The San Juan Islands in brief
The San Juan Islands lie in the Salish Sea, in the northwest of Washington State. Most visitors choose between San Juan Island, Orcas Island and Lopez Island. Friday Harbor, the main town and ferry port, is on San Juan Island. So "San Juan Island" and the whole island group are not the same thing. The ferry timetable from Anacortes lists stops at Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and Friday Harbor.
Between the ferry stops there is a lot of water and rock. The San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge covers 83 rocks, reefs and islands, and only public parts of Turn and Matia are open to visitors. Do not assume you may land on any small island you see. This is an independent guide with no link to the visitors bureau, San Juan County, the ferry system, the parks or any tour operator.
Which island for what
A first orientation. The island pages go into the details.
| Island | Ferry stop | Main draws |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan Island | Friday Harbor | Whale Museum, American Camp and English Camp, Roche Harbor, Lime Kiln Point |
| Orcas Island | Orcas Island | Eastsound, Moran State Park, the Mount Constitution viewpoint |
| Lopez Island | Lopez | Cycling, Odlin County Park, Shark Reef, Spencer Spit |
Many visitors stay on one island and see a second by ferry. Foot passengers travelling between the islands do not pay a fare. Eastsound is a town on Orcas Island, not the name of the ferry landing, which the timetable calls Orcas Island. Check the ferry page for reservations and fares before you plan a car trip across several islands.
Our picks: San Juan Islands tours
A whale-watching boat from Anacortes, a kayak trip at Lime Kiln and wildlife on Orcas Island.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Lime Kiln kayak tour, half or full day
Kayak gear and launch fees at San Juan County Park are included, plus lunch on the full-day option. Getting to San Juan Island and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Whale-watching boat tour from Anacortes
Three to four hours of wildlife watching, with an exposure suit, hat, gloves and binoculars provided. It starts on the mainland in Anacortes; no transfer from Seattle is included.
Check availability →
Guided whale-watching speedboat trip from Eastsound
A naturalist guide on a speedboat trip of about 3.5 hours. The ferry to Orcas Island is not included, and sightings cannot be promised.
Check availability →San Juan Islands tours and day trips
Whale watching by boat, sea kayaking and day trips around the islands, with live prices and availability.
Explore the guide
The main pages, from the sights to the practical details.
Things to do
Twelve experiences from the Whale Museum to shore walks on Lopez.
Tours compared
Whale watching, sea kayaking and day trips, with published prices.
Whale watching
Orca types, the distance rules and how to watch from a boat or the shore.
Friday Harbor
The ferry port on San Juan Island, the museum and getting around.
Orcas Island
Eastsound, Moran State Park and how to reach the island.
Lopez Island
Cycling, beaches and the Shark Reef trail.
Roche Harbor
The marina, the village and the sculpture park.
Lime Kiln Point
Watching whales from the shore, with hours and fees.
Moran State Park
Lakes, trails and Mount Constitution, with the current tower closure.
Anacortes ferry
Routes, fares, reservations and the fall timetable.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures and rainfall in the Olympic rain shadow.
Where to stay
Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Eastsound and Lopez Village compared.
What to know in autumn 2026
Operating notes that older guides do not have. Status as of 20 October 2026.
The Mount Constitution tower is closed
The stone tower at the summit of Mount Constitution is closed for restoration from 7 October until about 9 November 2026. Scaffolding, equipment and noise are announced. According to the park notice, the road, the viewpoint, the restrooms and the visitor center stay open. Check the park notice before you plan the drive, and do not count on a reopening date.
Moran State Park →Fall ferry timetable
The fall timetable runs from 20 September to 26 December 2026. Vehicle reservations for the winter schedule, 27 December 2026 to 20 March 2027, open on 27 October 2026 at 10 am Pacific time.
Ferry page →Seasonal closures
The American Camp visitor center is open Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 3 pm, then Monday to Friday from the week of 25 October. It closes for the season on 12 November and reopens in March 2027. A kayak operator and a bike rental company in Friday Harbor have ended their 2026 operations. The Whale Museum shows a summer schedule of 10 am to 4 pm daily, so check its current hours.
Things to do →No direct ferry from Seattle
The passenger ferry between Seattle and Friday Harbor is suspended for the 2026 season. The state utilities regulator approved the temporary stop on 30 April 2026. Plan to drive to Anacortes, fly, or take a tour that includes the flight.
Tours →Getting there in short
The main routes. Times are planning values and exclude waiting and check-in.
Ferry from Anacortes
The terminal is at 2100 Ferry Terminal Road. From Sea-Tac airport allow at least 2.5 hours of driving plus time at the terminal. Example sailings in the fall timetable take 70 minutes to Friday Harbor, 55 minutes to Lopez and 60 minutes to Orcas.
Ferry page →By air
A floatplane flies from Seattle to the Friday Harbor marina in about 45 minutes. A land plane from Boeing Field to Friday Harbor Airport takes about 35 minutes, and there are flights from Boeing Field to Eastsound on Orcas Island. These are operator estimates without check-in or transfers.
Day cruise from Bellingham
A day cruise ran in the 2026 season at $79 for adults, with about 2 hours each way and 3 hours on land. The season has ended, so look for the dates of the next one.
Tours →When to go
The islands sit in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. At the Friday Harbor airport station, the 1991 to 2020 normals show July as the driest month, with about 0.5 in (12 mm) of rain, and August as the warmest, with an average daily high of 73°F (23°C). October brings an average high of 58°F (15°C) and about 2.3 in (59 mm) of rain. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
The page on weather and the best time to visit has all twelve months. For orcas, see whale watching. No operator can promise a sighting.
San Juan Islands: frequently asked questions
How do I get to the San Juan Islands?
Most visitors take the car ferry from Anacortes, which serves Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and Friday Harbor. You can also fly from Seattle by floatplane or from Boeing Field by land plane. The direct passenger ferry from Seattle is suspended for 2026.
Do I need a ferry reservation?
The ferry system recommends vehicle reservations, because standby space is very limited. Foot passengers and bicycles need no reservation. Reservations apply to one direction, so book each way. If you hold one, check in at least 30 minutes before departure.
When is the best time to visit?
The climate normals point to July and August as the drier and milder months. That is an inference from averages, not a guarantee. Shore watching at Lime Kiln Point is listed for spring to fall, depending on the salmon runs.
Do I need a park pass?
It depends on the place. The San Juan Island National Historical Park charges no entry fee. Parking at state parks such as Lime Kiln Point and Moran needs a Discover Pass, which costs $10 per day or $45 per year. The Whale Museum has its own admission. Do not mix these three.
Can I be sure of seeing orcas?
No. Sightings cannot be guaranteed from a boat or from the shore. In Washington waters you must keep at least 1,000 yards from Southern Resident orcas, including in a kayak or on a paddleboard.
Is this site run by the visitors bureau or the ferry system?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, San Juan County, Washington State Ferries, Washington State Parks, the National Park Service or any tour operator. Fares and hours are those published when the pages were written, so check them before you travel.