Mount Vernon, Washington has a long, storied history as a cultural and economic hub in the Pacific Northwest. Joseph Dwelley and Jasper Gates were the first-known settlers. Historians believe they initially stopped in the area because a logjam kept them from traversing farther along the Skagit River. A few years after they made their home in Mount Vernon, a man named Harrison Clothier arrived. Together, they and E.G. English are considered the town's founding fathers. They helped establish a post office, church, and lodge.
Thanks to the rich supply of materials, Mount Vernon became a logging town. The population steadily increased until it became the seat of Skagit County. With the arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1891, Mount Vernon grew even larger.
Today, it's a small city with a population of around 36,000. The historic downtown area still contains the Lincoln Theater, which was built in the 1920s to showcase vaudeville acts and silent films. It's still in use and is one of the few theaters left that retained an original Wurlitzer organ. The riverwalk along the Skagit River was renovated and now contains shops and restaurants. If you visit, you can tour numerous wineries and breweries. Stop at Little Mountain Park for 500 acres of forest trails as well as an overlook that provides a stunning view of Skagit Valley. During the spring months, enjoy the thousands of tulips growing all over the countryside.
Lynden Farmers Day Parade – This upcoming event takes place on the first Saturday of June in Lynden, which is 50 minutes north of Mount Vernon. Come to see the tractors, trucks, cars, horses, and floats as they make their way through town.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival – The month of April marks the occurrence of this upcoming annual event when millions of tulips begin blooming. The flowers are spread throughout the valley as are the events for the festival.
Washington State Fair – This huge yearly event lasts nearly a month in September. There are art shows and exhibits, a replica Old West area, a farm station, concerts, rides, and even a rodeo. The fair takes place about two hours and eight minutes south of Mount Vernon in Puyallup.
North Cascades National Park is around an hour and 15 minutes northeast of Mount Vernon. This park doesn't allow dispersed camping, so you'll need to make a reservation for one of its campgrounds to stay there. Most of the spots are for tent campers. Lower Goodell Creek Campground does have room for RVs, but there aren't any hookups or drinking water. However, it's worth "roughing it" to experience all the beauty and wonder the North Cascades have to offer. They're called the "American Alps" because of their towering peaks, glaciers, and waterfalls. The best way to enjoy the wilderness here is by backpacking and hiking.
There are two main ways to travel from Mount Vernon to Olympic National Park. The fastest route covers about 101 miles and will take you three hours. It requires taking a ferry part of the way. If you prefer to drive your RV the entire distance, you'll head south through Seattle. This route covers 172 miles and will take about 20 minutes longer than going by ferry. There are a million acres in Olympic National Park to explore. There are beaches, a rainforest, and even glaciers. Most of the campgrounds here have limited space for RVs. Only a few spots are available for rigs longer than 21 feet. In the park itself, there are no campgrounds with hookups, showers, or water.
Three hours south of Mount Vernon, you'll find Mount Rainier National Park, one of the oldest national parks in the United States. Mount Rainier itself, with its iconic snow-capped peaks, looms 14,410 feet in the air. It's also an active volcano. Surrounding Mount Rainier, you'll find acres of meadows, deep valleys, and forests. Three park campgrounds have spaces for RVs, although none of them have water or electrical hookups. One has a dump station, but it isn't always open. Check with the park to see if it's in service. You can stay for up to 14 days.
Bay View State Park is less than 10 miles from Mount Vernon. On the banks of Padilla Bay, it has a view of the San Juan Islands...and perhaps a whale or two. Fishing, skiing, and other water sports abound. The park's campground has 46 sites, 30 of which have partial hookups. There are restrooms and showers.
Another state park, Deception Pass, is 25 minutes southwest of Mount Vernon. The jagged cliffs, rocky shores, and scenic Deception Pass Bridge create a romantic, picturesque backdrop. There are three lakes to fish or swim in, or you can stroll the Puget Sound shore. Thirty-five miles of hiking trails crisscross the park. There are 134 RV sites with partial hookups.
Larrabee State Park, 27 minutes northwest of Mount Vernon, has the distinction of being Washington’s first state park. You can camp here as well as indulge in various water-based activities, such as fishing, boating, shellfish harvesting and exploring tidepools, as it contains 8,100 feet of shoreline along Samish Bay.
The Space Needle is one of the world's most famous observation towers and definitely Washington State’s most identifiable landmark. Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle is a symbol of Seattle. It went through a renovation in 2017 and now houses a lounge, a cafe, and a wine bar.
Snoqualmie Falls, which is an hour and a half southeast of Mount Vernon, hosts almost 2 million visitors each year. In addition to the 27-foot waterfall, you'll find a park, gift shop, and free parking. The observation decks for viewing the falls are open year-round.
The Arthur Foss is thought to be the oldest wooden tugboat that's still floating. It's been in the water since 1889. Now you can explore it via public tours at the Historic Ships Wharf in Seattle.
Bellingham RV Park, 34 minutes north of Mount Vernon, has 56 sites with full hookups and free Wi-Fi, and there also are private showers. Larrabee State Park, also in Bellingham, has 50 RV-friendly spots with full hookups. It puts you right by all the boating, hiking, and fishing in the park. Mount Vernon RV Campground is near downtown Mount Vernon. Its 81 RV-friendly campsites have full hookups and power. There's a clubhouse, pool, and even a miniature golf course.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Mount Vernon, WA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Mount Vernon?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Mount Vernon from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Mount Vernon?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.