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Published: 12/23/2024
How To Day Trip to Washington’s San Juan Islands
Whether you’re in Seattle or Skagit Valley, you should definitely plan to day trip to the San Juan Islands during your visit.
These remote, forested Washington State islands near Seattle sit in the Pacific Ocean’s Salish Sea just north of Puget Sound. Accessible only by boat or sea plane, the most common way to reach the San Juans is via public ferry, making getting there half the fun.
Once you arrive, you’ll find the islands dotted with state parks, National Park Service sites, waterfalls, small towns with lively arts scenes, and great vistas. The islands also offer excellent whale watching and the opportunity to see other wildlife like seals, sea lions, otters, and birds.
Honestly, I think the San Juan Islands one of the best, most unique day trip destinations in the Pacific Northwest, if not the entire contiguous United States.
Despite my rather paltry blogging about the Pacific Northwest, I actually spent a decent amount of time around both Seattle and Portland, OR as a young adult. I’ve daytripped to the San Juan Islands multiple times, including most recently on my trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April 2024.
If you’re debating whether or not to visit the San Juan Islands, I’m committed to convincing you that these beautiful, unforgettable islands are well worth your time. In this post I’ll cover what the San Juan Islands are, how to get to them, the best things to do once you’re there, what to bring with you, and other helpful tips for first time visitors.
Read on to get planning your perfect day in the San Juan Islands!
What are the San Juan Islands?
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago of more than 400 islands in the middle of the Salish Sea north of Seattle. You’ll find them in between the Washington State mainland and Canada’s Vancouver Island.
With approximately 18,500 year-round residents, the rural, forested islands make up their own Washington State county. Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, the county’s most populous town, is the county seat.
The islands are home to farms, state parks, and many small businesses, including a disproportionate number of art galleries. As you might imagine, tourism is the most important economic driver on the islands with about 500,000 annual visitors. Back in the day, fishing and farming were important industries and the islands were home to salmon canneries.
The islands were named by a Spanish explorer, Francisco de Eliza, in 1791. San Juan, Lopez, Orcas, and Shaw are the largest islands and are serviced by Washington State Ferries. Residents on other smaller islands get around via private boat or seaplanes.
Why Day Trip to the San Juan Islands
While the Pacific Northwest in general is a pretty laidback part of the United States, the San Juan Islands provide a beauty, rural escape from the big city life of Seattle and the notoriously harrowing traffic of I-5.
With its state parks, National Park Service sites, and ample hikes through old growth forest, the San Juan Islands are the perfect day trip destination if you want to spend the day outside. There are also plenty of beaches to explore and endless kayaking opportunities.
However, more “indoorsy” travelers shouldn’t write off a visit to the islands. Between vineyards, art galleries, independent coffee shops, and many other small businesses and restaurants, the islands are fun place even if you prefer to leave your hiking boots at home.
Whatever you choose to get up during your day on the San Juan Islands, the journey there is absolutely stunning. In my personal opinion, the best way to reach the islands is via public ferry (more on that later), but you can also take a cruise, charter a private boat, or even fly.
Because even the largest San Juan Islands is pretty small (the largest island, San Juan is about 14 miles long and 6.5 miles wide) you can really immerse yourself in the islands even if you only have time for a short visit.
However, I don’t recommend checking out more than one island if you only have a day to visit the San Juan Islands. You’ll be more than able to fill a day on whichever island you choose to visit.
How To Get to the San Juan Islands
When I was little, my brother and I often sang a riff from a song about the Tanzanian island, Zanzibar, by children’s performer Bill Harley: “Zanizibar. Zanizibar. You can’t get there in a car. There’s no tar in Zanzibar.” This song always get stuck in my head when I think about getting to the San Juan Islands.
While there actually is tar on the San Juan Islands, there’s no getting to the San Juan Islands in a car. Unlike other large Puget Sound islands like Fidalgo or Whidbey, no bridge connects the islands with Washington mainland or each other. You’ll find well-maintained roads on the islands, but the only way to get a vehicle to them is via a ferry.
That also means there are only two ways to get yourself to islands: boat or plane. I’ll outline all the options below.
Taking the Ferry to San Juan Islands
Washington State Ferries run to and in between the San Juan Islands several times each day. Whether you’re an early riser or prefer slightly slower starts to your days, you won’t wait long before the next ferry from the mainland terminal in Anacortes to the islands. The Anacortes ferry terminal is about a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Seattle, depending on traffic.
Make sure you fully understand the ferry schedule before hopping aboard. Some ferries go directly from Anacortes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Some turn around at Orcas Islands. A couple times a day the ferries make an interisland loop through the four islands with ferry terminals. You don’t want to accidentally show up for the wrong ferry!
Do I need a reservation for the San Juan Island ferry?
