Twelve ways to spend your days
The sights are spread over three main islands, and you reach each one by ferry. San Juan Island has the museum, the two historical park sites, Roche Harbor and the whale-watching shore. Orcas Island has Eastsound and Moran State Park. Lopez Island is the place for bikes and quiet beaches. The twelve entries below cover all three, and they are free to mix.
"Best" is an editorial choice, not a ranking by any authority. Three kinds of fees apply and should not be mixed up: the national historical park has no entry fee, state park parking needs a Discover Pass, and the Whale Museum has its own admission. This is an independent guide with no link to any of the operators named.
Museum, art and history on San Juan Island
Experiences 1 to 4: all within reach of Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor.
1. Whale Museum in Friday Harbor
The museum is dedicated to whales. Admission is $13 for adults, $9 for seniors aged 65 and over, and $6 for ages 6 to 18 and for students with ID. Children up to 5 are free. The posted hours are 10 am to 4 pm every day, labeled as the summer schedule, so check the current hours outside summer. The gift shop welcomes dogs, but they may not enter the exhibits.
Friday Harbor →2. Sculpture Park near Roche Harbor
The park is open every day of the year from dawn to dusk. Entry is free and donations are welcome. The operator counts more than 150 works on 20 acres (8 ha), linked by 5 trails, and dogs are welcome. The exhibition changes over time, so the exact count varies.
Roche Harbor →3. American Camp
American Camp belongs to the San Juan Island National Historical Park. Entry, programs and parking at the trailheads are free, and the grounds are open 24 hours. The visitor center covers Coast Salish history, ecology and the Pig War. On 29 September 2026 it was open Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 3 pm. From the week of 25 October it is open Monday to Friday, then it closes for the season on 12 November and reopens in March 2027.
4. English Camp
English Camp is the second site of the same park. The grounds and open-air exhibits are open 24 hours, and there is no entry fee. The site keeps traces of the British occupation. Check the current hours before you go if you hope to see any buildings.
Our picks: things to do
On the water by boat or by kayak, from Anacortes, Friday Harbor and Eastsound.
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.
Three-hour sea kayak tour from Friday Harbor
Sea kayak, paddle and safety gear, a beach briefing and a round-trip shuttle are included. Food and drinks are not.
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 →
Wildlife-watching kayak tour on Orcas Island
Three hours of paddling with a guide, sea kayak and safety gear included. Bring your own water bottle and lunch.
Check availability →Tours for your San Juan Islands trip
Boat trips, sea kayaking and day trips around the islands, with live prices and availability.
Shore, town and mountain
Experiences 5 to 8: from the whale-watching shore to the summit of Orcas Island.
5. Whale watching from the shore at Lime Kiln Point
Lime Kiln Point State Park is at 1567 Westside Road, Friday Harbor, and is open every day from 8 am to dusk. Parking needs a Discover Pass, $10 per day or $45 per year, and fees may be added at purchase. The park lists shore sightings from spring to fall, depending on the salmon runs. That is not a promise of an orca on any given day. Dogs must be on a leash and fires are not allowed. The interpretive center is a summer operation, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Lime Kiln Point →6. Eastsound on Orcas Island
Eastsound is a town, not the ferry landing, which the timetable calls Orcas Island. Other places on the island are Rosario, West Sound and Deer Harbor. You can also fly to Eastsound: a land plane runs daily all year from Boeing Field in Seattle. At Rosario, the resort and the Moran Mansion have had separate owners since 2026, so do not count on the mansion being open.
Orcas Island →7. Lakes and trails in Moran State Park
The park has 5 lakes and trails for hiking, biking and riding. Bikes may use only the trails that are open to them. On closed trails you may not even push or carry one. Summer hours are 6:30 am to dusk and winter hours 8 am to dusk. A Discover Pass applies. The hiker/biker campground has been closed for the winter since 7 October, and Mountain Lake and Lower Midway are the camping areas listed.
Moran State Park →8. The Mount Constitution viewpoint
The summit viewpoint is reached by a park road. The stone tower is closed for restoration from 7 October until about 9 November 2026, with scaffolding, equipment and noise. The road, the viewpoint, the restrooms and the visitor center stay open according to the park notice. Treat this as a drive to a viewpoint for now, and check the notice before you go. Large trailers and RVs cannot use the road.
