This was my first time riding the Washington State Ferry, and the Anacortes terminal made the experience easy and enjoyable. The terminal itself isn't huge, but it's well-organized and has all the essentials. There are restrooms (note: the entrance is outside), a snack bar with some hot food made to order, grab-and-go snacks, and vending machines for quick bites or drinks. Inside, you'll also find travel brochures, maps, and multiple ticket counters where you can buy ferry tickets or ask questions. I was a walk-on passenger and found the process very straightforward. Parking is nearby--just a short walk from the terminal--and costs $13 for the day. You can either scan the QR code posted on signs or use the pay station machine. Just a tip: if you're walking on, stay in the far left lane when entering the terminal--all other lanes to the right are for vehicles boarding the ferry. Overall, everything was clearly marked and staff were helpful. It was a smooth first-time experience, and I'd definitely ride again! read more

This is not my favorite ferry terminal. I was SHOOK that 2 people and a trailer was $350. When I made the reservation (which you have to do months and months in advance...) it had NO pricing. We would not have brought a trailer if we had known. We have taken it on other ferries and it is more expensive, but $350 is insane. You have to get there 30-60 min early, but there isn't much to do here. The snack shop just has unhealthy fried food and packaged snacks. I am gluten free and vegetarian and a $6 water bottle was my only option. Luckily I had low hopes going in and brought some snacks of my own. The bathroom was pretty rough to. It is next to a lovely beach down kind of a steep hill. Good for the 'gram, bad for the wallet. read more

When my Dad lived in Northern Washington, we would drive to this ferry terminal in Anacortes to island hop the San Juan Islands. Anacortes is known for being the dock for the Washington State Ferries. These ferries take both locals and visitors to either Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island or San Juan Island. It is an easy process to get on and off a ferry. You just need to keep track of the time if you are retuning to this terminal so that you don't get stuck on an island. The ferries don't run overnight. I enjoy watching the people with cars drive onto the ferries. read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - Cars driving onto the Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

It's a ferry. It takes you places. A bit more expensive than I thought. I made a reservation and mistakenly thought it would be $16, but, nope, it was approximately $40. Round trip . The $16 is the no show fee. No worries. I always get nervous driving onto a ferry. But you just follow the car in front of you and it's all well. Oh yes, and follow the man giving directions. Safe and sound and vacationing mode in. Happy travels. SYOY. read more

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Super easy to use and clean! It's very spacious with lots of interior and exterior seating as well as a snack bar ( even adult beverage options). We even saw humpbacks whales on our journey to Friday Harbor read more

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First time out to the San Juan Islands in WA. Such an amazing experience looking viewing the islands, wildlife, and breathing in the fresh air. read more

This was honestly a delightful experience. Someone handled all of the reservations for us, so we just had to arrive and enjoy the spectacular August scenery. The Ferry was quite large with plenty of seating. You can purchase food and libations if you wish. Our ride to Orcas Island had no hot food options, but our ride back to Anacortes did. The views were amazing so the ride in itself was a great time. Smooth process and very friendly people. read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - Walking the pup who decided to rest for a moment, near the Ferry Landing. - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

Time schedules blatantly ignored, with little or no effort to adhere to them. If you are familiar with schedules of trains, boats, and planes in Japan or Germany, you will observe no similarity whatsoever. read more

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Nice ferry terminal, ample seating while waiting for the next ferry. Restrooms were pretty clean, and lots of brochures for those of you that don't leave your nose stuck in your phone. Parking was nearby and plentiful, which is good if you're taking the pedestrian route on board. Could use some TVs of local news, sports, etc. read more

Aloha, sadly the pandemic has affected a few ferry rides more often than should be allowed. Be patient as the inconsistency can be maddening. Best to plan your stay with fudge room and book ahead of time. We booked the 2:05pm Anacortes to Friday Harbor, arrived at 1pm, wait, wait, delay, bummer. Ferry finally left after 4pm arrived after 5pm, ugh a long day - just sit around and wait. Was told the galley was closed on the ferry, thank goodness there's a cafe in the Anacortes ferry parking lot that served up hot Ivers chowder,oh so yummy even if eating in the car. Just go with the flow, it's the only way to bring your car, so just wait, soon enough we'll be there. I love ferries. So fun. read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - In line for ferry - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

