Overview
Mount Vernon in northwest Washington State is in the heart of Skagit Valley and hosts the yearly Tulip Festival. It is the county seat of Skagit County.
3 sights · 1 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mount Vernon
Lincoln Theater
A 1920s-era movie theater with art-deco decor. It is now a combination performance theater and movie theater.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Every spring, the region celebrates the bloom of colorful tulips that paint the Skagit Valley more brilliantly than a Dutch impressionist could. Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians and international visitors flock to…
Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival
A shuttle runs from the "County" parking lot at the Kincaid Street exit off I-5.
Skagit River Walk Park
Walk along the western edge of town, bordering upon the Skagit River.
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 — 28 mi away. Directions
- FRD Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor — 33 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 67 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 5 (I-5), western Washington's main north-south transportation route, passes through the city. I-5 gives access from Bellingham and Vancouver, British Columbia to the north, and from Seattle to the south.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Lincoln Theater, Skagit River Walk Park
- Lunch Il Granaio
- Afternoon Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival
- Dinner Cruser Coffee
- Evening Farmstrong Brewing
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.
Get in
By car
Interstate 5 (I-5), western Washington's main north-south transportation route, passes through the city. I-5 gives access from Bellingham and Vancouver, British Columbia to the north, and from Seattle to the south.
State Route 536 (WA-536) gives access (via WA-20) from Anacortes and Whidbey Island to the west.
By train
- Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany. There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene. No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach. Connections from the Empire Builder from Chicago can be made in Everett and from the Coast Starlight coming from Los Angeles can be made in Seattle.
By bus
Skagit Station is also the bus station for Skagit Transit, Island Transit & Greyhound on 105 E Kincaid St in the eastern edge of downtown Mt Vernon, behind the county jail and next to I-5 at Exit #226:
- Bus routes include:
Go Skagit Transit
Public transportation in and around Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Anacortes, La Conner and other areas in Skagit County.
*40X connects Mount Vernon with March's Point Park & Ride. At March's Point P&R, riders can connect with Island Transit bus route 411W to Oak Harbor in Whidbey Island and Skagit Transit bus route 410 to the Anacortes-San Juan Ferry via Anacortes *70x to Concrete, Washington via Sedro-Woolley *80X connects Mount Vernon with Bellingham, Alger and Chuckanut P&R in Burlington. Route operated by Skagit Transit and Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) *90X connects Chuckanut P&R, Mount Vernon and S Mt Vernon P&R, with Everett Station, where transfers are possible with Sound Transit to Downtown Seattle (510, or 512 & Link Line 1); and to Bellevue (532). * 615 Mount Vernon, La Conner, and March's P&R in Anacortes.
Go BellAir Airporter
Goes up to Marysville, Stanwood, Burlington/Mt Vernon, Bellingham & Blaine from Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on one route and west from Burlington to La Conner & the San Juan Ferry Terminal on another.
Go Greyhound
Travels primarily on Interstate 5 between Seattle, Everett, Mount Vernon, Bellingham and Vancouver BC. Passengers transfer to other buses in Seattle and Vancouver BC to get to additional destinations. Map marker indicates stop location. Some of the buses continue from Seattle towards Los Angeles via Tacoma, Olympia, Portland, Sacramento, and points in between on I-5.
Place Island Transit
Scheduled bus services on Whidbey Island and Camano Island. From Monday to Friday, bus route 411C operates a few trips per day between Skagit Station and Terry's Corner on Camano Island. For going to Whidbey Island take Skagit Transit #40X to March's P&R near Anacortes and transfer to Island Transit #411W to Oak Harbor.
Get around
Due to the size of the city, it is easy to travel by bike.
By public transit
Go Skagit Transit
Operates bus service within Skagit County including within and between Anacortes, Burlington, La Conner, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley. The buses do not run at night. Also offers connecting service from other counties, including route 80X traveling south from Bellingham and route 90X traveling north from Everett. Routes 80X and 90X stop in Burlington and Mount Vernon.
Place Island Transit
Scheduled bus services on Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Service on Whidbey Island includes to Clinton, Coupeville, Freeland, Greenbank, Langley, Oak Harbor with off island connections to Anacortes. Service on Camano Island includes off island connections to Everett and Mount Vernon.
- Bus route 411C operates daily between Mount Vernon and Camano Island.
See
Do
Events
See Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Every spring, the region celebrates the bloom of colorful tulips that paint the Skagit Valley more brilliantly than a Dutch impressionist could. Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians and international visitors flock to see the endless fields of tulips between Mount Vernon and La Conner. During the peak of the festival, First Street is closed downtown and local artists set up stalls. Partly as a result of this, at the height of the festival traffic downtown gets congested. It is therefore advisable to use Best Road instead to reach the tulip fields.
Buy
Shop Cedardale Orchards (Red "Cider" barn off I-5)
This red barn with the white roof, with large signs offering "Cider", is easily visible just west of I-5 immediately south of Mount Vernon. Inside the red barn are coolers stocked with apple cider in 1 gallon, 1/2 gallon, and 1 quart sizes. Made with eastern Washington apples, the cider is delicious. On the weekends, mini cider doughnuts and hot cider are prepared on the premises. During the week, the store is unstaffed and collects payment on the honor system.
Eat
Eat Max Dale's Steak and Chop House
Upscale. Reservations accepted.
Eat Big Scoop Sundae Palace
An old-fashioned ice cream parlor plus a retro-style restaurant with a wide variety of burgers, fries, and other 1950s diner food.
Eat Il Granaio
Italian-style pasta and meat dishes. No pizza. Open for dinner every evening, plus lunch on weekdays. Consider the high-value four-course special menu, served from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Eat BigFoot Java
A 24-hour drive-through espresso stand that offers a large variety of flavors of coffee, espresso, Italian sodas, and other specialty drinks, in addition to pastries, bottled beverages, and cigarettes. Close to the freeway with amazing customer service. Try a Mythical White Mocha or a Nutty Yeti Latte.
Eat Cruser Coffee
A locally owned drive thru espresso stand with a large variety of coffee, espresso, breakfast foods and Italian sodas.
Drink
Drink Farmstrong Brewing (Farmstrong)
A local micro brewery open to the public that brews and serves a multitude of beers for all palates.
Sleep
Stay Skagit Valley Inn And Convention Center
Nearby
Burlington
City / town · 11 listings · 4 mi away
Sedro-Woolley
City / town · 10 listings · 7 mi away
La Conner
City / town · 13 listings · 8 mi away
Edison
City / town · 3 listings · 11 mi away
Deception Pass State Park
Park · 41 listings · 15 mi away
Anacortes
City / town · 16 listings · 15 mi away
Oak Harbor
City / town · 9 listings · 18 mi away
Camano Island
City / town · 11 listings · 18 mi away
My experience
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