There are several modes of transportation to the beautiful San Juan Islands, in addition to the popular Washington State Ferries. Visitors can also come by passenger ferry, private boat, airplane or seaplane (including Kenmore Air) directly from several locations listed below, depending on the season. No matter how you get here, the scenery is spectacular and getting here is half the fun! 

If you are coming by Washington State Ferry, your ticket is good for a round trip -- you only pay going west bound.  We recommend you have your vehicle in the ferry line at least one hour ahead of sailing during fall, winter and spring, and two or more hours ahead during summer and holidays. 

Directions to the Washington State Ferries Anacortes Terminal:  If you are coming by car and Washington State Ferry, the mainland terminal which serves the San Juans is located in Anacortes, Washington, 80 miles northwest of Seattle.  Follow  I-5 north from Seattle, take Exit 230 and follow Highway 20 west to Anacortes.  Once you are in Anacortes, take a left on 12th Street (Safeway will be on the right), then follow the signs to the ferry terminal and ticketing booths.

Wireless internet service is now available at the Washington State Ferries terminal in Anacortes. Once you are parked in the ferry line or you're inside the terminal area, select their wireless network and launch your internet browser.

Traveling between the islands:  Visitors wanting to island hop can take the inter-island Washington State Ferries or can fly aboard Island Air, Kenmore Air or San Juan Airlines. There are also several inter-island water taxis. For more information call our friendly visitor services staff at 1-888-468-3701 ext.1.

Traveling to and from Canada: Scroll down to find modes of transportation, and passport requirements, between the San Juan Islands and Vancouver and Victoria, B.C.  Enjoy a two-nation vacation! 

From Seattle or SeaTac Airport:

• Kenmore Air provides land and seaplane daily direct, scheduled flights from Lake Union, Lake Washington, and Boeing Field/King County Airport.  They provide free shuttle service between SeaTac and their terminals. 1-800-543-9595.
• Island Airporter provides daily, non-stop service from SeaTac to San Juan Island (Friday Harbor & Roche Harbor), 360-378-7438.
• Bellair Airporter Shuttle provides daily service from SeaTac and downtown Seattle to the Anacortes ferry terminal, 1-866-235-5247.
• Victoria Clipper sails from downtown's Pier 69 seasonally to Friday Harbor, 1-800-888-2535 or 206-448-5000 (2009 service has been cancelled; however, make plans for 2010).
• Amtrak provides 2 daily round-trip services from King Street Train Station to Mt. Vernon through the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.  "Catch-A-Train" can arrange for your train tickets, a shuttle to the Anacortes ferry terminal and your ferry tickets when you reserve the whole package through them, 1-800-457-3549.
• Greyhound Bus Lines provides service from Seattle to Mt. Vernon, 800-231-2222 or 360-336-5111, then you must transfer to the Skagit Transit bus system, 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 from SeaTac or Boeing Field/King County Airport, 1-888-378-2376.
• Westwind Aviation provides air charters and scenic flights to and from the San Juan Islands from throughout the Pacific Northwest, 360-378-6991.

From Anacortes:

• Washington State Ferries provide over a dozen sailings each day, for walk-on and drive-on passengers, 206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977. Visit their website for schedules, fares and parking information.
• San Juan Airlines provides daily scheduled flights, 1-800-874-4434.
• ABC Yacht Charters, 1-800-426-2313.
• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• Island Express Charters provides passenger and freight service from Anacortes as well as inter-island travel, 1-877-473-9777.
• Paraclete Charter Service provides passenger service from Skyline Marina, 1-800-808-2999.

From Bellingham:

• Amtrak provides service to Bellingham, then walk across the street and board the seasonal, passenger-ferry San Juan Island Commuter (see below), 1-800-USA-RAIL.
• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• Northwest Sky Ferry offers charter service between the Islands and Sidney, B.C., 360-676-9999.
• Par Yacht Charters, 360-752-5754.
• San Juan Airlines provides daily, scheduled flights, 1-800-874-4434.
• San Juan Island Commuter provides daily, passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor, June 12 through September 7, 2009, with stops at Eliza, Sinclair, Blakely, Orcas and Lopez Islands, 1-888-734-8180.

From Everett:

• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• San Juan Airlines provides charter service, 1-800-874-4434.

From Portland, Oregon:

• Rose Air offers roundtrip flights from Portland and various locations throughout Oregon and Washington, 1-503-675-7678.
• Amtrak provides 2 daily round-trip services from Union Station to Mt. Vernon through the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.  "Catch-A-Train" can arrange for your train tickets, a shuttle to the Anacortes ferry terminal and your ferry tickets when you reserve the whole package through them, 1-800-457-3549.

From Port Angeles:

• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• Kenmore Air provides charter service, 1-800-874-4434.
• Victoria Express provides scheduled passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor and Victoria, B.C., 360-452-8088 U.S. or 250-361-9144 CDN during the summer season. (Charters services are available.)

From Port Townsend:

• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• Puget Sound Express provides seasonal, daily, passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor, 360-385-5288.
• San Juan Airlines provides charter service, 1-800-874-4434.

From Victoria, B.C.:

• Passports & Documents are required for travel between the U.S. and Canada as of June 1, 2009.
• Washington State Ferries (WSF) provides April-December sailings from nearby Sidney, B.C., for walk-on and drive-on passengers, 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, in most cases you will need to spend at least one night there due to the ferry schedule.  However, check the WSF website for schedule information or call our office for assistance at 888-468-3701 x1.)
• Victoria Express provides scheduled passenger-ferry service to Friday Harbor, 360-452-8088 U.S. or 250-361-9144 CDN during the summer season. (Charter services are available.)
• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• North Shore Charters provides charter boat services between Victoria, the Gulf Islands, Vancouver and the San Juans, 360-376-4855.
• Northwest Sky Ferry offers charter service between the Islands and Sidney, B.C., 360-676-9999.
• San Juan Airlines provides charter service, 1-800-874-4434.
• Pacific Catalyst II, Inc. will offer four special Nov. & Dec. holiday shopping and fun overnight transportation and "B&B" packages to Victoria from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, 1-800-378-1708, 360-378-7123.

From Vancouver, B.C.:

• Passports & Documents are required for travel between the U.S. and Canada as of June 1, 2009. 
• B.C. Ferries provide daily service from Tsawwassen, B.C. (near Vancouver) to Swartz Bay, B.C. (north of Victoria), 888-223-3779 or 250-386-3431. In nearby Sidney, board a Washington State Ferry to Friday Harbor.
• Amtrak provides 2 daily round-trip services from Pacific Central Train Station to Mt. Vernon through the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.  "Catch-A-Train" can arrange for your train tickets, a shuttle to the Anacortes ferry terminal and your ferry tickets when you reserve the whole package through them, 1-800-457-3549.
• Island Air provides charter service, 1-888-378-2376.
• North Shore Charters provides charter boat services between the Gulf Islands, Vancouver and the San Juans, 360-376-4855.
• San Juan Airlines provides charter service, 1-800-874-4434.