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Getting Here is
Half The Fun
The San Juan Islands ferry route is now a SCENIC BYWAY by government designation.
Take a look
Below is a map of the ferry route from
Anacortes (gateway to the San Juans), to San Juan Island. The ferry (owed by Washington State) lands in Friday Harbor, which is on the east side of San Juan Island.
Anacortes is where one would take the ferry to come across to all the San Juan Islands. The ferry ride from Anacortes to San Juan Island (Friday Harbor) is approximately 1 hour.
A word about the ferry, particularly in July and August, even if you are not bringing your car across on the ferry to the island, it is best to have your car in the Anacortes parking lot 1 hour ahead of the ferry departure. In July and August arrive at least 1.5 hours prior to the ferry departure.
The reason for this is you will wish to park your car then purchase a walk on ferry ticket.
In our opinion, you do not need to bring your car across. If you are taking a tour from Roche Harbor, just ask us about the FREE shuttle. There are many ways of getting around San Juan Island. The small town of Friday Harbor is accessible just by walking. It is only about 4 blocks X 4 blocks. There are also bicycles, mopeds and scoot cars for rent right near the ferry landing, plus the shuttle bus.
If you cannot make a ferry, or prefer not to, you can also fly from Anacortes (approx. $35 pp) or Bellingham ($45 pp) right to Friday Harbor by using San Juan Airlines. They also now offer the only way to get from San Juan Island to Victoria and back in the same day.
Driving Directions From Seattle
Allow at least 1.5 - 2 hours driving time.
By car, take Interstate 5 to the Burlington exit (230).
Turn west on Highway 20 until you reach Anacortes.
Follow the signs to the ferry landing. If you are NOT bringing your car across, park it and purchase a walk on ferry ticket. If you are bringing it across the price for just car &driver is about $45, passengers extra. Put your car in line and wait as directed. Then - Hop on and get ready
for some serious fun!
Driving Directions From Bellingham
Allow about 1 hour driving time.
Take interstate 5 south to Burlington exit #230.
Follow the signs to the ferry landing. If you are NOT bringing your car across, park it and purchase a walk on ferry ticket. If you are bringing it across the price for just car &driver is about $45, passengers extra. Put your car in line and wait as directed. Then - Hop on and get ready
for some serious fun!
Driving Directions from Port Angeles.
Drive to Port Townsend. (see driving directions from Port Townsend
Getting Here from Port Angeles
Victoria Express - large foot passenger ferry (100 foot +) See their schedule
Driving Directions From Port Townsend
If you are driving, you will need to take the Keystone Ferry. Keystone Ferry. On extremely low tides, this ferry cannot run, so be sure you check carefully.
This ferry will land in Keystone on Whidbey Island. You will then take highway 20 north to Anacortes.
By Air
Kenmore Air
Float planes are fun! Departing from both Lake Union in Seattle and Lake Washington, Kenmore Air lands at the docks in Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor where our tours depart. Only 45 minutes away. They also fly into Victoria. (800) 543-9595
San Juan Airlines - Lands at the Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor Airports, on San Juan Island,
800-874-4434 toll free. San Juan Airlines terminal location is at Boeing Field with complimentary shuttle service to and from Sea-Tac. They also have service from Anacortes. Great to know if you have missed your ferry!
U Save Auto Rental in Anacortes
Go to Seattle for the day. Be picked up at the ferry, drop the car back off at the ferry.
Approximately $30 per day.
Don't have a car? Look here
Or. . . leave the driving to someone else. Economical and relaxing.
Island Airporter
Sea Tac Airport right onto San Juan Island, Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor
Bellair Charters
from the airport in Seattle (SeaTac) to Anacortes (where you catch the ferry to San Juan Island) About $35 one-way. 866-235-5247 toll free
When is the last time you rode a train?
AMTRAK
When is the last time you rode in a Train? Seattle to Mt. Vernon (SEA to MVW) runs about $25 per person. You may wish to rent a car in Mt. Vernon or use a taxi or bus to arrive at the ferry in Anacortes.
