Sumas is in Whatcom County in the North Cascades region of Washington State. It is at an important land border crossing between Washington State, USA and British Columbia, Canada.
Sumas, Washington State is an incorporated town of about 1,500 people located in Whatcom Country. Cherry Street is the main north–south access for the town and the location of most of the businesses of interest to visitors. There is also an industrial park to the west and residential areas around the business core.
Bank of America (only bank in town) has a small but full service branch on Cherry Street. They have an ATM, allow Canadians to open accounts, and offer safe deposit boxes. There are also ATMs at the IGA and in various gas stations. Most businesses have separate cash drawers for US and Canadian currency and will readily transact in either currency but cash exchange rates can be favorable or quite unfavorable depending on the business.
The local library (limited hours) offers free Wi-Fi. The local Rotary Club operates as a dual nationality club (Abbotsford-Sumas) with meetings alternating on both sides of the border.
Sumas is immediately next to Abbotsford, BC Canada and features one of the main border crossings in the region (Huntington-Sumas). Border lineups often clog up Cherry Street.
Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA), +1 360-676-7433. Operates public transit bus service in Whatcom County including Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas. Also operates bus route 80X traveling north from Burlington and Mount Vernon in Skagit County to Bellingham. 2022-09-26 Route 71X operates from Monday to Saturday between Sumas and Bellingham.
The nearest public transit stops in Abbotsford are located a few blocks from the border crossing.
Everything of interest, including the border crossing, can be easily walked to as the commercial area is two blocks wide and about 8 blocks long. Cherry Street is the main thoroughfare, terminating at Canadian customs and immigration. Signs designate a golf cart zone in town, but golf carts are never seen on the streets.
The presence of US Homeland Security staff and cameras right in this small town tends to reduce serious crime, leaving local police with little to do but enforce the varied but generally very low speed limits in Sumas. Drive slowly or be prepared to help fund the local police department.
Compared to similar sized towns, Sumas status as a border town has led to many more gas stations than would be expected to sell lower priced fuel to Canadians. Be like the Canadians and gas up on the cheap before crossing the border.
There is an IGA grocery store and a pharmacy about one block from the border. There is also a duty-free store on the US side beside the border lineup and another duty free in Canada beside the US border lines. Several stores also sell alcohol, but be aware that alcohol is heavily taxed in Canada so consider exemption limits before stocking up.
See the eat section for listings.
Sumas has a couple simple motels and a City run campground
United States Postal Service (USPS), 534 Railroad Ave, 48.99860°, -122.26568°, +1 360-988-2613. The local post office has with far more PO Boxes than area households because over 1000 Canadians have PO Boxes here. The local zip code is 98295. 2023-03-06
At least three private businesses offer courier shipping and receiving services to a mainly Canadian clientele.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division