Spend a Day at the Skagit Valley Daffodil Fields
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*Updated January 2024
Most people probably think that the well-known Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley is what kicks off Spring in Washington, but in fact, it’s the bright daffodils that bloom throughout March. The Skagit Valley daffodils are much lesser known and it’s completely free to do! These fields of sunshine are located near La Conner in Washington’s Skagit Valley, just over an hour away from Seattle which makes it the perfect day trip to welcome the new season.
Where to See the Skagit Valley Daffodils
During my day trip to the flower fields in Skagit Valley, I stopped at three flower farms and drove by many more. The first farm we visited was RoozenGaarde, which is the main destination of the Tulip Festival, and the only daffodil field that you can walk in. The rest of the fields are private property but the owners encourage you to pull off and admire the beautiful blooms from a distance. At RoozenGaarde, you can park and head straight to the fields located behind the gift shop. Keep in mind that it is rainy season in the region so bring a pair of rain boots if you can! Once in the fields, you can view the endless rows of flowers from the path and walk through the different sections. I know these are just flowers, but being surrounded by thousands of blooming daffodils is magical and absolutely breathtaking. In the picture below you can see a white section off to the right and a small yellow square to the left… those are daffodils! There were so many that it just looked like sheets of white and yellow. Even driving through the area, you can easily spot daffodil fields small and large in the distance. After you’ve taken in this gorgeous site, you can stop in RoozenGaarde’s gift shop for fresh-cut flowers or a book on how to start your own flower farm of daffodils, dahlias, or tulips. Next, we drove to a couple of other nearby fields and pulled off the road before getting out to take a closer peek. Since the other fields are privately owned, you can only get so close, but it’s still close enough to take in their beauty.
There are three main types of daffodil grown here in La Conner; Dutch Master, Standard Value, and Magic Carpet and you can spot different color varieties in the fields if you look close enough. There are large, bright yellow ones, smaller and slightly darker yellow ones, white ones with yellow centers, and the rare but possibly my favorite, yellow with orange centers.
Daffodil fields at RoozenGaarde
La Conner Daffodil Festival
La Conner has been organizing the Daffodil Festival for over 8 years and visiting the flower fields is fun, easy, and as I mentioned above, free! The festival runs throughout the entire month of March and consists of a self-guided adventure through Skagit Valley. Their website features an interactive bloom map that shows you where each daffodil field is located and when the daffodils are in bloom. The daffodil symbol turns yellow when the flowers in that specific field are blooming so you’ll never be let down. This bloom map also shows tulips, which bloom in April, so if you’re planning on visiting Skagit Valley for the Tulip Festival, be sure to keep that link handy and check back often for updates.
Tips for Seeing the Skagit Valley Daffodils
March is still the rainy season in western Washington so be prepared for for rain showers. Bring a raincoat and waterproof boots if you plan on visiting RoozenGaarde. Unlike the tulip festival in April which has several fields that are open to the public, most of the daffodil fields are privately owned so don’t expect to walk through the rows of beautiful blooming flowers - unless you visit RoozenGaarde.Viewing the daffodil fields is free, but selling cut flowers is still a business for these owners and we don’t want to ruin that for them. Keep that in mind when visiting the private fields and please respect the fields and don’t walk through the rows that are marked off. This could hurt the production of future crops and current crops. I usually pull off to the side of the road and walk up to the fields but ensure that I stay a few feet away from them. This is plenty of room to snap a picture and take in the beautiful scenery.
Another thing to note is that daffodils are poisonous to pets. I certainly didn’t know this, but I'm glad I was informed. This doesn’t mean you can’t have them in the house, just make sure they are out of reach from your furry friends.
Where to Stay Near La Conner
The town of La Conner, Washington is the embodiment of a hidden gem—charmingly quaint, and tucked away within the Pacific Northwest. The accommodations here are as diverse and delightful as the town itself, ranging from the waterfront La Conner Channel Lodge to the welcoming Wild Iris Inn, offering shimmering lake views and cozy suites. If you’re looking for a unique accommodation that has that “away from it all” feeling, book one of the cabins at Getaway Skagit Valley.
Wild Iris Inn (Average nightly rate: $125)
La Conner Channel Lodge (Average nightly rate: $179)
Hotel Planter (Average nightly rate: $195)
Getaway Skagit Valley Cabins (Average nightly rate: $184)
Where to Eat Near the Skagit Valley Daffodils
After walking and admiring the flowers, head to the nearby downtown area of La Conner to grab a bite to eat and do some light shopping. This quaint town has lots of shops where you can find locally made items like wooden cutting boards, hand-poured small-batch candles, and clothing boutiques. You can find various restaurants from fresh seafood & Thai to delicious bakeries. My favorite is the Calico Cupboard Old Towne Café. They serve all-day breakfast options, as well as lunch favorites, and were one of the first bakeries in Skagit Valley serving up made-from-scratch, sustainable food. It’s a great place for a mimosa and lunch with friends or a hearty breakfast with the family. I ordered the homemade turkey pot pie and a cup of clam chowder which is exactly what I needed on a chilly March day. The portion size was perfect for one person, and the pot pie was the best I’ve ever had! Make sure to check out their bakery counter before you leave, they have freshly made bars, pies, and cookies that can’t be missed. I had their special cherry glazed snickerdoodle cookie that was so soft it melted in my mouth!
The weather in March is unpredictable and it ended up being cloudy the day I visited, but don’t let that deter you from seeing these fields of sunshine. Visiting these fields has been the highlight of my year so far and I can’t wait to visit again in April during the Tulip Festival. Maybe I’ll even start my own flower farm one day, who knows!
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!