From Los Angeles, board late in the day and arrive the next morning in Mt Vernon, rested! (800) USA-RAIL
Transportation Options
On San Juan Island
Bike, Bus, Moped, Scoot Car
San Juan Transit - on island
You may not need to take your car on the ferry. Bus Service is available on San Juan Island
Phone (800)-378-8887 or (800) 887-8387 or
(360) 378-8887. The Bus generally runs every hour, on the hour, Friday Harbor to Roche Harbor. Some buses have bike racks too.
Taxi Service (378-3550 on island) too.
Map of San Juan Island
click here
Map to our Friday Harbor
Appointment Desk &Parking
Map of Roche Harbor
Appointment Desk and Parking
sanjuansafaris.com is the copyrighted intellectual property of
San Juan Safaris, Inc.,
Friday Harbor, WA, USA
updated:
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This is an excerpt from A Birder's Guide to Washington page 96 by Hal Opperman.
Recently an avid birder told us that she added two birds to her life list. One at the Anacortes ferry landing and one aboard the ferry.
96 NORTHWEST
SAN JUAN ISLANDS FERRY
Birding from the ferry is best in fall, winter, and spring. Most common marine species can be seen on this trip, though some are much scarcer or absent
in summer. Expected are Pacific and Common Loons, Horned, Red-necked,
and Western Grebes, Brandis (less common in spring, abundant otherwise),
Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, Surf and White-winged Scoters,
Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Mew and Glaucous-winged Gulls,
Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Ancient (fairly common to
common November-February) Murrelets, and Rhinoceros Auklet (common
March-September, fairly common to uncommon fall-winter). Many other
species occur in smaller numbers or less predictably, among them Red-
throated and Yellow-billed Loons. Notable rarities recorded in these waters
include King Eider (February and October), Black-headed Gull (September),
Thick-billed Murre (December), Long-billed (August) and Kittiwake's (January)
Murrelets, and Horned Puffin (July).
The ferry heads westward across broad Rosario (pronounced
roe-ZERRY-oh) Strait. Search here for diving birds, especially alcids. The route
then passes among the islands, through narrow channels—sometimes with
fast-moving water—and quiet bays. Check calm waters where birds shelter
during windy weather. Look along tidal rips or lines on the water for concentrations of feeding birds ("bird balls"), especially cormorants. Red-necked
Phalaropes, gulls, and alcids in spring and fall. Northern and California Sea
Lions and Harbor Seals fish these areas, too. Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons
perch in the trees along the shoreline. On the way from Friday Harbor to Sidney, Spieden Channel can host large bird balls, especially at the tide change.
Haro Strait marks the international boundary. During the summer look for
Killer Whales feeding on migrating salmon. Before reaching Sidney check the
channels and bays for flocks of Brant, Harlequin Ducks, and Common
Goldeneyes. |
Ferry price is Round Trip
Click here for a recent schedule for the ferry, Anacortes to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.
June 22 - September 27 ONLY
Depart Anacortes to Friday Harbor,
San Juan Island- Daily
Departs-------Arrives
4:30 am-------5:35 am
6:20 am-------7:40 am
8:45 am-------9:50 am
11:05 am-----12:10 pm
3:10 pm-------4:15 pm
5:05 pm-------6:25 pm
5:05 pm -------6:30 pm
8:25 pm -------9:30 pm
10:45 pm - 12:55 am Friday ONLY
12:20 am--12:05 am Saturday, Sunday & Monday ONLY
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island to Anacortes - Daily
Departs ------Arrives
6:00 am-------7:20 am
8:10 am-------9:35 am
10:25 pm---- 11:30 am
1:00 pm-------2:05 pm
5:00 pm------ 6:25 pm
6:55 pm-------8:00 pm
10:00 pm----- Midnight
2:20 am-------3:25 am Saturday, Sunday & Monday ONLY
Walk on passengers $13 (aprx) round-trip • Car and driver $50 (aprx) round-trip
Parking in the Anacortes Ferry Terminal
Pre pay your walk on passenger ferry ticket and save time!
This link will show you the ferries
and approximate wait times.
Look at all those ducks.
This is the parking lots for Anacortes ferry
Also taken from the parking lot
of the Anacortes ferry going
to the San Juan Islands (and Canada)
A view of Mt. Baker
from the Anacortes parking lot
Great educational and interesting signs
to read around the parking lot of
the Anacortes ferry
Another shot from the
Anacortes ferry parking lot
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