Blaine

Blaine is a city in the Northwest Cascades region of Washington (state). It is the major land border crossing between this part of Washington and the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. It straddles Interstate 5 which terminates in Blaine, and is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Understand

Blaine (aka "the Peace Arch City") 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.

Blaine is a border town and the northern terminus of Interstate 5 which becomes BC-99 as one crosses into Canada. Blaine is also the most Northwest town in the Lower 48 States.

The Department of Homeland Security has two border inspection stations: Peace Arch Crossing to the west for passenger vehicles & the "Truck Crossing" to the east for both commercial entry and passenger vehicles. 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.

Its population was estimated to be 5,400 in 2018.

Blaine has two large marinas with hundreds of boats. Salmon, crab, and other seafood are widely available.

Get in

By car

Blaine is northern terminus of Interstate 5. It is also location of the two primary ports of entry between this part of Washington and the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada:

  • 🌍 Surrey (Douglas/Peace Arch) - Blaine (Peace Arch) (Surrey, BC (Highway 99) – Blaine, WA (Interstate 5)). 24/7. Open to cars, but not commercial trucks and buses. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 🌍 Pacific Highway - Blaine (Pacific Highway) (Surrey, BC (Highway 15) - Blaine, WA (WA-543)). 24/7. Open to all vehicles. (updated Aug 2023)

See the Get in – By car section of the Northwest Cascades 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

Get around

By taxi

See
  • 🌍 Peace Arch State Park (Go north on 2nd Street until the loop at A Street.), ☏ +1 360 332-8221, . 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.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Go next

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

Routes through Blaine
Vancouver ← Surrey ← (cars) and becomes ←  N  S  → Ferndale → Seattle
Vancouver via ← Surrey ← (cars / trucks / buses) and becomes ←  N  S  → ENDS at


This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.