To reach San Juan Island you must come either by water or by air. The Washington State Ferries are the primary mode of transportation for most visitors to the San Juan Islands. During peak season the traffic can be heavy so it is a good idea to arrive at the ferry terminals an hour or more before sailing if you plan to take a vehicle.

There are also a variety of scheduled airlines, air charters and water taxis. Following is a list of options from various departure points in the region. Due to changing schedules and routes it is a good idea to click on a website link to verify that a particular service is currently available.

Passports are not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens traveling to and from Victoria BC Canada.

From Seattle or SeaTac Airport:

Driving from Seattle, take the I-5 Northbound about 65 miles to Burlington. Take Exit 230, Highway 20. Turn left and head west on highway 20 about 16 miles to Anacortes. Take Commercial Ave through Anacortes to 12th St. Turn left and continue another 2-3 miles to the Washington State Ferry Terminal. The route is well marked with signs for "San Juan Islands Ferries". See ferry information below.

Washington State Ferries provides daily scheduled service throughout the San Juan Islands for walk-on and drive-on passengers. Visit their website for schedules, fares and parking information, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ or call

206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977.


Bellair Airporter Shuttle provides daily service from SeaTac and downtown Seattle to the Anacortes ferry terminal, www.airporter.com or 1-866-235-5247

Catch-A-Train/Amtrak provides daily service from King Street Train Station via Amtrak to Mt. Vernon, and they'll arrange for a shuttle to the Anacortes ferry terminal, www.catch-a-train.com/page2.html or 1-800-457-3549

Greyhound Bus Lines provides service from Seattle to Mt. Vernon, www.greyhound.com, 800-231-2222 or 360-336-5111, then you must transfer to the Skagit Transit bus system, www.skat.org or 360-757-4433. From the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Mt. Vernon catch the 208 bus to the Cascade Mall where you will transfer to the 410 route to the Anacortes ferry terminal (410 not available Saturday and Sunday)

Island Air provides charter service to the San Juan Islands from throughout the area, Seattle to Bellingham, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 1-888-378-2376

Island Airporter LLC provides daily, non-stop service from SeaTac to San Juan Island (Friday Harbor & Roche Harbor), www.islandairporter.com or 360-378-7438

Kenmore Air provides daily, direct, scheduled flights from Lake Union, Lake Washington, and Boeing Field/King County Airport, www.kenmoreair.com or 1-800-543-9595. The seaplanes out of Lake Union will take you to either Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor at no additional charge. They provide free shuttle service between SeaTac and their terminals.

Victoria Clipper sails from downtown's Pier 69 seasonally to Friday Harbor, www.victoriaclipper.com or 1-800-888-2535 or 206-448-5000

From Anacortes:

ABC Yacht Charters, www.abcyachtcharters.com or 1-800-426-2313

Island Express Charters provides passenger and freight service throughout the San Juan Islands from Anacortes as well as inter-island travel.

www.islandexpresscharters.com or 1-877-473-9777

Paraclete Charter Service provides passenger service throughout the San Juan Islands from Skyline Marina, www.paracletecharters.com or 1-800-808-2999

San Juan Airlines provides daily scheduled flights, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 1-800-874-4434.

Washington State Ferries provides daily scheduled service throughout the San Juan Islands for walk-on and drive-on passengers. Visit their website for schedules, fares and parking information, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ or call

206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977.

From Bellingham:

Amtrak provides service to Bellingham, then walk across the street and board the seasonal, passenger-ferry San Juan Island Commuter (see below), www.amtrak.com or 1-800-USA-RAIL

Par Yacht Charters, www.paryachtcharters.com or 360-752-5754

San Juan Airlines provides daily, scheduled flights, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 1-800-874-4434

San Juan Island Commuter provides seasonal, daily, passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor (and Lopez's Odlin Park with reservations), www.islandcommuter.com or 1-888-734-8180

From Everett:

Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 1-888-378-2376

San Juan Airlines provides charter service, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 1-800-874-4434

From Port Angeles:

Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 1-888-378-2376

Kenmore Air provides charter service, www.kenmoreair.com or 1-800-874-4434

Victoria Express provides seasonal, daily, passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor and Victoria, B.C., www.victoriaexpress.com or 360-452-8088 (They stop in Victoria on the way to Friday Harbor)

From Port Townsend:

Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 1-888-378-2376

Victoria Express provides seasonal, daily, passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor, www.victoriaexpress.com or 360-385-5288

San Juan Airlines provides charter service, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 1-800-874-4434

From Victoria, B.C.:

Passports are not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens traveling to and from Victoria BC Canada.

Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 1-888-378-2376

San Juan Airlines provides charter service, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 1-800-874-4434

Victoria Express provides seasonal, daily, passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor, www.victoriaexpress.com or 360-452-8088

Washington State Ferries provide sailings from nearby Sidney, B.C., for walk-on and drive-on passengers, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ or 206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977. Visit their website for schedules, fares and parking information. If you would like to go to Victoria from the San Juan Islands, you will need to spend at least one night there due to the ferry schedule.

From Vancouver, B.C.:
B.C. Ferries provide daily service from Tsawwassen, B.C. (near Vancouver) to Swartz Bay, B.C. (north of Victoria), www.bcferries.bc.ca, 888-223-3779 or 250-386-3431. In nearby Sidney, board a Washington State Ferry to Friday Harbor.

Catch-A-Train/Amtrak provides daily service from Pacific Central Train Station via Amtrak and Washington State Ferries, www.catch-a-train.com/page2.html or 1-800-457-3549

Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 1-888-378-2376

San Juan Airlines provides charter service, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 1-800-874-4434

Transportation

westwind@rockisland.com