) data collection devices were updated in 2017. Travel times at posted speed are different in some years for some commutes due to the change in the trip length caused by changes in data collection device locations. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the 2020 numbers on measures are not updated or still waiting for an update. Commute times are rounded to the nearest minute.
Multi-year trends
In 2022, the average commute travel times on I-5 corridor continued to worsen compared to 2021 due to the ongoing recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19. However, the commute times were still slightly better than the pre-pandemic levels.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19, commute times were significantly reduced.
From 2018 through 2019, average and reliable peak travel times on I-5 corridor increased in most locations.
Annual highlights
In 2022, average peak travel time and reliable travel time worsened compared to 2021 for southbound I-5 morning commute, due to the continued recovery of traffic volume across the state in the wake of COVID-19. Making the eight-mile trip on I-5 from the I-205 interchange to the Interstate Bridge during the peak morning commute took an average of 12 minutes—four minutes more than the eight minutes at the posted speed limit. However, that was 15 minutes below the reliable 95th percentile travel time of 27 minutes.
Making the eight-mile trip from the Interstate Bridge to the I-205 interchange on I-5 during the peak evening commute took an average of nine minutes, same as in 2021.
In 2021, average peak travel time and reliable travel time were better than 2020. Making the eight-mile trip on I-5 from the I-205 interchange to the Interstate Bridge during the peak morning commute took an average of 9 minutes—one minute more than the eight minutes at the posted speed limit. However, that was five minutes below the reliable 95th percentile travel time of 14 minutes.
Making the eight-mile trip from the Interstate Bridge to the I-205 interchange on I-5 during the peak evening commute took an average of nine minutes.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19 there was a significant decrease in commute times compared to the previous year. Making the eight-mile trip on I-5 from the I-205 interchange to the Interstate Bridge during the peak morning commute took an average of 11 minutes—three minute more than the eight minutes travel at the posted speed limit. However, that was nine minutes below the reliable 95th percentile travel time of 20 minutes.
In contrast, making the eight-mile trip from the Interstate Bridge to the I-205 interchange on I-5 during the peak evening commute took an average of eight minutes. The travel time at posted speed for this route is eight minutes.
In 2019, making the eight-mile trip on I-5 from the I-205 interchange to the Interstate Bridge during the peak morning commute took an average of 18 minutes—10 minutes more than the eight minutes it would have taken to travel the same route at the posted speed limit, but 14 minutes below the reliable travel time of 32 minutes. Making the same trip by transit took an average of 30 minutes (with a reliable travel time of 34 minutes).
In contrast, making the eight-mile trip from the Interstate Bridge to the I-205 interchange on I-5 during the peak evening commute took an average of 9 minutes—one minute more than the eight minutes it would have taken to travel the same route at the posted speed limit, but two minutes less than the reliable travel time of 11 minutes. Making the same trip by transit took an average of 23 minutes (with a reliable travel time of 32 minutes).
In 2018, making the eight-mile trip on I-5 from the I-205 interchange to the Interstate Bridge during the peak morning commute took an average of 16 minutes—eight minutes more than the eight minutes it would have taken to travel the same route at the posted speed limit, but seven minutes below the reliable travel time of 23 minutes.
In contrast, making the eight-mile trip from the Interstate Bridge to the I-205 interchange during the peak evening commute took an average of nine minutes—one minute more than the eight minutes it would have taken to travel the same route at the posted speed limit, but one minutes less than the reliable travel time of 10 minutes.
Transit travel time data was not collected for 2018 due to a pause in publication while WSDOT conducted an engagement process to inform the redesign of this dashboard.