Lopez beaches and a boat trip
Experiences 9 to 12: bikes, a county park, a forest path and orcas by boat.
9. Cycling on Lopez
Lopez Island Sea Kayak and Bicycle Works at Fisherman Bay rents bikes and kayaks by the hour up to the week, including e-bikes, tandems and trailers. The operator says no bike reservation is needed. Ask for the current price list. Do not assume the island is flat or that bike lanes are separate, and expect to share the road.
Lopez Island →10. Odlin County Park
Odlin County Park is at 148 Odlin Park Road, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the ferry landing and 3 miles (5 km) from Lopez Village. It has sand beach access, a boat ramp, drinking water and simple toilets, but no showers. Launching a boat or kayak and day parking for boat trailers are free according to the county, while overnight parking costs money. There are 35 regular campsites, 10 of them on the beach.
11. Shark Reef Sanctuary
A forest path leads to the rocky shore at Cattle Pass, with views of harbor seals and reefs as the local chamber of commerce describes it. The county manages the site for gentle day use. The current in Cattle Pass is described as strong, so do not assume that swimming or beginner paddling is safe here.
12. A boat trip to find whales
San Juan Safaris offers a Classic Whale Watch from Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, 3 to 4 hours, at $125 for adults and $89 for children as published in October 2026. The overview shows no child age limit and no full list of extra fees. The Adventure tour from Friday Harbor is listed at $150 for adults and children alike. Sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Tours compared →The twelve at a glance
Fees as published, where one applies.
| Experience | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Whale Museum | $13 adult | Summer hours posted: 10 am to 4 pm daily |
| Sculpture Park | Free, donations welcome | Dawn to dusk, every day |
| American Camp | No entry fee | Visitor center closes 12 November |
| English Camp | No entry fee | Grounds open 24 hours |
| Lime Kiln Point | Discover Pass, $10 per day | 8 am to dusk, no sightings guaranteed |
| Eastsound | – | A town, not the ferry landing |
| Moran State Park | Discover Pass, $10 per day | Summer from 6:30 am, winter from 8 am |
| Mount Constitution | Discover Pass, $10 per day | Tower closed until about 9 November |
| Cycling on Lopez | – | No reservation needed, says the operator |
| Odlin County Park | Boat launch free | Overnight parking is charged |
| Shark Reef | – | Strong current at Cattle Pass |
| Boat whale watching | $125 adult, $89 child | 3 to 4 hours, Classic tour |
Plan the rest of your trip
Where tours, ferries and beds fit around the sights.
Tours compared
Whale watching, sea kayaking and day trips, with published prices.
Whale watching
Orca types and the distance rules for boats and kayaks.
Moran State Park
Lakes, trails and the current Mount Constitution closure.
Where to stay
Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Eastsound and Lopez Village compared.
Things to do in the San Juan Islands: frequently asked questions
Which of these are free?
The Sculpture Park, American Camp and English Camp charge no entry fee. Launching a boat or kayak at Odlin County Park is free, according to the county. Parking at the state parks needs a Discover Pass, and the Whale Museum charges admission.
Can I still go up Mount Constitution?
The road and the viewpoint stay open, but the stone tower is closed from 7 October until about 9 November 2026 because of restoration work. Expect scaffolding and noise, and check the park notice before you drive up.
How do I get around without a car?
Lopez has a local rental for bikes and kayaks. In Friday Harbor a company that rents hybrid and e-assist bikes has ended its 2026 season and returns in 2027. A shop on Nichols Street lists mopeds and e-bikes with daily hours of 10 am to 5 pm, but gives no season, so call first.
Can I see orcas from the shore?
Lime Kiln Point lists shore sightings from spring to fall, depending on the salmon runs. Nobody can promise a sighting on a given day.
Do I need a Discover Pass for the national historical park?
No. American Camp and English Camp are run by the National Park Service and charge no entry fee. The Discover Pass is for Washington state parks such as Lime Kiln Point and Moran.