Just south of Tsawwassen, past the Canadian border crossing at 56th Street, sits a small American town that most Metro Vancouver residents have driven past without ever stopping. Point Roberts is part of Washington State, but it is cut off from the rest of the United States by geography. The only way to drive there is through Delta and across the border, since the town sits on the tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, south of the 49th parallel that forms the international boundary here.
For Delta residents, that makes Point Roberts one of the more unusual day trips available, a genuine international crossing that takes only a few minutes. Visitors come for a rocky beachfront park known for whale sightings, a quiet grid of streets with far less traffic than Tsawwassen, and a handful of shops and a grocery store that have long depended on Canadian day trippers. It also requires a bit of planning, since crossing into the US and back into Canada means dealing with two separate border checks in the same afternoon.
Why Point Roberts Is Cut Off From the Rest of the US
Point Roberts exists in its odd shape because of where the international boundary was drawn. When the US and Britain settled the Pacific Northwest border dispute in the mid 1800s, they agreed that the 49th parallel would separate American and British territory west to the coast. Most of the Tsawwassen Peninsula ended up north of that line, in what is now Delta, BC, but the peninsula’s southern tip dips just far enough below the 49th parallel to fall on the American side.
The result is a small pocket of Washington State attached to Canada by land and separated from the rest of the United States by water. To drive to Point Roberts from anywhere else in Washington, you have to pass through Delta and cross an international border twice, once heading south and once heading back north. The alternative is arriving by private boat or small aircraft, which is how many residents describe the town’s slightly isolated, small-community feel.
That geography is also why the town has stayed so small. Development is limited by the same distance and border logistics that make a visit feel like a proper day trip rather than a quick errand, even though the drive itself is short.
Crossing the Border: What Delta Residents Need to Know
A trip to Point Roberts means clearing US Customs and Border Protection on the way in and Canada Border Services on the way back, so it is worth treating it like any other international trip rather than a quick neighbourhood drive. Everyone in the vehicle needs a valid passport, a passport card, or an approved alternative such as a NEXUS card. Children need their own identification too, and it is worth having proof of citizenship on hand for anyone travelling without a passport.
Wait times at the crossing are generally short compared to the major crossings near Blaine, but they can still stretch out on summer weekends and long weekends when the town’s beaches and shops draw more day trippers. It is worth checking current border wait times before you leave Delta, particularly if you are trying to make it back for the evening.
Because you are entering another country, ordinary border rules apply. Be ready to answer basic questions about the purpose of your visit, and understand that anything you bring back into Canada may be subject to duty and taxes depending on value and how long you were away. Pets need current rabies documentation, and it is worth double checking requirements before bringing one along.
Lighthouse Marine Park and the Local Beaches
The main draw for most visitors is Lighthouse Marine Park, a Whatcom County park on the point’s western shore. It is a rocky, driftwood-strewn stretch of shoreline looking out over the Strait of Georgia, and it has a reputation as one of the better spots on land anywhere in the region for seeing orcas, since resident and transient pods pass close to shore here at certain times of year, especially in summer. The park has a small interpretive centre focused on orca research along its boardwalk, along with picnic areas, a playground, and a campground that operates through the warmer months.
A short drive around the point brings you to a few other Whatcom County park areas, including a sandy stretch at Maple Beach and a bluff-top trail with beach access at Lily Point, which is also known locally for birdwatching. None of these are big, developed beach destinations in the way Boundary Bay or Centennial Beach are back in Delta, and that low-key, undeveloped character is a big part of the appeal for people making the crossing.
None of these parks have lifeguards, so anyone planning to wade or swim should treat the water and currents with the same caution you would anywhere else on the Strait of Georgia, and keep a close eye on kids and pets near the rocks and driftwood.
Cross-Border Shopping and Everyday Life in Point Roberts
Point Roberts’ small commercial strip has long relied heavily on Canadian visitors, and the local grocery store is used to serving customers from across the line, down to keeping both Canadian and US cash on hand at the till. Along with groceries, gas has historically been a draw when Canadian prices climb, since it is common for BC drivers to fill up while they are down for the afternoon.
