Spring in the Skagit Valley is an amazing time of change and growth.  The dusting of snow on the foothills begins to melt and give way to more rain showers, filling the rivers and moving the life-giving nutrients to the fields along the way.  The swans and snow geese are becoming more scattered as they head back north and the farm equipment is slowly rumbling back into action.   This may sound wonderful but there is one thing that all locals know is near when this time of year approaches:  TULIP TRAFFIC!

It actually isn’t that bad as most locals like me (I grew up in Anacortes) have learned ways to deal with or avoid it and if you spend just a little time preparing, you just might not notice it much.

So why is there traffic in our quiet, quaint little valley at all?  Well, every spring, the La Conner Daffodil Festival and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival attract more tourists than our road system was designed to handle.  At certain times and places, it can become quite a mess but I’m here to help you tiptoe your way through it and enjoy the remarkable beauty of our valley.

First, timing is key.  The most amount of people tend to be touring the valley from late morning to early afternoon (10am-3pm).  If you can adjust your schedule to be early or late, you will encounter far less crowds.  It would be even better if you can avoid the weekend crowds altogether and take advantage of weekdays.

Next thing to do is to pick the best route to your destination.  For some reason, most people on I-5 tend to take the Kincaid exit into downtown old Mt. Vernon westward on Memorial Hwy (536) and those streets and traffic lights just can’t handle the amount of cars.  Avoid that area if you can.  It gets so congested that locals won’t even go out in those areas and many of the local businesses suffer loss of normal business.  If you do find yourself unavoidably stuck, that local store or restaurant would love it if you would pull over for a breather and support them instead of just passing through.  It’s a win-win for everyone!

The best thing to help with traffic is to do a little route prep before you go and adjust along the way.  First, I’d check the flower bloom map to see where the best current fields are to view.  There’s an interactive map you can access at Roozengaarde’s Tulip Bloom Map.  Once you’ve decided where you want to go, time to pick the best route.

Approaching Skagit Valley from the North:

If you’re coming from the north, I’d say exit at Hwy 20 west towards Anacortes.  Follow that westward until Best Rd and turn left (south) to access the fields and farms, including visits to Tulip Town and Roozengaarde Tulips.

Approaching Skagit Valley from the South:

If you’re coming from the south (with most of the crowds), there are a few options.  If you stay on I-5 you will eventually be stuck in that line of cars trying to exit into old Mt. Vernon at the Kincaid St exit.  I would recommend exiting much earlier in Conway and travelling west through Fir Island and Pleasant Ridge to access the fields and farms.  If it’s backed up as far south as Conway, you can even exit further south at the Stanwood/Camano Island exit and follow Hwy 532 to the old Pioneer Hwy (530) which will then meet up with Fir Island Rd near Conway.  Again, if the traffic is unavoidable and you find yourself stuck, there are many great local spots that would love your business along the way.  One of my favorites is the The Rex Bar & Grill. Also, be sure to check out Don’s ‘Where to Eat’ Guide here on our website.

Another great resource to use if you have it available is your smart phone (please don’t use while you are driving).  There are many apps that help with traffic avoidance and will alert you to alternate routes to speed up your driving time.  I like to use the apps Waze and Google Maps.  These are great to use along your route to adjust to the changing traffic, if you have a designated navigator to help.

Last bit of advice I have is to be accepting of the fact that you will probably encounter some traffic no matter how much planning you do.  You can also prepare for that by making sure you have some of your favorite music to listen to, some drinks/snacks to keep your tummy happy, and try to make a rest stop before you get into traffic so you don’t have to hold it for too long!

Just remember to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the whole journey.  There are so many things to see along the way that you might even forget about the daffodils and tulips for a while.

– Rich 

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