Ferries from Anacortes

Anacortes is the mainland gateway to the San Juan Islands, and its 114 active sailings fan out to four separate island terminals — the widest spread of any Washington State Ferries terminal.

Where the ferries go

• Friday Harbor on San Juan Island — about 70 minutes, 16 sailings.
• Orcas Island — about 55 minutes, 14 sailings.
• Lopez Island — about 45 minutes, 13 sailings.
• Shaw Island — about 55 minutes, 12 sailings.

Operated by Washington State Ferries.

⚠ One sailing, several islands

Most departures from Anacortes call at more than one island. That is why Orcas and Shaw both show about 55 minutes despite being different distances away — the figure depends on where each falls in the calling order, not on how far it is.

Read the sequence before assuming your island is first. A 45-minute crossing to Lopez can become ninety if it is the last call.

Reservations

The San Juan Islands routes use WSF's vehicle reservation system, and in summer the sailings people actually want are taken well in advance. Walking or cycling on avoids the whole question — the islands have bus services and the distances are modest.

Interisland sailings

Once you are in the San Juans, separate interisland sailings connect Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and Friday Harbor without returning to the mainland. They do not carry the same fares or the same reservation rules, and they are how most island-hopping is actually done.

The town

Anacortes is on Fidalgo Island, connected to the mainland by bridge, about ninety minutes north of Seattle. The ferry terminal is several kilometres west of the town centre — a detail that catches out foot passengers arriving by bus.