This page delivers traffic analytics for Whatcom County, Washington. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Whatcom County, Washington among 601 road miles divided in 11,361 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 280 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
6,642
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.1%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
29.9 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
19.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$84,115
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 6,642 vehicles per day in Whatcom County, Washington that results in 3,927,262 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.4 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 16 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 29.9 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Washington state averages: Whatcom sees 9% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (6,642 vehicles per day against 7,322), suggesting less demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 3,927,262 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.4 billion per year), about 2.5% of Washington's statewide total. Journey times run 10% lower than the state level, at 29.9 minutes on average. Congestion runs 2% lower than the state level, at a ratio of 19.5% - smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. 87% of counties in Washington see less traffic than Whatcom's 6,642 vehicles per day. 8% of counties in Washington have a shorter average travel time than Whatcom's 29.9 minutes.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
14,702
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
34.2 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
30.4%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
44.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$83,736
A significant volume of traffic in Whatcom County, Washington utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 14,702 vehicles per day, 144% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 6,015 vehicles per day. That average covers 102 highway road miles divided in 820 segments (average segment length 657 ft), together carrying 1,685,916 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈615 million per year). 59% of counties in Washington move less traffic on their highways. Trucks constitute 7.4% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (7.4%) is 22% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Whatcom serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. By truck concentration, highways here outrank 16% of counties in Washington. By raw truck volume, Whatcom carries more highway trucks than 53% of counties in Washington.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
6,015
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
5.2%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
29.6 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
18.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$84,424
The non-highway road network in Whatcom County, Washington supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 6,015 vehicles per day, 59% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 14,702 vehicles per day. That average covers 499 non-highway road miles divided in 10,541 segments (average segment length 250 ft), together carrying 2,241,346 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈818 million per year). Trucks constitute 5.2% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 30% lower than the highway network. The non-highway congestion ratio of 18.6% is 5% lower than the state level, suggesting more efficient local mobility than the state average. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 8% of counties in Washington. 61% of counties in Washington see lower average driver income among trip origins than Whatcom. 13% of counties in Washington have a younger driver population than Whatcom.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–5:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 95% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 9% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +8% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -11% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Whatcom County, Washington, the peak hour concentrates about 8% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +8% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Whatcom
Washington
Average
Difference
Traffic
6,642
7,322
-9.3%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
6.1%
7.1%
-13.8%
Truck % (Highway)
7.4%
9.5%
-21.9%
Avg. Travel Time
29.9 min
33.2 min
-9.9%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 6,642 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Whatcom's highway truck share of 7.4% is higher than 16% of counties in Washington.
Traffic volumes are typically 8% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 5,918 vehicles per day - a 11% decrease from the annual average.
Weekday peaks occur between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM in the evening - about 95% above the daily average.
Trucks account for approximately 6.1% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 7.4% on highways.
The average travel time for drivers is 29.9 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
