Tulips in Washington State: A Guide to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (2024) — Traveling Tessie (2024)

One thing I realized after moving to Washington is that there are tons of flower fields throughout the state that bloom during the spring and summer months. Visiting these flower fields has become one of my favorite things to do in Washington and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a must-do activity when visiting Washington in the spring. I’ve always dreamt of visiting Holland to see their beloved tulip fields, so I was ecstatic to discover that you can see stunning, colorful tulip fields right here in Washington state. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is one of the most popular events in Washington, and it attracts thousands of tourists each year from all over the world. It showcases the largest tulip fields in the area and includes other fun activities like street fairs, live music, and more.

What is the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival?

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is an annual spring event held in the Skagit Valley region in Western Washington. It's the second largest tulip festival in the United States, with more than 1 million bulbs planted within Skagit Valley alone. The festival takes place every April and lasts through the entire month, with the annual Tulip Festival Street Fair taking place April 19-21 2023 in downtown Mount Vernon. The festival lasts throughout April because the tulip blooms are fully dependent on the weather and there is no guarantee on when they will bloom each year. Because of this, the Skagit Tulip Festival created a bloom mapthat you can use to view which farms have active blooms or to find out expected bloom dates for tulips in Washington state.

There are four participating tulip farms in 2023 and instead of purchasing one single ticket to attend the festival, you purchase your admission to each individual farm and plan your visit based on your own schedule. This means you have the flexibility of only visiting one farm if you’d like or spending a few days in Skagit Valley and exploring all four tulip fields. If crowds are not your thing, you can still experience the tulip blooms from your car or side of the road. There are lots of other smaller tulip fields in the area and although you can’t walk through the rows, you can still experience the colorful blooms from a distance.

Participating Tulip Farms in 2024:

• RoozenGaarde - Located off Highway 9 near Mount Vernon, this flower farm is probably the most popular in Skagit Valley. With 350 acres of the most vibrant tulips, 450 acres of daffodils, and5 acres of display gardens that is planted with the most precision and detail. General admission is $15 per person on weekdays and $17 on weekends. Children 2 or younger are free.

• Tulip Town - Located off Highway 20 near Lynden is another popular tulip farm in Skagit Valley. This farm offers over 50 tulip varietals and sits on 18 acres. They have a beer & wine garden, indoor flower mural displays, and a trolley ride through the tulips if the weather cooperates. General admission is $15 for adults, $7 for children ages 6-11 with children 5 & under free, and $13 for Seniors or military.

• Garden Rosalyn– located at 16648 Jungquist Road, this family-friendly farm has 7 acres of rows of colorful tulips, picnic tables, and food trucks. Admission is $15 and children 5 and younger are free.

• Tulip Valley Farms – this new farm opened its fields last year and consists of 12 acres and is located off of Bradshaw Road. They feature 75 tulip varietals and offer u-pick tulips, food trucks, photo ops, and a beer & wine garden. Tickets range from $15-$30 depending on what type of experience you’re looking for. One thing that really sets them apart is that they offer a Night Bloom experience that allows you to see these beautiful blooms in a whole new way!

Tips for Visiting the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. If you're planning to visit the tulip festival for the first time, here are some tips to help make your visit the most memorable:

• Purchase tickets well in advance because they tend to sell out. With that comes being flexible and open-minded. The weather in this region of Washington in April can be quite wet and the tulip farms are open rain or shine. Most farms also offer a discounted rate on tickets purchased online!

• Check the interactive “bloom map” before planning your trip so you know when the tulips will be blooming. The blooms are completely up to mother nature and vary each year.

• Be respectful of the blooms and follow each farm's rules and signs regarding where you can walk and what not to do. We all want that perfect photo in the middle of a colorful tulip field, but most farms do not allow you to walk through the rows so get creative and try different angles to capture your perfect shot.

• Bring cash for parking, which is typically $5 per vehicle, if not already included in your general admission ticket.

• Wear boots or shoes that can get dirty if you plan on walking around in the fields. These tulip farms are working farms with mud or dirt paths and with the spring weather, the paths will most likely be a bit muddy during your visit.

• Visit during March for the smaller, less crowded Daffodil Festival. Entry to RoozenGaarde’s 450-acres of daffodils is free and it’s a beautiful site to see!

Other Things to do in Skagit Valley

If you're looking for something to do after the festival, there are plenty of options. You can visit downtown La Connor, an artsy little town that's home to some great restaurants and shops. If you're feeling adventurous, consider taking a day trip into Anacortes, which is only about 30 minutes away, where you'll find hiking trails and kayak tours!

Happy travels!

- Tess

Tess Arnold

Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip!If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!