Visiting San Juan Island, How to plan your trip without your car!
San Juan Island is a good place for families, solo travelers, photographers, or whoever! There’s just so much to do there. Let’s chat about some of my personal favorite tips for planning your trip to San Juan Island.
I am a frequent visitor to San Juan Island and love it there! I can not get enough of it! It has the best weather because it is in the rain shadow. Summers are not too hot, and winters are not too cold! The island is small enough to get from one end to the other in about 20 minutes, which is also nice. It makes it easy to travel around and almost impossible to get lost!
Friday Harbor is the town you dock in right off the ferry (or the plane if you fly in), where all the action is. It has 25 eateries, nine galleries, three museums, coffee shops, shopping, & anything else you may need. The Kings grocery store is a good place to get food and go upstairs to get any clothes or camping gear you need.
There are also a couple of places to stay within walking distance of the ferry that I highly recommend: Earthbox Inn & Spa and Bird Rock Hotel. Both are completely different experiences, but you can easily walk with your luggage from the ferry.
The ability to walk on the ferry instead of taking your car is a game changer. Walking on the ferry will save you time and money, as well as the hassle of getting a reservation (which can be a challenge). See the blog I wrote about how to make a reservation here —— >
Getting around the San Juan island
If you decide to walk on the ferry versus taking your car, there are plenty of options to get around the island; let’s talk more about that.
Susie Mopeds
SM is located downtown within walking distance from the ferry. They have mopes or small cars for rent. They have hourly options and day rates. Check them out HERE
San Juan Trolley
This trolley will make stops every hour on the hour to places like the alpaca farm, English camp, American camp, and the lighthouses. And a few other stops. It’s super easy, super convenient, and very affordable. Check out the Trolley HERE
Meat Machine
Meat Machine Cycles is a newer business that offers rentals on e-bikes and bicycles. Check them out HERE
San Juan Transit
This bus goes all around the island and is easy to use as well. Here is the link HERE
Hire a tour guide.
There is a local small business who is doing custom tours. Jason Trace is a local photographer who also does tours. He is super awesome, and I encourage you to check out his website for more information. Contact Jason HERE
Just a quick note: if you are staying at the Earthbox Inn or Bird Rock, they have bike rentals, too!
Stay at Earthbox Inn or Bird Rock Hotel
The Bird Rock Hotel
This historic building has been around since 1891 and has been a hotel, private & hostel. Bird Rock Hotel is one of the first buildings you see off the ferry! It is absolutely adorable. It has various rooms, from a small room with a shared bathroom to suites with kitchens and private bathrooms. Some even have balconies. To learn more about the history, check out this page —-> https://www.birdrockhotel.com/our-hotel/our-history
Earthbox Inn
Earthbox Inn is a few blocks up from the ferry, but it is still an easy 5-minute walk! The Earthbox Inn has more traditional hotel rooms that are nice and cozy. The rooms have a dinette; you can access the swimming pool, bikes for rent, and even an on-location coffee shop.
National Historic Parks on San Juan Island
Remember to bring your National Park pass! San Juan Island has a couple of National Historical Parks. English camp & HomeAmerican camp. Both are awesome in different ways. American camp has an awesome lighthouse to check out, with some trails and really good views of the Salish Sea. English camp is in a bay with a visitor center, some old buildings, and some trails to go to the woods. Be prepared to hike around a little bit because it’s worth the trek.
Both camps are open 24 hours, but these parks have no car or camping. As a dark sky photographer, I was looking into doing some photography, so I went into the visitor center and got more information. If you are a star gazer or photographer, you may want to check it out!
Places to see on the Island from the trolly
Cattle Point Lighthouse
The Farm at Krystal Acres
Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Roche Harbor
John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum
Visiting San Juan Island, How to plan your trip without your car!
San Juan Island is a good place for families, solo travelers, photographers, or whoever! There’s just so much to do there. Let’s chat about some of my personal favorite tips for planning your trip to San Juan Island.
I am a frequent visitor to San Juan Island and love it there! I can not get enough of it! It has the best weather because it is in the rain shadow. Summers are not too hot, and winters are not too cold! The island is small enough to get from one end to the other in about 20 minutes, which is also nice. It makes it easy to travel around and almost impossible to get lost!
Friday Harbor is the town you dock in right off the ferry (or the plane if you fly in), where all the action is. It has 25 eateries, nine galleries, three museums, coffee shops, shopping, & anything else you may need. The Kings grocery store is a good place to get food and go upstairs to get any clothes or camping gear you need.
There are also a couple of places to stay within walking distance of the ferry that I highly recommend: Earthbox Inn & Spa and Bird Rock Hotel. Both are completely different experiences, but you can easily walk with your luggage from the ferry.
The ability to walk on the ferry instead of taking your car is a game changer. Walking on the ferry will save you time and money, as well as the hassle of getting a reservation (which can be a challenge). See the blog I wrote about how to make a reservation here —— >
Getting around the San Juan island
If you decide to walk on the ferry versus taking your car, there are plenty of options to get around the island; let’s talk more about that.
Susie Mopeds
SM is located downtown within walking distance from the ferry. They have mopes or small cars for rent. They have hourly options and day rates. Check them out HERE
San Juan Trolley
This trolley will make stops every hour on the hour to places like the alpaca farm, English camp, American camp, and the lighthouses. And a few other stops. It’s super easy, super convenient, and very affordable. Check out the Trolley HERE
Meat Machine
Meat Machine Cycles is a newer business that offers rentals on e-bikes and bicycles. Check them out HERE
San Juan Transit
This bus goes all around the island and is easy to use as well. Here is the link HERE
Hire a tour guide.
There is a local small business who is doing custom tours. Jason Trace is a local photographer who also does tours. He is super awesome, and I encourage you to check out his website for more information. Contact Jason HERE
Just a quick note: if you are staying at the Earthbox Inn or Bird Rock, they have bike rentals, too!
Stay at Earthbox Inn or Bird Rock Hotel
The Bird Rock Hotel
This historic building has been around since 1891 and has been a hotel, private & hostel. Bird Rock Hotel is one of the first buildings you see off the ferry! It is absolutely adorable. It has various rooms, from a small room with a shared bathroom to suites with kitchens and private bathrooms. Some even have balconies. To learn more about the history, check out this page —-> https://www.birdrockhotel.com/our-hotel/our-history
Earthbox Inn
Earthbox Inn is a few blocks up from the ferry, but it is still an easy 5-minute walk! The Earthbox Inn has more traditional hotel rooms that are nice and cozy. The rooms have a dinette; you can access the swimming pool, bikes for rent, and even an on-location coffee shop.
National Historic Parks on San Juan Island
Remember to bring your National Park pass! San Juan Island has a couple of National Historical Parks. English camp & HomeAmerican camp. Both are awesome in different ways. American camp has an awesome lighthouse to check out, with some trails and really good views of the Salish Sea. English camp is in a bay with a visitor center, some old buildings, and some trails to go to the woods. Be prepared to hike around a little bit because it’s worth the trek.
Both camps are open 24 hours, but these parks have no car or camping. As a dark sky photographer, I was looking into doing some photography, so I went into the visitor center and got more information. If you are a star gazer or photographer, you may want to check it out!
Places to see on the Island from the trolly
Cattle Point Lighthouse
The Farm at Krystal Acres
Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Roche Harbor
John S. McMillin Memorial Mausoleum
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