Ferries from Lopez Island

Lopez is the flat one. It is the San Juan island people bring bicycles to, and the ferry landing is at the northern tip — roughly 6 km from Lopez Village, which catches out almost every first-time visitor who walks on.

Where the ferries go

• Anacortes on the mainland — about 45 minutes, 16 sailings.
• Friday Harbor — about 35 minutes, 16 sailings.
• Orcas Island — about 20 minutes, 10 sailings.
• Shaw Island — about 25 minutes, 7 sailings.

101 active sailings, operated by Washington State Ferries.

⚠ The terminal is not the village

Lopez Ferry Landing sits at the island's northern end. Lopez Village, with the shops, bakery and museum, is several kilometres south — a pleasant flat ride on a bicycle and a long walk without one.

There is no scheduled bus meeting every sailing. If you are arriving on foot, arrange transport or bring wheels.

Why cyclists come here

Lopez is the least hilly of the San Juans by a wide margin, with quiet roads and drivers who wave — the "Lopez wave" is a local institution rather than a tourist-board invention. It is the one island in the group where cycling is the obvious way to get about rather than an act of endurance.

Interisland connections

Twenty minutes to Orcas and thirty-five to Friday Harbor make Lopez a practical base for island-hopping without returning to the mainland. Note the sailing counts, though: Shaw takes only 7.

Fares

Within the San Juans, the charge falls on the eastbound leg toward Anacortes. Moving west and between islands costs less than the distances suggest.

Season

Year round; summer vehicle reservations to Anacortes go early. Winter is very quiet and several island businesses close.