When you visit the Washington State Ferries website you’ll notice that you can reserve a spot for your vehicle on particular sailings. It’s not the worst idea to make a reservation if you’re pretty sure of your travel times. However, if plans change and you forget to cancel by 5 p.m. the day before your reservation, you will be charged a no-show fee.
If you’re a little more spontaneous and didn’t bother with a reservation, there’s still a very good chance you can still go your San Juan Islands day trip. We decided on a whim the night before to head to the islands during our Skagit Valley trip. However, when I looked online, I appeared our desired sailing time was sold out.
Happily, I follow Maddy Marquart, who spent a summer as a kayak guide on the San Juans, and I knew the ferries keep a fair number of “drive-up” spaces open for each sailing. We showed up about 55 minutes early for our “sold out” ferry and had no problem getting onboard.
Regardless of your reservation status, it’s a good rule of thumb to show up to the Anacortes ferry terminal about 45 – 60 minutes before sailing. If you plan to travel without a reservation, arrive earlier than later.
If you’re traveling without a vehicle, you’ll have no problem hopping on whatever ferry your heart desires.
About ferry fares: At nearly $50 per vehicle, the ferry might not seem like your cheapest San Juan islands transportation option. However, keep in mind, you only pay for the westbound (that is towards the islands) trip. There’s no charge for the return ferry back to the mainland.
It depends on your perspective: the return trip is either free . . . . or the fare you pay at the ferry terminal in Anacortes is a round-trip price. I like to think that the return trip is free!
There’s no denying it: the Washington State Ferries are public transportation. Granted, it’s very cool, comfortable, and fun public transportation, but it’s public transportation nonetheless. But if you’re looking for a slightly fancier or more individualized way to reach the islands, you have plenty of private boat options:
San Juan Cruises
Based in Bellingham and La Conner, San Juan Cruises runs regular cruises through the islands. A popular day trip option is their Friday Harbor Day Cruise which gives you three hours of time on San Juan. While these cruises are fun adventures in and of themselves, they don’t grant much freedom to explore the islands on your own.
Puget Sound Express
I generally think of the San Juan Islands as a destination for those based in Seattle and the east side of Puget Sound. But if you’re located on the Olympic Peninsula, you can still easily day trip to the islands. The Puget Sound Express runs from Port Townsend from April – September.
San Juan Clipper
For many years you could set sail for the San Juans right from Seattle. However, the San Juan Clipper which sailed from Seattle’s Pier 69 has been out of commission for the last two years as the boat gets retrofitted to comply with new U.S. Coast Guard guidelines. Traditionally this passenger ferry has run from late April through early October.
There’s no word if this speedy option, which saves you from the 3-hour round-trip drive up to Anacortes, will return in 2025.
Charter a boat
Just like in the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are no shortage of captains in the area who love to take you wherever your heart desires in the islands. The San Juan Islands visitor bureau provides a full list of water taxi options. These are your best option to reach the islands not served by ferries.
Plane
For a truly unforgettable arrival to the San Juan Islands, you could fly.
Just like with the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico, flying might be the coolest way to reach the islands, but it’s also your most expensive option.
If it’s the route you want to go, here are a list of plane companies that offer flights to the San Juan islands:
Do I need a car on the San Juan Islands?
Honestly? Yes.
True, I’ve always had a car on all my San Juan day trips so I might be a little biased. Still, to make the most of your limited time on the islands, I do think you should plan to take your car. Even the largest San Juan island isn’t particularly large, but at about 55 and 58 square miles respectively, you just can’t cover that much of San Juan or Orcas Islands on foot.
In my opinion, the best thing to do on Orcas Island is visit Moran State Park, which is about a 40 minute drive from the ferry dock. The same goes with San Juan Island. While the distance from Friday Harbor to Lime Kiln Point State Park is only 8 miles, that’s still way too far to traverse on foot during a day trip.
Having your own car means you can get right down to the nitty-gritty of exploring as soon as you disembark the ferry. It also gives you autonomy over what you do and see. At the end of the day, I think it’s also a little cheaper than renting something on the island or doing a tour.
Biking on the San Juan Islands
However, if you are an avid biker and you want to make biking the major activity of your day trip, biking is wonderful, unique (not to mention, very affordable) way to experience the San Juan Islands. You’ll save quite a bit on your ferry fare as well.
If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one in Friday Harbor. On Orcas, you can rent bikes in the main town of Eastsound. Just remember that Eastsound is nearly 9 miles from the ferry terminal so unless you have someone who can drive you from the ferry to Eastsound or you plan to make quick friends on the ferry so you can hitch a ride, this is a little tricky to work out logistically.
