How to get to the Ferry to the San Juan Islands

So you are ready to take an adventure and check out the San Juan Islands! I got you! If I were to give any advice when your heading out, it is to plan your trip ahead of time. It used to be easy to just drive up to the Ferry and catch a ride, but now you need to make a reservation. Here is more about that!

The San Juan Islands are in the middle of the Salish Sea between Washington and Victoria, BC. The Ferry to the San Juan Island is in Anacortes, just north of Seattle.

San Juan County contains over 150 islands, however the Department of Transportation has three ferries that serve only Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, and San Juan Island.

Making your Ferry reservations to the San Juan Islands

When you are ready to reserve your Ferry ride with the Department of Transpo, you head to the DOT website and go to “Make a reservation.”  

• Note You will still need to pay when you get there. It can be a hassle if you try to pay online, and it is easier and less time-consuming to pay at the booth. A reservation is not payment.

• You will need to be through the ticket booth and waiting for the Ferry 45 min before departure. 

• Reservations start off one way, so make sure you book your round-trip ticket all at once. I have seen people get left behind on a full Ferry before; it sucks!

• Make sure you bring your printed out reservation barcode or mobile barcode.

• Download the DOT app, and it will give you real-time updates, Ferry locations, and the full schedule.

• There are different rates for the Ferry Routes.

• There is a no-show fee (I think $20). If changes need to be made, you can make them on the app by 5pm the day before. Honestly, they are pretty accommodating, so it has never been an issue when we made changes.

• The Ferry’s run from Anacortes to either Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, or Friday Harbor (San Juan Island). 

Reservation Tiers

You will have to book either two months ahead, 2 weeks ahead, or 2 days ahead when you book. They only allow a certain percentage to book and close it down until the next tier timeline.  

Drive-up options – If there is room on the Ferry, they will let you drive up on the Ferry, but you’re running the risk of not getting on. Here is what is posted on the website.

On the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes:

2 months before the season start date at 7:00 a.m. PST:

• 1/3 of all standard vehicle reservation space is released
• All tall, non-standard vehicle space is released

2 weeks before each sailing date at 7:00 a.m. PST:

• 1/3 of all standard vehicle space is released

2 days before each sailing date at 7:00 a.m. PST:

• Final 1/3 of standard vehicle space is released

10% of the vehicle desk space is always held open for emergency and stand-by vehicles. Additional stand-by space may be available due to no-shows.

Some of the routes from Anacortes to Friday Harbor will stop at the other islands before finally getting to San Juan Island. Some routes do go straight to San Juan, which will save you time. They will lay it all out on the website schedule for you. 

Ferry to the San Juan Islands Expectations

The one that goes straight to San Juan Island is about an hour ride on the Ferry. It took us about an hour and 30 to 40 minutes more to stop at Orcas Island, pick up some more cars and continue to Friday Harbor.

Between the Ferry schedule and the time it takes to go from place to place, I definitely wouldn’t go to island hopping for the day and then head back to Anacortes. I would suggest you find a place to stay on one of the islands and do some exploring. There is way too much to see & do on all these islands for one day.

When you purchase a reservation from Anacortes to Friday Harbor (San Juan Island) does include a ferry ride to the other islands. We did this on our last trip. We took the Ferry from Friday Harbor to Orcas Island and spent the day there and then returned to Friday Harbor, where we stayed at the Earthbox Inn. 

When you’re going from island to island, you don’t need to make a reservation. Try to get there an hour beforehand to make sure you don’t miss your Ferry. When we went from Friday Harbor to Orcas Island, the Ferry was pretty empty; it was the most empty I’ve ever seen. It was Easter Sunday, and so that might’ve played a factor, but it was a very quick and easy ride going to and from Orcas Island to Friday Harbor.

Need some Friday Harbor Inspo ideas?

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