Yellow Cab

$3.50 shows on the meter the second you sit down

Yellow Cab runs standard metered taxis from Bellingham International Airport (BLI) Main Terminal, picking up directly outside baggage claim doors 1 and 2. The flag drop sits around $3.50, then climbs per mile, so a quick hop to Bellis Fair Mall comes in under $20 before tip on normal traffic days.

Cabs sit on the curb during main bank arrivals from Alaska and Allegiant, roughly 10:00–22:00, but late-night flights after 23:00 can mean calling dispatch at their posted number on the curbside sign. From the Main Terminal exit to a cab pulling away usually takes under 5 minutes when planes are on time and more than one taxi is staged.

A ride from BLI to downtown Bellingham (around 5 miles) typically lands in the $18–$25 range with light traffic on I-5 and Cornwall Avenue, while Fairhaven sits closer to $28–$35 depending on time of day. If you’re heading up to the Canadian border at Peace Arch, plan on about 20 miles and a fare that can hit $60+ with waiting time at inspection.

Yellow Cab operates 24/7 citywide, but airport coverage outside the 06:00–23:00 flight window can thin out, especially on weekdays after 01:00. Dispatch usually quotes a 10–20 minute wait from downtown to the Main Terminal curb, so build that into your schedule if you’ve got a 06:00 departure and TSA opening around 04:00.

Cars are standard sedans and minivans; four passengers plus two checked-size bags and two carry-ons usually fit fine, but a group of five with ski bags headed to Mount Baker (about 55 miles) should call ahead and ask Yellow Cab to send a minivan. That Mount Baker run regularly lands north of $150 one-way thanks to distance and mountain driving time.

One last tip: stop by the Main Terminal ATM near baggage claim before you head to the curb, then tell the driver your destination and ask for a rough total before leaving the airport; it keeps everyone on the same page for fares and tipping.