Transportation options
If you really, really don’t want to bring a car to the San Juan Islands, you do have a few alternatives including:
- Car rentals
- Moped rental
- Taxis
- Trolley tours (summer only)
- Private transit
With the exception of car rental, these options are only available on San Juan Island itself. Taxi service on Orcas is unreliable at best.
Which island to visit
With more than 400 San Juan Islands, it can sound overwhelming to choose which island to visit on a day trip. (To be fair, more than some of these “islands” are really just rocks.) However, if you’re traveling by ferry, you’ve significantly narrowed down your options. The ferries only travel between four islands: Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, and Shaw.
Of those four, I think your best two choices are San Juan and Orcas. As the largest islands in the archipelago, each with at least one state park and several small towns. It’s easy to fill a day on either island. Since San Juan Island is home to Friday Harbor, the largest town and county seat, the ferries run most frequently to that island.
While it’s easiest to get San Juan Island, Orcas Islands is the bit of the San Juan Island day trip darling. On Orcas, you’ll find three state parks, Mount Constitution, and beautiful waterfalls.
What To Bring on a San Juan Islands Day Trip
With thousands of year-round residents, the San Juan Islands are set up for self-sufficiency. You could show up with the clothes on your back and likely track down anything you forgot in one of the islands’ small towns.
However, your adventure will go a little smoother if you take a minute to pack up these essential supplies before heading to the Anacortes ferry terminal.
Activewear clothing
If you’re headed to the San Juan Islands, you’re probably planning to spend most of your day outside. Whether you’re hiking or kayaking, you’ll want flexible, quick dry clothing like these leggings or shorts. For a top, a long sleeved UV protection top is a good idea, even on cloudy days. Don’t forget to layer up with a fleece.
Hiking shoes or sandals
For a day trip, I don’t think you need to bother with your hiking boots, but depending on the season, you should wear a pair of waterproof shoes (I like these Teva sneakers) or hiking sandals like those from Keen or Chaco.
Raingear
It’s the Pacific Northwest! If you don’t pack at the very least a rainjacket, you’re definitely tempting fate.
Binoculars or spotting scope
Wildlife spotting is one of the best things to do on the San Juans. You’ll be so happy to have binoculars to increase your success as you scan the horizon. A spotting scope is a nice lightweight option if you don’t want to travel with your binoculars.
Plant and animal id guide
Sure, with your phone, you have a guidebook in your pocket at all times, but you’ll see so much interesting flora and fauna along the San Juan trails that you might prefer to pick up an area guidebook at one of the island bookshops.
Picnic food and snacks
The islands are filled with excellent picnic spots. One of my favorite San Juan Islands memories is having a picnic in Lime Kiln Point State Park after a great hike. If you prefer to check out the islands’ restaurants and coffee shops, don’t forget to throw in a couple snacks for hiking.
Backpack
My favorite Camelbak backpack work great as a day pack for your San Juan Islands adventure. Full disclosure: I never actually use the water pouch; I just think it’s a great fitting backpack.
Water bottle
Don’t forget to throw in a couple full Nalgene bottles so you can stay hydrated on the trails. There isn’t always readily accessible potable water on the islands, so make sure you fill these before you board the ferry.
Cash
If you’re visiting during the shoulder season, the state park offices won’t be staffed yet. It’s easiest to have a little cash so you can pay to the entrance fees with a pay envelope.
A full tank of gas
If you’re bringing a car to the San Juan Islands, make sure it has plenty of fuel. As you might expect, gas is very expensive on the islands themselves.
Best Things to do on the San Juan Islands
It’s best to have just a couple “must do” activities on your itinerary for your San Juan Islands day trip. Between the drive to Anacortes and the ferry schedule, you’ll likely end up with less than 5 hours on the island and it goes fast.
Here are my favorite San Juan Island activities. Whether you’re headed to Orcas or San Juan, these suggested itineraries will help you make the most of your limited island time. I think the islands lend themselves best to self-guided discovery, but I’ve included some guided tour suggestions as well.
San Juan Island Things To Do in One Day
Lime Kiln Point State Park is named for this abandoned lime kiln where limestone was fired into the useful industrial material, lime, in the 19th century.
Lime Kiln Point State Park
As you disembark from ferry, head straight across the island to this lovely state park overlooking the Haro Strait between the San Juans and Vancouver Island. With lots of easy hiking and excellent views, this is the perfect spot to do some wildlife watching.
You can hike the entire park pretty easily in about an hour making a loop on the Shoreline and Upland Trails.
Near the historic Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse, swing by an orcas listening station where you can listen to an underwater microphone. If you haven’t had any luck spotting whales during your hike to the lighthouse, perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to hear them!
You also don’t want to miss hiking to the park’s namesake: an old lime kiln. The park’s also a great place for a picnic lunch.
