Campervans and motorhomes from Bellingham to the American enclave on Boundary Bay
Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies in Point Roberts to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Hiring a motorhome for Point Roberts takes you to one of the oddities of the border between the United States and Canada: a tip of American land just a few square kilometres in size, at the end of the Tsawwassen peninsula, cut off from the rest of Washington State by the 49th parallel. By road, you can only get there after crossing British Columbia. The beaches of Boundary Bay, the bluffs of Lily Point and orcas spotted from Lighthouse Marine Park give this far-flung corner its charm.
No rental company has a depot in the enclave: you pick up the vehicle in Bellingham, 50 km away as the crow flies, or in Seattle.
No branch in Point Roberts: these companies have a branch within 100 km.
North of Bellingham, Birch Bay State Park lines a shallow, mild bay, then Blaine opens onto the Semiahmoo sand spit and Peace Arch Park, with its white arch straddling the border. On the Canadian side, Highway 99 and then 56th Street in Tsawwassen lead down to the Point Roberts crossing. In the enclave, the Lily Point trail follows wooded bluffs where bald eagles nest, and Maple Beach uncovers vast tidal flats.
Two nights on site leave time to watch the sun set over the Strait of Georgia.
From the enclave, a loop through British Columbia follows the south bank of the Fraser: Tsawwassen, the old village of Ladner, then Westham Island and the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, where thousands of snow geese stop over in autumn. The George Massey Tunnel leads to the fishing village of Steveston, before heading down to Crescent Beach and the long wooden pier of White Rock, a stone's throw from Blaine.
The tunnel is often congested at rush hour: go through it in the middle of the day.
A one-way trip south links Point Roberts to Seattle, another departure city of our partners. After Bellingham, the farmland of the Skagit Valley leads to La Conner, a small port on the Swinomish Channel, then Whidbey Island unrolls its meadows to Coupeville, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve and Fort Casey. A detour via the village of Langley comes before the Clinton ferry, which lands at Mukilteo, north of Seattle.
The only truly dry months on the point: 23 mm of rain in July, up to 13 hours of sunshine a day and a sea at 17 °C in July and August. On Maple Beach, the rising tide covers sun-warmed mudflats, and the water becomes pleasant for children. This is also the season when the enclave receives the most visitors from both countries.
Mild but changeable shoulder seasons: rain drops sharply in May, with 11 hours of sunshine a day, and September keeps the sea at 16 °C. In spring as at the end of summer, migrating shorebirds stop by the thousands on the mudflats of Boundary Bay, easy to watch from the enclave's shore.
The wet season: rain approaches or exceeds 200 mm a month from November to January, with only 3 to 4 hours of sunshine a day. Average lows stay above freezing, but short days and limited facilities for motorhomes reduce the appeal of a stay; a weekend trip from Bellingham is enough for the storms and the winter ducks.
Most pleasant months: June to August.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 °C | 2 °C | 197 mm | 4 h/day | 7 °C |
| Feb | 6 °C | 1 °C | 120 mm | 5 h/day | 7 °C |
| Mar | 9 °C | 3 °C | 137 mm | 7 h/day | 8 °C |
| Apr | 12 °C | 6 °C | 99 mm | 9 h/day | 9 °C |
| May | 16 °C | 9 °C | 67 mm | 11 h/day | 12 °C |
| Jun | 19 °C | 12 °C | 57 mm | 12 h/day | 14 °C |
| Jul | 22 °C | 14 °C | 23 mm | 13 h/day | 17 °C |
| Aug | 22 °C | 15 °C | 33 mm | 12 h/day | 17 °C |
| Sep | 18 °C | 12 °C | 92 mm | 9 h/day | 16 °C |
| Oct | 13 °C | 8 °C | 169 mm | 6 h/day | 13 °C |
| Nov | 9 °C | 4 °C | 239 mm | 4 h/day | 10 °C |
| Dec | 6 °C | 2 °C | 212 mm | 3 h/day | 9 °C |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
A round trip to Point Roberts involves four checkpoints: entry into Canada just outside Blaine, entry into the United States at the enclave, then the reverse on the way back. Waits range from a few minutes to over an hour, especially on summer weekends and public holidays in either country. Check the waiting times published online and, at Blaine, compare the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings.
At border posts, officers may ask for the rental agreement, the vehicle registration and proof of insurance for the motorhome. Ask the rental company for a certificate of insurance valid in Canada, even for the few dozen kilometres through Surrey and Delta, and check that roadside assistance also covers that side of the border.
