Overview
Lynden is a city of about 16,000 people in northwest Washington State. The town lies in a broad valley along the winding path of the Nooksack River, which empties into nearby Bellingham Bay. The surrounding area is filled with dairy, raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry farms. Lynden pays homage its Dutch heritage through locations such as Front Street, where some businesses have been made-over with a Dutch theme, complete with a windmill.
2 sights · 4 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lynden
Jansen Art Center
A community art center featuring exhibits and performances by local artists.
Pioneer Museum
A museum containing a real replica of old downtown Lynden, with full-fledged shops and intricate interiors that tells the history of the town. Also features memorabilia from the World War II's Pacific Theater.
Bellewood Farms
In the fall, pick your own apples from the orchard of 25,000 trees or pumpkin from the patch. The distilleries are available for tasting tour on weekends, while the shop sells produce from the farm and the cafe serves co…
Lynden City Park
A park with a huge playground, separated between younger and older kids. It has a small and moderately shallow creek where locals sometimes attempt to catch fish.
Nooksack Northwood Casino
Kamm Creek Farm
A variety of berries that you can pick from the bushes during the summer.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 33°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Port Angeles)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BLI Bellingham International Airport, Bellingham — 11 mi away. Directions
- ESD Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound — 26 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 104 mi away (major hub). Directions
State Route 539 (WA-539) travels north and south, connecting with the Canadian border to the north and Bellingham to the south.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $80–$80 a night (typical $95), from 2 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $7 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$100, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$180.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Jansen Art Center, Pioneer Museum, Lynden City Park
- Lunch Chandara House
- Afternoon Kamm Creek Farm, Bellewood Farms
- Dinner Lynden Dutch Bakery
Day 2
- Morning Nooksack Northwood Casino
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
History
Lynden was begun in 1871 and established in 1874 by Holden and Phoebe Judson near the site of the Nooksack Indian village Squahalish (Nooksack: Sqwehálich). It was named by Phoebe Judson after the riverside town in Hohenlinden, a poem by Thomas Campbell, stating:
According to her book, A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home, she changed the spelling to "Lynden" to be more visually appealing. Lynden was incorporated as a town on March 16, 1891.
Even though not founded by them, the region saw significant Dutch immigration in the early and mid-1900s, spurring the growth of dairies. Some local supermarkets contain Dutch food sections, but Dutch is spoken by very few of the town's residents today. The population has grown substantially, with Dutch being more predominate than other ethnic ancestry.
Climate
Lynden has perhaps some of the coolest weather in Western Washington, due to its far north location.
The winter temperatures commonly range between the upper 20s (about -3°C) to mid 40s (nearly 10°C). During a cold outbreak however, bitter and dry winds whip from the Fraser River north of the border, dropping temperatures to the teens(below -10°C). As a result, snow can be worse in this area compared to the rest of the Western Washington lowlands, though occurrence is on average only 2 or 3 annually.
Summer temperatures are cool with temperatures ranging from the lower 50s F (10°C) to the lower 70s (around 20°C).
Get in
By car
State Route 539 (WA-539) travels north and south, connecting with the Canadian border to the north and Bellingham to the south.
From Interstate 5, take Exit 270 towards eastbound Birch Bay Lynden Road or Exit 256 towards northbound Meridian St (WA-539), both of which will take you straight towards Lynden.
From Canada
Travelers from Canada can cross the border into the US at the Aldergrove checkpoint, then go south for 5 miles towards the city center. See the Get in – By car section of the Northwest Washington article for details.
By plane
Commercial flights land at Bellingham and Seattle in the United States, as well as Vancouver International Airport in Canada.
Get around
By foot
The downtown area is compact enough to be explored on foot.
By public transport
Go Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA)
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.
- Route 26 travels between Bellingham and Lynden. Within Lynden, the route makes a counterclockwise loop around the city. The bus runs every 90 minutes on all days. The bus runs from 6:30AM to dusk on weekdays and 8AM to dusk on weekends.
By taxi
See
Lynden has a strong Dutch immigrant heritage which is reflected in many of the festivals, buildings, shops and eating establishments. The downtown area begins from 9th St to 1st St, at around Grover and Front St.
Do
Just like the Netherlands, Lynden is famous for its farm and dairy produce, some of which you can pick by yourself.
Do Bellewood Farms
In the fall, pick your own apples from the orchard of 25,000 trees or pumpkin from the patch. The distilleries are available for tasting tour on weekends, while the shop sells produce from the farm and the cafe serves comfort food as well as alcohol distilled from apples.
Buy
Most, if not all, shops and restaurants in the downtown corridor close on Sunday. Your best bet for finding what you need to buy on that day would be a Safeway or Food Pavilion grocery store at Guide Meridian Road.
Eat and drink
Eat Lynden Dutch Bakery
Assortment of Dutch and American style and pastries in this highly adorned bakery. Also features a small seating area with cafe menus.
Eat Chandara House
Authentic Thai restaurant run by Thai spouses. Be aware that you can choose the spiciness level for your ordered dish.
Sleep
There are few hotels in Lynden. Visitors can stay at Bellingham, 30 minutes away south of the town.
Stay Homestead Resort
A hotel by the golf course, with condo style rooms and steakhouse restaurant.
Go next
- Langley, Canada is 5 miles north across the border, or continue on to Vancouver.
- Bellingham is 20 miles south, or continue on towards Mount Vernon, Everett, and Seattle.
Nearby
Ferndale
City / town · 30 listings · 9 mi away
Sumas
City / town · 10 listings · 9 mi away
Bellingham
City / town · 78 listings · 13 mi away
Blaine
City / town · 16 listings · 13 mi away
Lummi Island
City / town · 2 listings · 20 mi away
Edison
City / town · 3 listings · 27 mi away
Eastsound
City / town · 30 listings · 27 mi away
Point Roberts
City / town · 19 listings · 28 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.