Smokey Point rest area closed again due to homeless campers

ARLINGTON, Wash. – If you’re driving to Seattle soon, you might want to empty the tank before you hit the road.

KOMO reports the Smokey Point rest area on I-5 is temporarily closed due to a high number of homeless campers in the area.

Officials are working on a plan to keep the rest area from being overrun again.

A timeline for reopening is expected later this week.

The State Patrol says rest areas are not designed to safely host long-term residents.

Smokey Point was also shut down last October because people were staying too long, dumping trash and threatening WSDOT workers.