The town is also known as a mail and package hub. Long before cross-border online shopping was common, Point Roberts postal outlets let BC residents receive US parcel deliveries and pick them up in person, avoiding some of the extra shipping costs and delays that come with sending packages directly into Canada. That business has ebbed and flowed with exchange rates, gas prices, and border traffic patterns over the years, so do not assume every shop or service you have heard about is still operating exactly as it did in the past. It is worth checking that a specific business is open before making a special trip for it.
Away from the commercial strip, Point Roberts is mostly quiet residential streets and undeveloped land, with a year-round population in the low thousands that swells considerably in summer as seasonal cabin owners return. It has the feel of a small coastal community rather than a tourist town, which is part of why a slow walk around the point, rather than a packed itinerary, tends to be the more rewarding way to spend the day.
Planning a Day Trip From Delta
The drive from central Delta to the Point Roberts border crossing is short, generally well under half an hour, which is what makes this such an easy add-on to a day already spent around Tsawwassen or Boundary Bay. Because of the double border crossing, it is worth building in extra time on both ends rather than scheduling it tightly against a ferry departure or dinner reservation.
A simple plan that works well for a lot of visitors is to cross in the late morning, spend an hour or two walking the shoreline at Lighthouse Marine Park, grab lunch or groceries in town, and head back across before the crossing gets busy in the late afternoon. Bringing a light jacket is worth it even in summer, since the exposed shoreline at the point tends to be breezier than the more sheltered parts of Boundary Bay.
If you want official, up to date detail on documents and current crossing rules before you go, the US Customs and Border Protection travel page is the most reliable source, since requirements and wait times can shift. For more ideas on rounding out a beach day closer to home before or after your trip, see our guide to Boundary Bay in Delta.
Point Roberts Day Trip Tips
Bring a passport for everyone in the car. A passport, passport card, or NEXUS card is the simplest way through both border crossings, and government issued photo ID alone is not always sufficient.
Plan for two border checks, not one. You clear US customs heading in and Canadian customs heading back out, so build extra time into your afternoon, especially on summer weekends.
Check hours before you go. Point Roberts is a small town, and shop and restaurant hours can be limited or seasonal, so confirm a specific business is open rather than assuming.
Dress for wind and rock, not sand. Lighthouse Marine Park’s shoreline is rocky and exposed, so bring layers and shoes you do not mind getting wet or muddy.
Declare what you bring back. Duty and taxes can apply to goods brought into Canada depending on value and how long you were away, so keep receipts handy at the border.
Questions Often Asked
Do you need a passport to visit Point Roberts from Delta?
Yes. Point Roberts is part of the United States, so visiting means crossing an international border twice in one trip, once entering the US and once returning to Canada. A valid passport, passport card, or NEXUS card is the most reliable document to carry for everyone in the vehicle, including children.
Why is Point Roberts part of the US instead of Canada?
The international boundary here follows the 49th parallel, which was set when the US and Britain settled the Pacific Northwest border in the mid 1800s. Most of the Tsawwassen Peninsula sits north of that line in Delta, BC, but its southern tip dips just below the 49th parallel, placing Point Roberts on the American side even though it is only reachable by land through Canada.
What is there to do in Point Roberts for a day trip?
The main attraction is Lighthouse Marine Park, a rocky shoreline park known as a strong land based spot for seeing orcas passing through the Strait of Georgia, especially in summer. Beyond that, visitors typically walk the quieter beaches nearby, browse the local grocery store and small shops, and enjoy the slower pace of a small coastal community.
Is Point Roberts good for whale watching?
Lighthouse Marine Park has a strong reputation as a land based whale watching spot, with an interpretive centre focused on orca research along its boardwalk. Sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed, so summer months generally offer the best odds, but there is no substitute for checking recent sighting reports before you go.
How long does it take to drive from Delta to Point Roberts?
The drive itself is short, generally well under half an hour from central Delta to the border crossing near Point Roberts. The bigger variable is wait times at the two border crossings you pass through, which can add anywhere from a few minutes to considerably longer on busy summer weekends.
