How to Visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
- Kaitlyn S
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Where to go?
Know where you are going. There are several tulip festivals in the spring around the world and more than one in the Pacific Northwest. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is in Washington state, an easy drive about an hour long, north from Seattle. Each year there are 4-5 farms in the area that participate; each varying in cost, hours, size, displays, other amenities (shop, biergarten, classes) and when blooms are at their peak.
People, people everywhere
The tulip farms are packed with people all trying to get their pictures for social media. Strategically angle or crop your photos to exclude or include people depending on your style. Some farms have limited entry tickets available very early in the day or around sunset if you are able to splurge and make the time.
Mud & the cold and wet
Be prepared for mud. Depending on when you go there will at be some amount of mud. The Pacific Northwest, especially the State of Washington, is notorious for rainy weather; so not only could there be mud, but there could also be cold, wet conditions in March/ April. Do not forget TULIPS ARE IN FIELDS. Fields are made of dirt. Plants require water. Dirt plus water equals mud. If you want cute shoes for a picture, carry them along and switch for the photo or seriously watch your step.
But first...TRAFFIC
Two lane country roads filled with cars waiting for a parking spot to open up in one the few tulip farms. You could spend hours just trying to go the few miles between each farm. On that note, if you are coming from Seattle, consider stopping at the rest stop a few miles before your directed exit from the highway for a bathroom break because once you are on the country roads there are no facilities until you can final make it to the port-a-potty at the tulip farm or a business in town.
Respect the farms (and others)
Stay on the paths and follow sign rules. Tulips are delicate flowers that slight bumps can damage. This can ruin the experience for current and future guests. Tulip farms are also a business for people, the tulip is their product and should be respected. If you buy some flowers for yourself then do what ever you want with them. There are some staff out among the blooms, but many are local high school kids that took a seasonal job; be nice and do as they ask.
There are many opportunities to take pictures throughout the farms with different backgrounds and colors. If needed ask someone, either a staff person or another guest, to take a picture of you and other people you may be with (looking back you will likely appreciate having at least one picture that is not a selfie). Though be prepared to return the favor once the picture is done.
Tulip overload? Now what?
Explore the local towns and other attractions in the area. La Conner and Mt Vernon are the two town closest to the festivities of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, but not far off is the town of Anacortes on Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island just to the south of that. These towns have shops, restaurants and parks and nearby there is a casino, beaches to relax at, trails to hike and sightseeing boats to ride. Many of these are a quieter than the colorful festivities everyone comes to the area for. The area is very green and offers a lot of beautiful outdoor spaces beyond the curated fields of the tulip farms.
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