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Major city · United States

BlaineBlaine, 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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Mar (rain and wind)
Airports
BLI · YVR
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

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.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Blaine, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–18
  • BeerDraught beer$7–9
  • Museum or sight ticketPeace Arch State Park entryFree
  • Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Peace Arch State ParkSemiahmoo and Blaine marinasBirch BaySalmon, crab and oysters
Airports
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.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Blaine: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

1°C

18 rd

Feb

8°C

1°C

15 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

16 rd

Apr

14°C

5°C

13 rd

May

17°C

8°C

11 rd

Jun

20°C

11°C

9 rd

Jul

23°C

13°C

6 rd

Aug

23°C

13°C

6 rd

Sep

20°C

10°C

9 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

15 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

19 rd

Dec

7°C

1°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: I-5 runs through town and Birch Bay is 8 km south. WTA route 75 links Blaine with Ferndale and Bellingham Monday to Saturday; local taxis cover short hops.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Bellingham, Washingtongo

Door to door: About 40 min by car

I-5 south, about 35 km; or WTA route 75 Monday to Saturday

Bigger food and museum choice; easy half-day.

Lynden

go

Door to door: About 25 min

WA-548 east, about 16 km

Dutch-heritage town with bakeries and a small museum.

Ferndale, Washington

go

Door to door: About 20 min

I-5 south, about 16 km

Riverfront town on the way to Bellingham.

Point Robertscaution

Door to door: About 45 min plus two border crossings

Drive north through Canada on BC-99 and back into the US exclave

You cross into Canada and back; bring your passport.

Anacortesgo

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

I-5 south then WA-20 west, about 80 km

Ferry gateway to the San Juan Islands.

Mount Vernon, Washington

go

Door to door: About 50 min

I-5 south, about 55 km

Skagit Valley tulips in April; riverfront old town.

Sumas

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

WA-543 north then east, about 20 km

Second border crossing; little to see in town itself.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

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 south off I-5 exit 270; best for families with a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–190 excl. bed
High
$190+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$180US$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150US$300
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
WTA day pass2 × US$3 · checkUS$6
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$59
Trip total≈ US$323 per person per day, bed includedUS$645

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices before sales tax. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Diner breakfast$12–18
Fish and chips or a burger$15–25
Oysters, half dozencheck$18–24
Draught beer$7–9
Peace Arch State Park entryFree
Birch Bay Waterslides day ticketcheck; seasonal$30–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

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.
  • 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.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Blaine Police non-emergency
360-332-6766

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BlaineBlaine, Washington

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Blaine Police non-emergency360-332-6766

Embassy

No embassies in Blaine; nearest consulates in Seattle and Vancouver, BC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • 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 plus border wait (check)

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?

US border rules apply at both crossings; carry your passport or visa documents.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Blaine. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (rain and wind) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BLI: last WTA route 75 departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Peace Portal Drive, the Peace Arch loop, Semiahmoo Spit, Birch Bay.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Peace Arch State Park, Birch Bay State Park, Birch Bay Waterslides) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Border-wait fixtures for the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources