You can start by picking up your airport car rental at Fox in Seattle. The distance of the Seattle to Vancouver drive is about 140 miles, or 2.5 to 3 hours if you drive non-stop. You can start by picking up your airport car rental at Fox in Seattle. Then you can get on Interstate 5 and drive North. If you’re not in a hurry, why not take your time and see a few things along the way? The Pacific Northwest is an interesting and beautiful region.
Weekends are the busiest times for driving. Both cities have the highest amount of traffic between 7 and 10 in the morning and between 3 PM and 7 PM in the evening. If you choose to leave Seattle early in the morning, it’s a great time to see Mount Baker and the Cascade Mountains in the distance. In half an hour you will be in Everett, a fantastic place for anyone interested in aviation. Take exit 182 and follow the signs for the Boeing Future of Flight. There are sometimes factory tours, and the Aviation Center has great exhibits on display. A few more miles along the highway near Maryville and you can find the Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve of the Tulalip Indian Reservation. If you make the drive in April, you can enjoy the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival just an hour’s drive north of Seattle. The Skagit Valley is a good place to visit at any time with amazing restaurants featuring fresh farm produce. Take exit 221 in Conway. For a longer detour, take exit 231 to Edison Slough and the Salish Sea. This area is well-known for its oysters and other shellfish.
Exit 250 will bring you to Fairhaven, a historic spot with a wonderful bookshop and many charming cafés. Fairhaven is a district of Bellingham known for its shops and beautiful parks. It is not far from Mt. Baker, which is well-loved by skiers and hikers. You might want to drive to Whatcom Falls Park to look at the waterfall. There is a parking lot close to the falls, so it is an easy hike to get close enough to them to hear the water. Nooksack Falls are also a short drive from Bellingham. The San Juan archipelago also lies off Bellingham Bay. It is made up of 172 islands and rocks. There are various boat trip options if you want to whale watch or see some of the islands. After 111 miles you will reach the border. Don’t forget to take your passport! US citizens don’t need a passport to enter Canada. A birth certificate and photo ID are enough to enter, but you will need your passport with you to leave! Once you’re in Canada, Interstate 5 becomes Highway 99 and takes you the rest of the journey to Vancouver. At 136 miles, you’ll be on the last leg of your Seattle to Vancouver drive. You might want to stop in Richmond, British Columbia. Like Vancouver, it has a rich Asian heritage. Check out the Buddhist Temple, one of the largest in North America. You could also head to the Golden Village District for a spot of shopping or to have a meal in one of the many Asian restaurants there.