Know Before You Go

A Few Tips for making the best of the Tulip Festival

  • Location: There isn’t a single address for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The tulips, the events, our headquarters, restaurants, wineries, breweries, etc. are all at different locations with different addresses. Explore our calendar of events and interactive map for all there is to enjoy.
  • Plan Your Visit: The festival runs from April 1 to April 30 each spring, but the tulip blooms depend on Mother Nature. Check our tulip bloom status and social media for bloom updates before planning your trip.
  • Ticketing: Each tulip garden has separate ticket prices and hours. Visit our garden page for details. Tickets are non-refundable. Drones are not allowed.
  • Garden Hopping: The Tulip Festival spans multiple gardens and tulip fields across the beautiful Skagit Valley in Washington state. Explore gardens like RoozenGaarde, Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn, and Tulip Valley Farms to see various tulip varieties and displays.
  • Weather-Ready: During spring time in Washington, Tulip Festival weather can be unpredictable. Check the weather forecast before your visit and dress accordingly. Be prepared for muddy fields or pathways, so bring boots and layers.
aerial view of tulip fields
Tulip Festival Image

Getting Here

It is easy to reach the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington state — we are located 60 miles north of Seattle along I-5 and 70 miles south of Vancouver, BC, Canada. The tulips are generally grown in a 15-mile triangle bordered by Highway 20, the Skagit River, and the Swinomish River Channel. The Tulip Festival is designed as a driving tour as many events and attractions are miles apart, scattered throughout the lower Skagit Valley.

Weekdays are the least crowded times; weekends can be very busy, so we suggest coming early, use State Route 20 to enter the tulip area, and carpool if possible.

You can pick up a complete Tulip Festival official brochure during April at the Shops at Burlington and at these Information Stations:

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Office
311 W Kincaid St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273

All Official County information stations

Conway: Conway Foods (I-5 Exit 221)
18707 Main St., Conway, WA 98273 / 19193 SR 534, Mount Vernon, WA 98274.

Fir-Conway Lutheran Church (I-5 Exit 221)
18101 Fir Island Rd., Mount Vernon, WA

I-5 Exit 230 (Highway 20): Skagit’s Own Fish Market
18042 SR 20, Burlington, WA 98233

Getting Around

THE SKAGIT VALLEY TULIP FESTIVAL IS DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE THE SKAGIT VALLEY TULIPS, EVENTS, ATTRACTIONS, AND GROWERS.

By Car

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is designed as a driving tour. We invite you to come and poke around the valley, discovering your favorite eatery, activity and tulip variety. In addition, visitors arriving for this Washington Tulip Festival by plane, train or bus may wish to rent a taxi, car or Uber to visit the fields as public transportation to and from the fields can be difficult.

By Bicycle

Many cyclists enjoy traveling the tulip route. Most tulip fields, events, attractions and display gardens can be accessed easily by cycle. If you decide to tour the tulips by bike, be prepared for rainy, windy weather — we suggest you dress in layers. Many of the roads in the valley floor are flat and easy to navigate. Bike defensively as motorists get very excited about the visiting the Washington tulips and Tulip Festival activities! Watch for changing road conditions — shoulders and speed in the tulip area vary widely.

PNW Exploration –A family run, e-bike rental company offering locally curated, self-guided tours of Skagit Valley. New tulip tours available for 2023! Not the biking type? See our other charter tours & excursions online at www.pnwexploration.com. Located inside La Conner Inn, 107 S Second St., La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 399-8964.

Tulip Country Bike Tours (www.countrycycling.com) — Experience the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival on our self-guided tours. Bike rental equipment, maps and festival tips/information. $40/adults, $10 per child or tag-a-long bike per day. Group and guided tours available.offers bike rentals on a limited basis. Their rentals come complete with a map, self guided tour route and staff tips. Group and guided tours available.

By Skagit Transit

For people arriving in Mount Vernon, Washington: Tulip Festival visitors can ride Skagit Transit Route 615 to visit the tulip fields, departing from Skagit Station. The route operates Monday through Saturday and takes you on Mc Lean Rd.; be sure to get off (or ask the driver to stop) at Beaver Marsh and Mc Lean Rd. From there you can walk to RoozenGaarde (about 1/4 mile south on Beaver Marsh Rd.) or walk to Tulip Town (about one mile away — Mc Lean Rd. west to Bradshaw, and then north on Bradshaw Rd.). For more information on Route 615, click here.

For more information on Skagit Transit Services using other routes around the valley, visit www.skagittransit.org.

By Guided Tour Bus

From Seattle and areas south of Skagit Valley

Shutter Tours
(425) 516-8838
www.shuttertours.com

Relax in our comfortable tour bus with a top rated tour company. See tulips and receive tips to improve your photography. Photo stops include tulip fields and lunch in La Conner. Seattle hotel pickups available.

Skagit Guided Adventures
www.skagitguidedadventures.com
Experience the colorful tulip fields and exquisitely arranged gardens. Learn about the tulip history, industry & festival from our friendly local guide Stephanie, with over 30 years experience. Tours daily 9:30 am & 2:30 pm. Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Outer Island Excursions
Whale & Wildlife Tours
Buy one get one 50% off! Use promo code TULIP24. Ask about Tulip Festival prebook. Naturalist guided, family friendly, fast and comfortable. Visits 172 islands abounding with whales and wildlife. Individuals, groups, parties, or transportation. A must do while visiting the Northwest!

Departs from Anacortes
(360) 376-3711
Reserve on-line at: www.outerislandx.com

Skagit River Queen Boat Tours
Captain Dave Button will take you on a water tour of the Swinomish Channel on the pontoon boat River Queen. Visit Shelter Bay, Goat Island and The Hole in The Wall. $15 per person.
Leaving from La Conner
(907) 415-8762
Reserve on-line at: www.pacificnwfloattrips.com

Are you a tour operator? Your link and listing could be right HERE!! Contact us at gale@tulipfestival.org for information. Tour operators arriving in Skagit Valley interested in hiring a step-on guide from the WSU Skagit County Master Gardeners can email tuliptours@skagitmg.org. The Master Gardeners can let you know availability and give you up-to-date information on the program.

By Train

Amtrak Cascades service runs to Mount Vernon. For Washington Tulip Festival visitors, this can be a very enjoyable way to journey to the festival. There are no set shuttles or tours from the station, however the local tour option listed above is by reservation only. They are small and book up fast, so make reservations right away. You can also arrange to rent a car or engage a taxi to get to the tulip fields. Monday through Saturday Skagit Transit Route 615 operates along Mc Lean Rd. If you take this bus, make sure to get on and off at Beaver Marsh Rd. as this is the closest stop to the tulip fields and gardens. You will still be walking a distance to reach your destination.