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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Blaine
Blaine, Washington
Base in Blaine only if you want the border, the marinas or Birch Bay: one night, or a half-day stop on the I-5 run to Vancouver.
Blaine is the last town on Interstate 5 before Canada, on Semiahmoo Bay about 35 km north of Bellingham. The Peace Arch and two marinas are the draw; Birch Bay, 8 km south, adds the beach and waterslides. Most travellers pass through in an hour or sleep one night before an early border crossing.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Blaine, Washington
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rain and wind)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–110 excl. bed · Mid $110–190 excl. bed · High $190+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Blaine Police non-emergency 360-332-6766
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $4–6 |
| Diner breakfast | $12–18 |
| Fish and chips or a burger | $15–25 |
| Oysters, half dozen | $18–24 |
| Draught beer | $7–9 |
| Peace Arch State Park entry | Free |
| Birch Bay Waterslides day ticket | $30–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BLI · Bellingham International
- Nearest commercial airport, about 30 min south on I-5.
- YVR · Vancouver International
- Across the border in Canada; far more routes, but you cross a border to reach it.
Typical fares
- WTA route 75, Blaine → Bellingham
- about $1–2, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi in town
- $8–15 (check)
- Drive Blaine → Vancouver, BC
- about 50 km (31 mi) plus border wait (check)about 31 mi (50 km) plus border wait (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is the practical choice: I-5 runs through town and Birch Bay is 8 km (5 mi) south. WTA route 75 links Blaine with Ferndale and Bellingham Monday to Saturday; local taxis cover short hops.A car is the practical choice: I-5 runs through town and Birch Bay is 5 mi (8 km) south. WTA route 75 links Blaine with Ferndale and Bellingham Monday to Saturday; local taxis cover short hops.
See and do
Known for
- Peace Arch State Park
- Semiahmoo and Blaine marinas
- Birch Bay
- Salmon, crab and oysters
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, Washington | I-5 south, about 35 km (22 mi); or WTA route 75 Monday to SaturdayI-5 south, about 22 mi (35 km); or WTA route 75 Monday to Saturday | About 40 min by car |
| Lynden | WA-548 east, about 16 km (9.9 mi)WA-548 east, about 9.9 mi (16 km) | About 25 min |
| Ferndale, Washington | I-5 south, about 16 km (9.9 mi)I-5 south, about 9.9 mi (16 km) | About 20 min |
| Point Roberts | Drive north through Canada on BC-99 and back into the US exclave | About 45 min plus two border crossings |
| Anacortes | I-5 south then WA-20 west, about 80 km (50 mi)I-5 south then WA-20 west, about 50 mi (80 km) | About 1 h 15 min |
| Mount Vernon, Washington | I-5 south, about 55 km (34 mi)I-5 south, about 34 mi (55 km) | About 50 min |
Sleep
- Blaine town centre (Peace Portal Drive)
- Walk to the Peace Arch, marinas and restaurants; the practical one-night base.
- Semiahmoo Spit
- Resort and marina on a spit, about 10 min drive west of the centre; quiet, car needed.
- Birch Bay
- Beach, waterslides and RV parks, 8 km (5 mi) south off I-5 exit 270; best for families with a car.Beach, waterslides and RV parks, 5 mi (8 km) south off I-5 exit 270; best for families with a car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the border crossing? | Where is the border crossing? |
| How long is the wait? | How long is the wait? |
| I have nothing to declare. | I have nothing to declare. |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Border waits at the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings can run an hour or more at weekends and holidays; check current wait times before you commit.
- You may walk all of Peace Arch Park from either side, but you must exit the way you entered or pass through the checkpoint formally.
- Summer weekends fill Birch Bay lodging; book ahead.
- Winter storms bring wind and rain off the water; the beach and spit are exposed.
A small, quiet border town; the real risks are winter storms on the water, unlit roads at night and long border queues. Standard US precautions apply.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Blaine yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Peace Arch State Park
- Semiahmoo and Blaine marinas
- Birch Bay
- Salmon, crab and oysters
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Blaine by the Sea — official visitor site: blainebythesea.com/
- Washington State Parks — Peace Arch: www.parks.wa.gov/562/Peace-Arch
- Washington State Parks — Birch Bay: www.parks.wa.gov/170/Birch-Bay
- Whatcom Transportation Authority: www.ridewta.com/
- Wikivoyage: Blaine, revision 5284842 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5284842
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
BlaineBlaine, Washington
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Blaine Police non-emergency360-332-6766
No embassies in Blaine; nearest consulates in Seattle and Vancouver, BC.
US border rules apply at both crossings; carry your passport or visa documents.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/blaine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.