Washington State Route 548

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 548 in rush hour traffic, such as it was.

State route No. 548:

A state highway to be known as state route number 548 is established as follows:

Beginning at a junction with state route number 5 in the vicinity north of Ferndale, thence westerly and northerly to a junction with state route number 5 in Blaine.

Highway 548 begins heading westward, which is highly unusual for an even-numbered highway in Washington. It starts at this interchange with I-5.


A stop sign spreads out the rush hour traffic nicely, once you get by it. We drive through rolling hills of fields and forests. Can't escape the roundabouts. Near the BP refinery, the highway turns north but most traffic continues straight, heading toward Birch Bay. The highway no longer has shoulders, but just ditches close to the fog lines. Birch Bay is off to our left as we reach the halfway point of the highway. At intersections, more traffic is crossing Highway 548 than driving on it.


We head over California and Dakota Creeks on old bridges. The tide is out. We're now on the old old Pacific Highway. After the railroad tracks, there's a stop sign at Peace Portal Drive. There's no directional sign, but I turn left since I know that's the way. Surely some people go straight and get lost. We follow the railroad tracks into Blaine. Seagulls overhead. Sun reflects off the water of Drayton Harbor. At the north end of town, Highway 548 ends at another interchange with I-5, replete with two roundabouts. It's Whatcom County, after all.

The day was stretching too long for us to head over to Birch Bay. If we visit Birch Bay again, we probably won't use Highway 548, since it doesn't actually go there...