Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Commerce,
P.O. Box 252, Eastsound, WA 98245 (
&
360/376-2273;
www.
orcasisland.org). For information on Lopez Island, contact the
Lopez Island
Chamber of Commerce,
P.O. Box 102, Lopez, WA 98261 (
&
360/468-4664;
www.lopezisland.com).
On the Internet, check out the following: www.sanjuanweb.com, www.orcasisle.
com, www.thesanjuans.com.
GETTING THERE
Washington
State Ferries
(
&
800/84-FERRY
or 888/
808-7977 in Washington, or 206/464-6400; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) oper-
ates ferries between Anacortes and four of the San Juan Islands (Lopez, Shaw,
Orcas, and San Juan) and Sidney, British Columbia (on Vancouver Island near
Victoria). The round-trip fare for a vehicle and driver from Anacortes to Lopez
is $20 to $30, to Shaw or Orcas $24 to $35, to San Juan $27 to $40, and to Sid-
ney $46 to $67. With the exception of trips to Sidney, B.C., fares are higher
Wednesday through Saturday. Also, the higher fares listed here reflect a summer
surcharge.
The round-trip fare for passengers from Anacortes to any of the islands ranges
from $8 to $11 ($18 from Anacortes to Sidney). The fare for a vehicle and driver
on all westbound inter-island ferries is $11 to $14, and walk-on passengers and
passengers in cars ride free. Except for service from Sidney, fares are not collected
on eastbound ferries, nor are walk-on passengers charged for inter-island ferry
service. If you plan to explore the islands by car, you'll save some money by start-
ing your tour on San Juan Island and making your way back east through the
islands.
During the summer you may have to wait several hours to get on a ferry, so
arrive early. If you plan to leave your car on the mainland, any time between late
May and late September, you'll pay $7 to park it overnight at the Anacortes ferry
terminal ($14 for 3 days, $25 for 1 week). There is also a free park-and-ride lot on
the east side of Anacortes on South March Point Road (off Wash. 20). During the
summer, a free shuttle operates from this parking lot to the ferry terminal.
There are also passenger-ferry services from several cities around the region.
Victoria Clipper
(
&
800/888-2535
or 206/448-5000; www.victoriaclipper.com)
operates excursion boats between Seattle and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.
There are also boats that go to Victoria. The round-trip fare to Friday Harbor is
$53 to $63 depending on the time of year. Seven-day advance-purchase discounts
of $10 are available on round-trip tickets. Children ages 1 to 11 are half price.
Between Port Townsend and Friday Harbor, passenger service is available
from mid-April to early October from
P.S. Express
(
&
360/385-5288;
www.
pugetsoundexpress.com), which will also carry bicycles and sea kayaks. One-way
fares are $35 for adults and $25 for children; round-trip fares are $53 for adults
and $36 for children.
From Bellingham, there is passenger service to Friday Harbor (San Juan
Island) on the
San Juan Island Commuter,
Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 335
Harris Ave. (
&
888/734-8180
or 360/734-8180; www.islandcommuter.com).
The round-trip adult fare to either island is $35. These passenger ferries operate
between mid-May and mid-September.
If you're short on time, you can fly to the San Juans.
Kenmore Air
(
&
800/
543-9595
or 425/486-1257; www.kenmoreair.com), offers floatplane flights
that take off from Lake Union (and also from the north end of Lake Washing-
ton). Round-trip fares to the San Juans are between $163 and $194 (lower for
children). Flights go to Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor on San Juan Island,
Rosario Resort, Deer Harbor, and Westsound on Orcas Island, and the Lopez
