Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Bellingham Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Quick Links
you are kicked out of the gate area at about 1am, so you are forced to go back through security even though you didn’t leave the airport – a traveller (2016)
BLI Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Bellingham International Airport.
What to Expect
Bellingham Airport (code: BLI) consists of a small four-gate terminal separated into a departures and arrivals area. The airside contains a restaurant/lounge and gift shop, and there is a smaller gift shop on the landside, all of which reportedly close early in the evening, leaving only vending machine food during the overnight hours. Due to the airport’s close proximity to British Columbia, Canada, the airport is often used as a low-cost alternative to Vancouver International Airport. A shuttle is available between Bellingham Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Sea-Tac Airport. WiFi is available to help pass the time. There are no private lounges at this airport.
Sleeping in Bellingham Airport
The airport is open 24 hours a day, but the security checkpoint closes at night. One traveller reported that you can remain in the gate area after security closes but can re-enter should you leave. Another traveller said all passengers are restricted to the landside after security closes. Whatever the case, there is comfortable armrest-free seating conducive to sleeping. The airport gets cold at night, so consider bringing extra layers or a travel blanket. For uninterrupted sleep, there are several hotels near the airport. See Airport Hotels in the guide below or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.
Good to Know
In the pre-Covid era, Alaska Airlines was known to provide stranded passengers with travel kits containing basic grooming supplies, such as toothpaste and toothbrush. Whether that generosity still exists is doubtful, but ask and let us know.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, scroll down to explore more in our Bellingham Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
The public area of the terminal is open 24 hours a day, and passengers are permitted to stay regardless of the hour. Security opens at 3:30 AM and closes after the last flight.
Remember that TSA, airline check-in, and baggage drop hours vary according to the flight schedule. Check these hours with your airline. If you are in the public area (landside), you cannot get through to the secure area (airside) until the morning.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Bellingham Airport:
- Holiday Inn Bellingham » Check Rates
- Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport » Check Rates
- La Quinta Inn and Suites Bellingham » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Bellingham Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
There are no pay-per-use lounges in the airport.
Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Food & Drinks
Halibut Henry’s offers coffee and takeaway food both landside and airside. Scotty Brown’s offers full-service dining with bar/lounge airside only. At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options, but vending machines are available.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
We had no information about mobile charging availability at the time of this update. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Showers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at Bellingham Airport. Connect to the “PogoZone-Free-HighSpeed” network.
More Airport Information
Shopping – There is a souvenir type shop located both landside and airside.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Bus
The Number 3 bus connects BLI airport to the Cordata and Downtown stations. The bus does not stop directly at the airport. It may be better to take a taxi to the bus station. Ask for assistance at the airport or visit the Whatcom Transportation website to plan your route.
Car Rentals
The following car rental agencies offer service on-site: Avis • Enterprise / Alamo • Hertz.
Hotel Shuttles
See also Airport Hotels above.
Shared-Ride Shuttles
Several companies offer scheduled or on-demand door-to-door shuttle service to and from the airport. Contact your service provider of choice for details and availability.
Taxis
Metered taxis are readily available in the ground transportation area.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.