🪨 1. What Gravel Is Best for Driveways?

Spoiler: not the stuff your landscaper cousin calls “good enough.”

Choosing the right gravel for your driveway is kind of like choosing the right boots for a PNW winter: you want something sturdy, dependable, and able to handle a whole lot of rain. The best materials for driveways in our area are 5/8” minus crushed rock and recycled asphalt (RAP) — two options that don’t just look good, but keep doing their job long after the weather stops cooperating.

Let’s break down why these two materials rock (pun lightly intended).

5/8” Minus Crushed Rock — The Tried, True, and Tire-Approved Choice

If gravel had a “most reliable” award, 5/8” minus would win every year. This material includes small particles called “fines,” which act like nature’s own binder. Once we grade it and roll it in, the whole surface compacts together so nicely you’d think it signed a long-term commitment.

Why People Love It:

• Compacts beautifully — stays put even through storm season

• Great traction, especially on steep driveways

• Excellent drainage, which we all know is non-negotiable around here

• Durable under heavy traffic, from delivery vans to that one friend who always parks too close to the grass

It performs consistently well across Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom County, where the soil, moisture, and elevation change by the minute. Whether your driveway is flat, sloped, shady, sunny, or hidden somewhere between two fir trees and a blackberry bush, 5/8” minus is dependable.

Recycled Asphalt — The Smooth Operator

If 5/8” minus is the reliable workhorse, recycled asphalt is the stylish cousin who shows up wearing flannel… but the fancy flannel. RAP gives your driveway a darker, tidier look without the cost of fresh asphalt.

Why It Stands Out:

• Compacts almost like magic

• Reduces dust, keeping cars and houses cleaner

• Hardens in the sun, giving you a more solid-feeling surface

• Great for high-traffic areas, long driveways, and parking pads

RAP is a favorite for homeowners who want something between a full gravel look and a full asphalt feel. It behaves well in the PNW’s on-again, off-again relationship with sunshine, growing firmer over time and standing up to weather shifts.

And yes, when the sun does finally appear, your driveway literally gets better. Win.

So... Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick guide:

• Choose 5/8” minus if you want classic gravel that compacts tight, drains well, and handles all terrain.

• Choose recycled asphalt if you want a cleaner look, less dust, and a semi-solid surface that gets stronger with heat.

Either way, your driveway will be in good shape for years — and unlike potholes, our materials don’t spontaneously appear after one rainy weekend.

Both options are reliable, long-lasting, and perfect for the unique conditions of the Pacific Northwest. And with the right grading and rolling (that’s where we come in), they’ll stay that way.