How to Get to San Juan Islands: Your Ultimate Guide from Seattle

Have you been to the San Juan Islands? If not, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of Washington State’s most scenic spots with hikes, farm-fresh eats, whale watching, and endless adventures waiting for you just off the mainland.

However, as soon as people hear “island”, they stress about the logistics of getting there. But you don’t need to worry. While it takes some planning, how to get to the San Juan Islands is straightforward. Here’s everything you need to know to kickstart your adventure.

How to Get to San Juan Islands

The good news is that you have several options for getting from the mainland to the islands, whether it be by ferry, seaplane, or private boat. But before diving into the specifics, let me share more about the San Juans so you know what to expect.

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What are the San Juan Islands?

This archipelago off the coast of Washington state includes 170+ named islands (and hundreds unnamed), with about 20 inhabited. Only four are served by Washington State Ferries (WSDOT): San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, and Shaw Island. The first three are the ones most visited by tourists.

Where are the San Juan Islands?

Tucked in northwest Washington State, the San Juan Islands sit in the Salish Sea between mainland Washington about 1.5 hours north of Seattle and Vancouver Island, Canada. Since the islands are protected from the Pacific Ocean by the Olympic Peninsula, it’s a prime location for whale watching because these gentle giants like the warmer, calmer waters. The most famous are the orcas, which draw nearly 650,000 visitors to the islands each year in hopes of spotting the Southern Resident pods.

Unlike Seattle, the San Juan Islands sit in a rain shadow from the Olympics and Vancouver Island. This means it has milder temps (summer highs ~70°F/21°C), less rain, sunnier days, turquoise bays, and wildlife hotspots that make it a PNW paradise.

How far are the San Juan Islands from Seattle?

By car it takes 3-4 hours each way. You’ll drive 1.5 to 2 hours to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, then take a ferry about 1 hour to San Juan Island (Friday Harbor), 1.5 hours to Orcas (Eastsound), or 1 hour and 15 minutes to Lopez.

By seaplane, expect a 55-minute flight from Lake Union in Seattle.

How do you get to the San Juan Islands?

Ferries are the main way to get to the San Juan Islands, but planes and private boats are also options. Let’s break down each.

Taking the ferry to the San Juan Islands

Ferries serving the San Juan Islands depart from Anacortes, a small port town about 1.5 hours north of Seattle. Multiple ferries depart each day between 4 AM and midnight. Some go straight to specific islands while others stop at all of them.

All of the ferries have space for vehicles, so you can drive your car right on them! If you plan to do this, reservations are a must, especially during peak season (Apr-Oct). And even with a vehicle reservation, you should arrive 60 minutes before your departure time so that they don’t give your spot away to people trying to get onto the boat without one.

Note that with or without a vehicle reservation, all passengers need tickets as well. You can buy those at the gate or ahead of time online.

Flying to the San Juan Islands

Commercial airlines don’t fly to the San Juan Islands, so Kenmore Air seaplanes are your best bet. They fly from Seattle Lake Union or Boeing Field and offer quick, 55-minute scenic flights for ~$190 one way.

Private boats to the San Juan Islands

Private boat charters are also an option for getting to the San Juan Islands. For example, Island Express Charters offers both private charters and a water taxi that runs on a regular schedule from Anacortes. Or hire a private sail charter from Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula.

Getting to the San Juan Islands without a car

You can technically do a trip to the San Juan Islands without a car, but I don’t recommend it because you’ll need to find your way to Anacortes and most of the islands aren’t walkable. But if you really want to get there without a car, you can bus or train to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal.

By bus

From downtown Seattle, you’ll need to take the 512 bus to Everett at 4th & Pike. From there, transfer to the 90X, which will take you to Skagit Station in Mt. Vernon. Then transfer to the Skagit Transit Route 40X to March’s Point (~25 min). Lastly, transfer again to Route 410 to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal (~20 min). All in all, the full bus route will take about 4 hours if everything goes smoothly…but that’s not including the 1+ hour ferry ride to the island of your choice. So prepare for a long day!

By train

Amtrak Cascades trains depart Seattle twice daily to Mount Vernon (~1h 32m, $32–35). Then you’ll need to take Skagit Transit buses to the ferry in Anacortes. Trains don’t go directly to the ferry terminal.

