Getting To San Juan Island-Driving Directions & Ferry Information
Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington, near Seattle.
The San Juan Islands ferry route is now a SCENIC BYWAY by government designation. Take a look
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Map Seattle to San Juan Island and Ferry Information
Below is a map of the Seattle area to the town of
Anacortes (gateway to the San Juans), where one takes the ferry to San Juan Island.
The Washinton State ferry 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.  Map showing driving from Seattle to Anacortes to San Juan Island
Ferry price is round trip
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A word about the ferry:
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. You will need time to park your car, then purchase a walk on ferry ticket.
If you are bringing you car across in July and August, arrive at least 1.5 hours prior to the ferry departure.
You do not need to bring your car across, in our opion. There are many ways of getting around San Juan Island. The small town of Friday Harbor is walkable. It is only about 4 blocks by 4 blocks.
There are also bicycles, mopeds and scoot cars for rent near the ferry landing, plus there is shuttle bus to the other side of the island.
Fly from Anacortes to San Juan Island
If you cannot make a ferry, miss your ferry or prefer not to take the ferry, you can also fly from Anacortes (approx. $55 pp) San Juan Airlines.
Fly from Seattle, Lake Union down town Seattle, right to the docks in Friday Harbor.
The Whale Plane Package click here for more information
Driving Directions From Seattle
Allow at least 1.5 - 2 hours driving time.
Take Interstate 5 north to the Burlington exit (230).
Turn west (left) on Highway 20 until you reach Anacortes.
Once in downtown Anacortes, follow the signs (San Juan Island Ferries) to the ferry landing where you will turn right to go in.
If you are NOT bringing your car across, stay to the left of the toll booths, park your car and purchase a walk on ferry ticket.
If you are bringing your car across, stay in line at the toll booths. The approximate price for car & driver is about $50 (round trip), passengers extra. Put your car in line and wait as directed.
Driving Directions From Bellingham
Allow about 1 hour driving time.
Take interstate 5 south to Burlington exit #230. Turn west (right)
Once in downtown Anacortes, follow the signs (San Juan Island Ferries) to the ferry landing where you will turn right to go in.
If you are NOT bringing your car across, stay to the left of the toll booths, park your car and purchase a walk on ferry ticket.
If you are bringing your car across, stay in line at the toll booths. The approximate price for car & driver is about $50 (round trip), passengers extra. Put your car in line and wait as directed.
Driving Directions from Port Angeles.
Drive to Port Townsend. (see driving directions from Port Townsend
Ferry (foot passenger) from Port Angeles
Coho Ferry - 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. We keep a tide chart, so ask us about the tides.
This ferry will land in Keystone on Whidbey Island. You will then take highway 20 north to Anacortes.
Don't have a car? Or. . . leave the driving to someone else. Economical and relaxing.
Island Airporter
Sea Tac Airport right onto San Juan Island, Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor
Bellair Charters
From the airport in Seattle (SeaTac) to the Washington State Ferry in Anacortes. Approximately $40 one-way. 866-235-5247 toll free
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San Juan Islands: #4 on List of World’s Top 10 Ferry Boat Rides
Feb. 19, 2009: The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to come up with the “Top 10” most exciting ferry rides in the world.
“Public and private ferry boats provide an inexpensive alternative to cruises, often traversing some of the world’s most beautiful harbors, fjords, rivers and waterways at bargain prices,” states SATW president, Bea Broda.
 Friday Harbor where the ferry from Anacortes arrives
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.
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Click here for a recent schedule for the ferry, Anacortes to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.
Look at a ferry schedule on your phone!
Get the San Juan Island Ferry APP here.
This is a typical Spring ferry schedule below:
June 19 to September 24, 2011 ONLY
Depart Anacortes to Friday Harbor,
San Juan Island- Daily
Departs-------Arrives
4:15 am-------5:25 am
6:30 am-------7:35 am
9:00 am-------10:05 am
11:55 am------1:00 PM
2:00 pm-------3:05 pm
4:45 pm-------5:50 pm
8:20 pm -------9:25 pm
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island to Anacortes - Daily
Departs ------Arrives
5:45 am-------7:05 am
8:10 am-------9:10 am
10:55 am---- 12:00 pm
1:50 pm-------3:15 pm
3:45 pm------ 4:500 pm
6:30 pm-------7:35 pm
7:45 pm--------9:05 pm
10:00 pm----- Midnight
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!
Ferry Wait Times:This link will show you the ferries
and
approximate wait times.
The price of the ferry is
round trip!
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Parking in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Friday Harbor is only about 4 X 4 blocks. As soon as you are out of the main downtown are, there is 8 hour free parking.
Print a pdf Parking Map for Friday Harbor by clicking here
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. 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.
We are proud members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, formerly known as Whale Watch Operaors Association Northwest. Both Colleen & Bill are board members for many years This logo assures you that a company is a member in good standing.
The "Association" has worked with scientists, NOAA and industry leaders to assist in writing the Whale Watching Guidelines and Best Practices
And San Juan Island Whale Watch Association
sanjuansafaris.com is the copyrighted intellectual property of
San Juan Safaris, Inc.,
Friday Harbor, WA, USA
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