Customs in both countries restrict the entry of certain meats, fruit, vegetables and plants, as well as firewood, to limit the spread of pests. With four crossings on a round trip, set off with few provisions, do your shopping at the enclave's grocery store and declare what you are carrying when the officer asks.
Between Blaine and the enclave, the road crosses British Columbia, where speed limits and distances are shown in km/h and kilometres, while the speedometer of an American motorhome shows miles first. Locate the secondary scale before setting off; in Point Roberts, signs switch back to miles, as in the rest of Washington State.
Point Roberts has little room for motorhomes: Lighthouse Marine Park, run by Whatcom County, has a small campground that is in high demand in summer. Elsewhere, the streets are mostly residential and overnight parking outside designated sites is not welcome. Book your pitch and check the maximum vehicle length allowed.
The enclave has no rental depot: our partners hand over their vehicles in nearby cities. Bellingham, 50 km away as the crow flies and just over an hour's drive via Blaine and Tsawwassen, not counting border waits, is the most practical starting point. Seattle, 164 km away, suits travellers arriving at its airport, at the cost of about three hours on the road.
The rate depends on the departure city, Bellingham or Seattle, on the season, the length of hire and the vehicle: summer, in high demand across the American Northwest, costs much more than winter. Add a possible surcharge if the rental company charges for driving in Canada. Run a search with your dates to get the real prices, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away.
Yes, provided the agreement allows Canada: the only road to Point Roberts crosses Surrey and Delta, in British Columbia, for about thirty kilometres. Some rental companies accept it, others exclude it or set conditions. Ask before booking and have it written into the agreement; a vehicle banned from Canada cannot reach the enclave by road.
Each traveller presents a valid passport, or another document accepted by both countries, and the authorisations required for their nationality, both to enter Canada and to return to the United States. If you arrived on US soil with a travel authorisation, check that it is valid for a new entry by land. A minor travelling without both parents should preferably carry a letter of consent.
Yes, one way or as part of a long tour: Portland is 388 km away as the crow flies, beyond Seattle on Interstate 5, and Bozeman, in Montana, 976 km away, via Interstate 90 and Snoqualmie Pass. Both cities are also departure points of our partners. Enter the return city when you search: any one-way surcharge is then included in the price shown.
Lack of availability in person or by phone. Minimum and aggressive email responses. The website is a bit complicated for renting. Otherwise, it meets the offer.
The rental in the US went well. Although I had some trouble reaching people to clarify a few points once on site, there were no issues in the end. The RV on-site was great, spacious, fully equipped, and met our expectations.
Everything went well with Cool Drive!
A valid licence from your country is generally enough for a rental motorhome, in the United States as well as while crossing British Columbia. If it is not written in English, add an International Driving Permit, which the rental company may also require. You drive on the right on both sides of the border. Minimum age and years of driving experience are listed in the conditions of each offer.
Vancouver airport is the closest to the enclave, but it is in Canada, far from the American depots where you pick up the vehicle. It is better to land in Bellingham, whose international airport mainly handles domestic flights, or at Seattle-Tacoma, served by many long-haul flights, then collect the motorhome there before heading north to the border.
Surrounded by Canadian masts, the enclave often picks up British Columbia networks: an American or foreign phone can switch to roaming without warning, with charges depending on your plan. Check your options before leaving, turn off automatic roaming if needed and download offline maps for the drive through Delta, where you really are in Canada.
To the west, Monument Park holds the first marker of the land border drawn along the 49th parallel, facing the Strait of Georgia. To the southwest, the boardwalk of Lighthouse Marine Park serves as a lookout over the Gulf and San Juan Islands. To the east, the marina and the view of Mount Baker, across Boundary Bay, round off the day.
For July and August, several months ahead, mentioning the drive through Canada from the start, as not all offers allow it. In spring and September, a few weeks are usually enough. Also allow half a day's margin on the return journey: a long queue at the border can delay the return of the vehicle in Bellingham or Seattle.
Point Roberts is a journey within a journey: a little piece of America at the tip of a Canadian peninsula, where you cross the border twice to reach quiet beaches, wooded bluffs and one of the finest viewpoints over the Strait of Georgia. A motorhome makes perfect sense here, since it lets you sleep on site and enjoy summer evenings once the day visitors have left.
From Bellingham or Seattle, the enclave combines with Birch Bay, the Fraser delta or Whidbey Island, while Portland and Bozeman, other departure cities of our partners, open up longer tours of the Northwest. From June to August, the weather is at its driest and brightest. One condition, but an essential one: an agreement that allows Canada and valid papers for every passenger.
