Getting around Darrington with Community Transit
Community Transit is here to get you where you want to go. We are proud to be a part of the Darrington community — we live here, ride here, and drive here. Wherever you need to go in Darrington, feel good about how you get there.
About Darrington
Darrington is a small mountain town in the foothills of the Cascades, located where two rivers once joined in a valley between the Sauk and the Stillaguamish rivers. The Sauk-Suiattle tribe were the first people to settle in the valley and today their tribe headquarters are located in Darrington. Darrington is connected to nearby areas by State Route 530, which runs along the two rivers towards the city of Arlington, located 30 miles to the west.
Town is home to a variety of small logging and lumber companies as well as Hampton Lumber’s state-of-the-art mill. Darrington’s location near the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and scenic rivers make it a popular destination for outdoor recreation.
People traveling to and from the area can ride from Community Transit buses along Route 230, which connects people to the neighboring Smokey Point Transit Center in Arlington. DART paratransit service and Vanpool are also options. The Sauk-Suiattle DC (Darrington-Concrete) Direct Shuttle Bus Service, a program operated by the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, also offers public transportation to residents of the reservation, Darrington, and surrounding communities.
Spanning over 27 miles between the City of Arlington and the Town of Darrington, the Whitehorse Regional Trail follows the path of the former BNSF railroad through the North Stillaguamish River Valley, offering a scenic travel option for people hiking, biking, and riding horseback.
New Zip Shuttle pilot areas now available
Zip Shuttle service areas now include Lake Stevens, Arlington, and Darrington in addition to Alderwood to make getting around even easier!
Popular Destinations
D'Arling Direct shuttle service
Homage's D'Arling Direct, combined with Community Transit’s Route 230 service, gives you more options for travel between Darrington and Arlington on weekdays and weekends.
Easy transit for older adults
Community Transit serves many people across our communities — including riders age 65 and older, who make up nearly 15% of the Snohomish County population. If you are an older adult interested in taking transit, we have some tips to get you started on your journey.
Travel Training service
If you are new to the area or new to riding public transit, we encourage you to sign up for Community Transit’s free Travel Training service. Travel Training — which helps older adults, people living with disabilities, and others learn how to ride the bus — can be helpful for people who may feel nervous about riding for the first time.
“As I have gotten older, some things have become harder and more intimidating,” says Faith Adams, an Edmonds resident at an independent senior housing complex. “I was brand new to the area and had never taken local transit, but Travel Training gave me the courage to try it.”
Travel Trainers explain how to use the bus and ride with new riders during training — guiding them through the transit experience all the way to their destination. The training is tailored to meet each rider’s needs and abilities.
“Bretta, my trainer, was fabulous,” says Faith, “She rode with me to all the places I may go — the grocery store, the airport, my daughter’s house, the light rail.”
“We’re here to take the guesswork out of taking transit,” says RideStore employee Eric Adams, part of Community Transit’s Customer Experience department. “Whatever your questions, we’re here to make your experience as easy as possible.”
If you’re ready to schedule travel training or want more information, please call us at (425) 348-2379.
Senior Regional Reduced Fare Permit
If you are 65 or older, you can visit Community Transit’s RideStore to apply for a Senior Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). This permit gives older adults an ORCA card for discounted fares on participating transit agencies in the Puget Sound area.
Getting a Senior RRFP will give you discounts on fares for local buses, trains, and ferries as well as our Zip Alderwood Shuttle. All that is required to get one is to come to the RideStore in person with an ID or to send a completed application with proof of age. You can also apply online at myorca.com, if you are able to upload a copy of your state-issued ID or birth certificate.
The RideStore is temporarily located across from the Ash Way Park & Ride, due to construction at the Lynnwood Transit Center. Construction at the transit center includes a new RideStore, which is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2024.
Learn more
Visit communitytransit.org/older-adult to learn more about all the ways Community Transit serves older riders, including our DART paratransit service and our ZIP Alderwood Shuttle, or visit the Community Transit RideStore. Hours and location are below.
Temporary RideStore location
Newberry Square Retail Center
16108 Ash Way, Suite 104
Lynnwood, WA 98087
(Across Ash Way from Ash Way Park & Ride)
Open Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays, unless otherwise posted.
Community Transit Customer Care
Monday to Friday
6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
(800) 562-1375
(425) 353-RIDE (7433)
TTY: 711
