Beautiful scenery along the lake and along with several hiking trails. This place is just breathtaking break point and so glad that my friend knew about it and took this road and this stop to enjoys the place with a beautiful sunny day. read more

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This is a magnificent little scenic detour if you have time - it's sometimes called Washington's Big Sur and I can see why - the views are incredible with lots of nice little pull offs - seaside cliffs, giant rocks and trees, islands and mountains, tons of interesting info and oyster farms all along Samish Bay. It's the only place where the Cascade Mountains meet the sea! AllTrails even has this as a drive trail haha! It's a 24 mile curvy route so would also be fun on a motorcycle if you're so inclined. We were heading up from Seattle to Vancouver on Spring Break (March 2024). It was chilly but absolutely gorgeous and we didn't see any snow on the road - although we did see some patches off to the sides in places so be aware. Before we hit the drive, we stopped at Snow Goose Produce to grab one of their legendary giant ice creams since they had just opened for the season and it was a great way to start the drive haha! There are lots of cute, interesting little towns to explore from top to bottom - unfortunately we didn't have time to see much of them but will definitely be back again to explore more in the future! read more

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We went up to Bellingham and entered the drive from the north. This is a version of the recommended route: Bellingham - Fairhaven - Teddy Bear Cove (very inconspicuous parking that is easy to miss!) - Taylor Shellfish Farm - Oyster Dome trail (if you still have the time and energy, but so worth it!) - Bow - exit and head back. That said, there are multiple additional stops and opportunities to explore along the way. Additionally, while the drive itself hides most of the expansive shoreline views behind the lush green trees, there are numerous vista points where you can enjoy the view. For me, the absolute musts along this route are the Oyster Dome hike and the Taylor Shellfish Farm. All in all, worth the drive. read more

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Yelp won't let me check in despite literally at a viewpoint on said Chuckanut Drive. Great to see the seasonal changes late August to early December. Totally worth the detour off I-5. Bow, Edison, Fairhaven in Bellingham...beautiful area in Skagit and Whatcom counties! Two weeks ago trailing a BMW car club. This mid morning, hardly any cars or leaves, it being 12/1/18. Just a lot of runners, cyclists, hikers, fallen rocks, evergreens, lush ferns, and me! Lovely, curvy drive. Just pay attention, cheers! read more

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Amazing route to drive ...remember to stop at Taylor Shellfish for oysters and other seafood

Chuckanut Drive is the best. The spectacular views are reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast or the Costa Brava. It blew me away, and we did it twice in a weekend, attempting to stop along the way. Yet, parking was difficult. I must come back in the autumn and during the week, when there will be less maskless tourists ignoring Covid. Parks and walks along the way are beautiful. Chuckanut Drive is a national treasure without the media attention that would ruin it. Hopefully, it will remain "under the radar." read more

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Beautiful coastal route along the Pacific Ocean amongst trees-like what you'd see in Twilight! We had a free afternoon while in the area and thought we'd give it a try; great decision. It is close to rocks and full of tight narrow turns so be careful and I wouldn't recommend a trailer or camper. Though we did see a few; just not for me. There are several places to stop and take pictures. Also a few places to grab food and use a rest room. A must! read more

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What is there to say about Chucky Drive that hasn't already been said? This long, winding stretch of two-lane highway south of Bellingham is nothing less than awe-inspiring. With its tree-rimmed views of the water and its multiple hikes and beaches, CD is more of an experience than a way to get from A to B. And let's not forget the fabulous eating establishments along the way (Taylor Shellfish, I'm looking at you). Whenever I'm heading south to Skagit County and I'm not in a hurry - or if I just want to show off to a friend visiting from out-of-town - Chuckanut is my preferred route. But not at night! read more

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If you are looking for a day drive or motorcycle ride with spectacular views, this is it. You'll find a few spots to pull off the road to enjoy the views and take photos. The two lane road itself is narrow with a scattering of small waterfalls and rock guard rails. There is a state park along the way. I'm not entirely sure if there are two or one with parts on the west and east sides of the road. I needed to use the restroom and stopped at the one on the east side. The outhouse was very clean and stocked with TP and Purell. I love this drive!! read more

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If you are driving between Skagit and Whatcom Counties, and you have time on your hands, be sure to get off I-5 and take Chuckanut Drive. It's also known as State Route 11. This scenic route on Chuckanut Drive reminded me of being in Maui and driving the winding road to Hana, but fortunately the Chuckanut only takes about 30 minutes whereas the road to Hana takes an entire day. Both roads offer lots of curves where you'll need to slow down to 15 MPH. No worries, you'll be driving slow anyway to take in the views. Chuckanut Drive hugs the Salish Sea on one side and the evergreen forests of Larabee State Park on the other. I even saw a few roadside waterfalls on my drive in March, nothing as impressive as Sacred Falls in Maui, but it was still a little slice of heaven available locally. There are a few pull-outs along the way where you can stop and take photos. Watch for traffic though because there are no designated places for you to walk across the road. If you have a lot of time and some good hiking shoes, consider climbing some of the trails on the maukau (mountain) side of the road. Alternatively, you can follow a short path in Larabee State Park to watch the sunset on the makai (sea) side of the road. Parking in the park requires a Discovery Pass, but many people park on the shoulder of Chuckanut Drive for free. You know that Sunday drive you've been planning? This is it! read more

