Blaine

Understand

Blaine was settled by Europeans in the mid-1800s and named after James G. Blaine, secretary of state and presidential candidate. It was incorporated as a city in 1890. Its population was estimated to be 5,400 in 2018. Blaine is a border town and the northern terminus of Interstate 5 which becomes BC-99 as one crosses into Canada. A great deal of Blaine's economy is based on legal trade across the Canadian border and Blaine also has a long history of smuggling. Blaine has two large marinas with hundreds of boats. Salmon, crab, and other seafood are widely available.

1 Blaine Welcome Center, 546 Peace Portal Dr (In Skye Hill Station next to Starbucks), ☏ +1 360-332-4544. M-Sa 11AM-4PM, Su 1-PM. (updated Jan 2022)

Getting there

By car Blaine is the northern terminus of Interstate 5. It has two primary ports of entry into Canada, across from Surrey, BC:

1 Surrey - Blaine (Peach Arch Crossing) (BC-99 – Interstate 5). 24/7. Open to passenger vehicles, but not commercial trucks and buses. (updated Aug 2023) 2 Pacific Highway - Blaine (Pacific Highway) (Truck Crossing) (BC-15 - WA-543). 24/7. Open to all vehicles. (updated Aug 2023) See the Get in – By car section of the Northwest Washington article for details.

By plane The nearest commercial airport is Bellingham International Airport (BLI IATA). Vancouver International Airport (YVR IATA), while across the border in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, offers a much wider range of destinations.

By bus 3 Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA), ☏ +1 360-676-7433. Operates public transit bus service in Whatcom County including Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas. Also operates bus route 80X traveling north from Burlington and Mount Vernon in Skagit County to Bellingham. (updated Sep 2022) Route 75 operates from Monday to Saturday between Blaine and Bellingham via Ferndale.

Getting around

By taxi Red Cab Taxi, ☏ +1 360-332-1960. (updated Jul 2022)

See

1 Peace Arch State Park (Go north on 2nd Street until the loop at A Street.), ☏ +1 360 332-8221, [email protected]. 8AM-dusk. A grand white arch in a grassy lawn marks the US-Canada international border. On either side of the park are frequently lines of cars crawling slowly through the border checkpoint lines. You can enter the park from either the US or Canadian side, and walk all around it, but you must leave by the side you entered, or else formally pass through the border checkpoint. Free. (updated Nov 2020)

Do

There are many biking & walking trails, including along Boundary Bay. Blaine is a major birdwatching area. There is a casino in Blaine, a library, and various small businesses.

1 Birch Bay Waterslides, 4874 Birchbay Lynden Rd, ☏ +1 360 371-7500. 2 Birch Bay State Park, 5105 Helweg Rd, ☏ +1 360 371-2800. Summer 6AM-dusk, winter 8AM-dusk. (updated Mar 2018)

Buy

1 Duty Free Americas, 20 12th St (Exit 275 on SR 543), ☏ +1 360 332-5223, [email protected]. 24 hr. However, online orders only available for pickup 8AM-10PM. (updated Jan 2022)

Eat

1 Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, 685 Peace Portal Dr, ☏ +1 360-656-5958. (updated Mar 2021) 2 Bordertown Mexican Grill, 538 Peace Portal Dr, ☏ +1 360-441-7661. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-7PM. (updated May 2021)

Drink & nightlife

1 The Wheelhouse Bar and Grill, 746 Peace Portal Dr, ☏ +1 360-332-3512. Sports bar with billiards and pull-tabs. Full menu including sandwiches, burgers, and pizza. (updated Mar 2021) 2 Beach Cat Brewing, 7876 Birch Bay Dr, #101 (I-5 Exit 270), ☏ +1 360-366-8065, [email protected]. (updated May 2021)

Sleep

1 Semiahmoo Resort, 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy, ☏ +1 360-318-2000, toll-free: +1-855-917-3767 (reservations), [email protected]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2021) 2 WorldMark Birch Bay, 4810 Beachcomber Dr, ☏ +1 360-371-0880. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. One and two bedroom suites with kitchens by a rocky beach. It has a partially covered outdoor pool, hot tub, and game room. (updated Mar 2021) 3 Birch Bay RV Campground, 8418 Harborview Rd, ☏ +1 360-371-7432 (ranger station), toll-free: +1-888-481-6348 (reservations). (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

Go north to Canada's West Coast gem Vancouver, or head south to Seattle for a great time on the Sound.