How to get to the San Juan Islands
Here are the most common ways to get to San Juan Island:
Car / Ferry
Private Boat or Charter
Airplane
From the Seattle Area
Head north on I-5 just past Mt. Vernon. Take exit 230, (Highway 20) westbound to Anacortes-San Juan Ferry. Follow “Anacortes-San Juan Ferry” signs. Drive through Anacortes and turn left at light at Safeway. Continue on this road until you come to the Washington State Ferry terminal. Park your car at the terminal and walk-on as a foot passenger or drive-on with your car. If you plan to drive on the ferry you should arrive at the ferry terminal 90 minutes to 3 hours in advance depending on the day. (Total Drive Time from Seattle: 2 hours)
From Bellingham or Vancouver, B.C.
Head south on I-5 until Burlington, if you reach Mt. Vernon you have gone too far. Take exit 230, (Highway 20) westbound to Anacortes-San Juan Ferry. Follow “Anacortes-San Juan Ferry” signs. Drive through Anacortes and turn left at light at Safeway. Continue on this road until you come to the Washington State Ferry terminal. Park your car at the terminal and walk-on as a foot passenger or drive-on with your car. If you plan to drive on the ferry you should arrive at the ferry terminal 90 minutes to 3 hours in advance depending on the day. (Total Drive Time from Bellingham: 1 hour, Total Drive Time from Vancouver, B.C.: 2 hours plus border crossing time of 30 min – 1 hour)
From Seattle to the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Anacortes
Gray Line – (800) 426-7532 …bus service from downtown Seattle to Anacortes.
From the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Anacortes
Airporter Shuttle – (800) 448-8443 …scheduled shuttle service from the Seattle airport to Anacortes.
Bellair Shuttle – (800) 235-5247 …chartered shuttle service from the airport to Anacortes.
Via the land to Sidney, B.C.
Gray Line – (800) 426-7532 …bus service from downtown Victoria, B.C.
From Anacortes
Washington State Ferries – (800) 84-FERRY or (206)464-6400 …the main access for foot-passengers, bicycles, and cars.
From downtown Seattle
Victoria Clipper (San Juan Explorer) – (800) 888-2535 …foot-passenger only ferry.
From Bellingham
San Juan Island Shuttle Express – (360) 671-1137 …seasonal foot-passenger only ferry.
From Everett
Mosquito Fleet – (206) 787-6400 …seasonal foot-passenger only ferry.
From Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula
Puget Sound Express – (360) 385-5288 …seasonal foot-passenger only ferry.
From Sidney, B.C.; 30 minutes from Victoria, B.C. on Vancouver Island
Washington State Ferries – (800) 84-FERRY or (206)464-6400 …the main access for foot-passengers, bicycles, cars, boats, motorhomes…
From Victoria, B.C.
Victoria Clipper (San Juan Explorer) – (800) 888-2535 or (206) 448-5000
or (250) 382-8100 …foot-passenger only ferry.
Kenmore Air
(800) 543-9595 …float plane service from Lake Union and Lake Washington in the Seattle area.
San Juan Airlines
(800) 690-0086 …float plane and regular service near Sea-Tac International Airport.