Chuckanut Drive - Hotels & Travel Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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What's not to like about Chuckanut Drive? The views are spectacular, it's neat to see home clinging onto the side of the cliff, and the weather is always beautiful. Go for a drive, but *please* mind the speed limit and don't let those amazing views distract you from the road. There are almost always bicyclists on Chuckanut Drive, with a smattering of pedestrians at the turnouts, restaurants, and at the Larrabee State Park entrance. You'll also want to pay attention and look out for motorcyclists and people in sports cars who won't hesitate to pass you on a double yellow line. Enjoy the drive, respect the drive. :) read more

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It's a pretty drive going from north to south. The start is the Old Fairhaven Highway in Bellingham and you end up in Burlington, WA hooking back up to the I5. Shorter than the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Squamish and just as pretty. The views are different and the highway is narrower and the speed limit is significantly lower. Take your time driving through here and take in the views. read more

My family recently attended a wedding up in Bellingham and after reading about Chuckanut Drive here on Yelp and hearing about it mentioned on the Yelp talk boards (thanks, Tom!), I decided to forego I-5 North and drive northbound on route 9 and veer off on Chuckanut. And we are SO SO SO glad we did! In fact, we probably won't drive north on I-5 again, as this route is so much less stressful, and SO much more scenic. As mentioned in other reviews, Chuckanut is windy. If you are headed north, the water is on your left and to your right is mountain. At times sheer rock jutting out from the mountain. It's a two-lane road, one lane in each direction. Sometimes the cars going south are flying and they veer toward the middle of the road around some of the curves, so if you're going northbound, you gravitate toward the mountain on your right. It can be daunting, but if you go the speed limit and slow a bit around the sharper curves in the road, it's fine. The vistas around every corner are postcard-worthy. For real. And there are many areas to park and take photos or hike (many a trailhead are off this stretch of roadway) or marvel at the sights. There are some truly incredible restaurants on Chuckanut Drive (I like saying the name!). Check out my review of the Chuckanut Manor Seafood & Grill, as well as the Oyster Bar. This stretch of roadway is special. You feel transported to a bygone era before the advent of super-wide multi-lane concrete highways. And the views of the natural beauty of the PNW, untouched, water and forest and mountain, are breathtaking. read more

I've driven on Hwy 1 in CA and OR so I thought I knew scenic coastal drives but Chuckanut Drive is just as awesome. It actually might even better than Hwy 1 because it's more rustic. I mean there was traffic on the bright sunny but chilly day we went but nowhere near as bad as Hwy 1 in CA. This was a fabulous day trip and a hidden gem of the Pacific NW. We started from the south end and followed it all the way to Bellingham. There were several scenic stops, hiking trails and few restaurants dotted the highway and Larrabee State Park too. I took some pictures but I'm not sure they do justice to how truly beautiful Chuckanut Drive. We'll be back again and I highly recommend it! read more

We were returning back to Seatas after having spent time in the north Cascades and Tofino so we probably did not enjoy this scenic drive as much as most. It is an easy drive from Seattle or Vancouver with access from I-5. We went there on a Monday afternoon when there were very few people on the drive so parking at the various stops did not prove to be the problem I feared. The time taken on this short detour was well worth it. read more

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Breathtakingly spectacular views... Our less crowded and more manageable response to Big Sur. There are many places to pull over and hike or simply Feast with your eyes. There are a handful of highly rated eating and drinking establishments in Bow Washington. This is a must if you have more than three days in Bellingham. read more

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My boyfriend and I were heading down from Canada back to California and decided to take this little detour. Before we went through Chuckanut Drive, we had lunch in a small town just north of here. The drive through Chuckanut was beautiful! I wish we were able to stop by and hike around the area but we had to be back. There were a couple of stop along the road where you could get some great pictures and read some information about the history of the surrounding area. I definitely suggest going through Chuckanut Drive if you can! read more

An excellent alternative drive to I-5 between Burlington and Bellingham on a sunny day. What an amazing view. read more

Chuckanut Drive - A fun drive. - Hotels & Travel Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Chuckanut Drive is located slightly north of Mt. Vernon. If you are driving up north to Vancouver, a nice detour that would make the journey more scenic. Or if you are visiting the pacific northwest a nice drive north of Seattle. The drive offers scenic views of the water and has a number of restaurants located cliff side. There are plenty of view points, offering beautiful sunsets. See attached pictures. 5 stars. read more

Chuckanut Drive - Hotels & Travel Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Although there are some lovely views along Chuckanut Drive, it is a windy, at times difficult road to drive (narrow, 2 lane, windy road). There are a few pullouts with great views. There isn't much else along the way though if you wanted to stop for food or anything else. We drove it on our way home from Bellingham, and it was nice. But we probably only need to do it once. read more

Its good while it lasts , which i wished was longer. Make the most of the views and small parking lots and vistas. Plan your drive on a nice clear day.The drive is all about beautiful vistas and in a bad weather you'd be disappointed. read more