By shuttle

For simplicity, Bellair Airporter Shuttle runs direct from Seattle Convention Center to the Anacortes ferry by reservation (~2h, $26–55pp, 3x daily). Once there, walk onto the ferry and plan to either call a taxi or rent bikes, mopeds, e-bikes, or golf carts once you arrive.

Parking your car on the mainland

If you have access to a car, but don’t want to pay the price of bringing it onto the ferry, you can drive to Anacortes and park overnight at the ferry terminal. The benefit of this option is that you don’t waste a ton of time and energy getting to Anacortes. Plus you reap the benefit of being able to walk onto the ferry without a reservation.

Which San Juan Island should you visit?

The San Juan Islands are an experience in and of themselves. You’d have to spend a few days on each island to really experience them all, but each makes a trip on their own. To help you decide which one to visit, here’s a breakdown of each and what they’re best known for. I also include links to my full guides on each island!

San Juan Island: Bustling with history, diverse landscape, and restaurants. This is the only island where you can walk from the ferry to the downtown area. It’s also known for whale watching from shore (you can see them from boat tours on all islands).

Orcas Island: Ideal for hiking, restaurants, and shopping. Moran State Park offers views from the highest point on the islands and a lot of trails for active adventurers.

Lopez Island: The most relaxed, vacation-y island known for biking and camping. This is best for those that want to prioritize nature.

Shaw Island: Best for quiet stays thanks to minimal crowds. Come here to truly unplug.

Frequently asked questions about San Juan Islands

Here are some of the questions I get asked most often when it comes to San Juan Islands travel.

What’s the best San Juan Island for first-time visitors?

San Juan for easy access from the ferry, easy hikes and walks, and history. Orcas for nature with more shopping and food options.

Best time of year to visit the San Juan Islands

April-Oct is best (but the busiest) for catching the most whale action and nicest weather. Off-season offers lower prices for accommodations and less crowds. My preference is September to November.

Do you need a car in the San Juan Islands?

For flexibility, my answer is always yes because the islands aren’t walkable. However, you do have options if you don’t have access to a car.

Taxis

Taxis are limited on the San Juan Islands (no Uber/Lyft), but you can call locally-owned taxi companies right from the ferry dock for rides to rentals, hotels, or sites like Lime Kiln Park. Expect 10–30 min waits and ~$20–60 fares depending on distance.

E-bikes/bikes

Bikes and recreational vehicles are your best rental bet once you’re on the island because traditional car rental options are expensive. Just note, e-bikes are best if you aren’t an expert biker because the islands are large and hilly. Here are bike rental options on each island:

San Juan: Meat Machine Cycles and Cycle San Juan
Orcas: Orcas Bikes
Lopez: Lopez Bike Works inside Lopez Kayaks on Fisherman Bay

Mopeds/scooters/SUVs

Want more power than a bike? You can rent a two-wheeler on San Juan Island at Susie’s Mopeds or Orcas Islands at Orcas Bikes.

San Juan Islands ferry tips for first timers

If you’re bringing a vehicle, make a reservation for both the departure and return trip to Anacortes 2 months in advance (inter island travel doesn’t accept reservations).
If your departure dates are sold out, more vehicle reservation slots drop both 2 weeks and 2 days before so check again.
Passenger tickets need to be booked separately. Tickets are round trip, so you don’t have to book for both the departure and return legs of your trip.
If you want to visit multiple islands, plan your route from west to east because you only pay for westbound tickets from Anacortes. That means traveling to the islands in this order: San Juan, Orcas, Shaw, Lopez.
If you’re bringing a vehicle, arrive 60 minutes before departure. Yes, even with a reservation, as they will release your spot to those who try to drive on without one. Walk-on passengers can arrive about 30 minutes before.
Pay attention to which boat you’re getting onto/reserving. Some don’t stop at some islands and others don’t allow cars. Use the key on the ferry schedule as your guide.
Turn off your car as you wait for the ferry. I kept it on once and had to get jumped by WSDOT. It was fine, but embarrassing!
Use the real-time map to track delays and arrivals.

How long should you stay in the San Juan Islands?

I recommend 2-3 days per island to soak in the local color without feeling like you’re rushed.

Can you visit the San Juan Islands as a day trip?

Yes, you can visit the San Juan Islands as a day trip, but plan for a full day with an early start from Seattle. Staying in or nearby Anacortes would be much easier—just the ~1 hour ferry.