Granite Falls is the terminus of State Route 92, which connects the area to State Route 9 in Lake Stevens. A bypass for freight traffic was completed around the north side of the city in 2010 at a cost of $28.8 million. The scenic Mountain Loop Highway begins in Granite Falls and travels east into the Cascade Mountains before turning north to reach Darrington. It is used by an estimated 55,000 tourists annually and provides access to recreational areas in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.