Make friends with some sheep
You can enjoy San Juan Island’s historically pastoral landscape at Amaro Farm in the middle of the island. Originally homesteaded in the late 1800s, this farm still produces a wide variety of crops ranging from cherries to Christmas trees. Of course the highlight of the visit will surely be visiting the resident sheep.
Visit San Juan Island Distillery
If you like a tipple as much as the next person, you’ll love San Juan Island. The small island is home to a vineyard, brewery, and various other wine and spirit rooms and producers. For the most unique experience, head to the island’s northern point to visit San Juan Island Distillery. There you can sample gins, brandies, vodkas, and other liqueurs.
San Juan Island National Historic Park
Ever hear of the Pig War? If, like me you haven’t, you’ll be just as surprised as me to learn that the U.S. and Great Britain nearly went to war in the mid-19th century over the San Juan Islands. The straw that nearly broke the camel’s back in this dispute? The death of a pig.
The San Juan Island National Historic Park is made of three different sites: American Camp, English Camp, and Mitchell Hill.
If you only have time to check out one of the sites, head down to the American Camp site on southern tip of the island. You can learn about the bloodless conflict at the visitor center, then take a quick hike on the Coastal Bluffs Trail to enjoy the views and look for whales.
Friday Harbor
Be sure to budget a little time before your return ferry to explore Friday Harbor’s quaint small town. If you happen to be visiting on a Saturday, be sure to swing through the Farmers Market. You’ll find no shortage of coffee shops. I recommend swinging into Salty Fox Coffee to grab a hot beverage of your choice for the return ferry ride.
Orcas Island Things To Do in One Day
Moran State Park
From the ferry, take the quiet roads through the Orcas Island countryside straight to Moran State Park. There you can hike through the lush Pacific Northwest forest. If you only have time for one hike, head to Cascade Falls. This scenic 40’ waterfall is accessed via an easy short hike from the parking lot on the Mt. Constitution Road.
Mount Constitution
Mount Constitution is the tallest mountain on an ocean island in the lower 48 states. (I think the Kelce brothers would call this a “Lebron stat.” Ha!) Luckily, there are plenty of other reasons to make the drive to the top of Mount Constitution beyond that dubious claim to fame.
This 2400’ mountain is topped with a striking stone lookout tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It’s actually a replica of Russian watchtower.
No, you can’t see Russia from here, but on a clear day you’ll get a panoramic view of the other islands, including Vancouver Island, as well as Vancouver itself and Seattle. If you’re really lucky, you’ll spot both Mount Baker and Mount Rainer.
Alas, I’ve only visited on foggy days, but the tower is worth seeing in its own right. As you descend down the mountain, you should get some descent views of the surrounding islands.
Obstruction Pass State Park
Whether you’re headed to the Azores or San Juans, most people expect to spend a fair amount of time next to the sea when they head to an island. Obstruction Pass State Park on the island’s far east end is the best (and easiest) place to enjoy some beach time on Orcas.
Eastsound
Eastsound is the largest town on Orcas Island and it’s home to more than half a dozen art galleries. If you’re not careful, you could spend your entire day browsing locally made pottery, paintings, and other artwork.
Another fun stop is the Orcas Project Tasting Room where you can sample a wide variety of wines. Before you head back to the ferry terminal, I like Madrona Grill for a nice seafood dinner with a view.
San Juan Islands Guided Tours
Here are some great tours to consider adding to your day trip itinerary.
San Juan Island:
Half day guided kayak tour
Bioluminescence Night Paddle
Guided Beach and Wildlife Hike
Orcas Island:
Orcas Island Whale Watching
Westside Bike Tour
Buck Bay Bike Tour
Other Activities:
Conclusion: How To Plan a Perfect San Juan Islands Day Trip
A day trip to the San Juan Islands is an experience not to miss when you’re visiting the Seattle area. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, this is a beautiful place to submerse yourself in the Pacific Northwest. Don’t worry about having limited time to explore the islands themselves; the ferry journey across the Salish Sea to the San Juans is half the fun!
I hope this post helped you planned your perfect San Juan Islands day trip whether you choose to visit San Juan or Orcas. On San Juan, you can’t miss Lime Kiln Point State Park and doing a little small town exploring in Friday Harbor. If you have extra time, be sure to check out the San Juan National Historic Park and do some whale watching on the Coastal Bluffs Trail.
On Orcas, be sure to drive to top of Mount Constitution for a hopefully epic view. You’ll also want to hike around in Moran State Park and check out the beaches at Obstruction Pass State Park. Before you catch the ferry back to Anacortes, grab a seafood dinner in Eastsound.
I guarantee a visit to these remote islands in Washington State will be memorable, even if you’re not lucky enough to spot a whale. These islands are one of my very favorite places in the Pacific Northwest and well worth a visit whether you stay for a day or a month.
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