I don't consider ferry terminals to be the pinnacle of the travel experience, but with my group of friends, despite the dingy facilities and consistently late ferries, I had a good time. The terminal itself isn't the most crowded unless there's a hoard of people trying to get to one of the islands for a wedding, so there's plenty of seating. And along with the snacks and drinks they serve, it is possible to have a great time here. I felt that the service by the staff was also unexpectedly good- they were kind and ready to chat if you initiated conversation. Similarly, the ferry itself is also older but full of seats, but with the ocean breeze and salty smells, I enjoyed the trip overall. If you time a 90 minute trip to Friday Harbor just right with when the ferry gets here, it's worth the $15 round-trip ticket. Just make sure you come with something to do or people to laugh with. read more

This post is intended for folks who might struggle with mobility, stamina or strength. There are parking lots at ferry Level. If they are full, lot D is up a steep hill and connected to the lower lots by many stairs and a steep dirt path. If anyone in your party can not walk down/up stairs and a dirt path about 4 long city blocks, the non-hiking passengers should be dropped off at the ferry terminal while the strongest hike-capable person parks the car. Same on the return. The strong hiker-person should get the car on their own and then pick up others down on the terminal level. There's no vegetarian or vegan food. Just pretzels and bananas. Bring your own. read more

Caught the ferry to and from Anacortes / Friday Harbor this last weekend. Pros: Fairly clean. Attempted to enforce the mask mandate. Funny announcer. It's impressive to watch the process of passenger boarding, car loading, docking and undocking, etc. Cons: Parking at the Anacortes terminal was $13 for the day + tickets for $14 each. Thankfully the ferry ticket is two-ways. The sun deck up top was closed. Unfortunately the ferry on the way back ran late, which was quite inconvenient for my drive home (ended up getting in at 1am instead of 10-11pm). You don't really have any options besides this ferry. read more

My family and I made a reservation for the noon Anacortes Ferry. We ended up arriving 8 minutes late unfortunately but still managed to be put in lane 6. The problem was, no one notified us that we were put in a standby lane and forced to wait 2 extra hours. The noon ferry ended up leaving and we were very confused as to why we weren't on it. If somebody would have notified us that we were put in a lane to be on standby we could have parked and walked on the ferry and made the noon ferry. This is ridiculous and horrible customer service you guys need to notify your customers better. I'm sending you this complaint because I also made a reservation to come home from Friday harbor and I'm assuming I'm going to be charged considering I didn't cancel the reservation even though we didn't end up getting on the ferry. Please refund my money for the ferry that I didn't end up getting on. And please educate your staff the importance of communication especially people with families. read more

This was by far the worse customer service I have ever experienced! I have traveled to many places and have never been treated disrespectfully by people who's job is to help. The workers here at the ticket booth and on this ferry should be coached or at this point terminated from their jobs based off others review. I did not book reservations to take my car on the ferry because I was planning on spending only 1 day at Friday Harbor for whale watching. If I miss the Ferry I lose the money and reservations for the whale watching and wildlife excursion. The guy at the ticket booth was so rude to us! Shouted at us as we tried to explain to him we are not taking our cars on. He charged us for taking our car on the ferry. He didn't even ask. He then Told us we didn't make reservations so we will not make it on the ferry and we are going to miss our ferry and reservations. He was not trying to help guide Us to where we should go or reimburse us from his mistake. The entire time he was shaking his head at us and not trying to help. This is our first time taking a Ferry, we just wanted to walk on, rsvp for that is not required. Instead we sat their for 1 hour freaking out if we are going to miss our tour at San Juan Island and wondering what just happened to us so early in the morning. The entire time in line waiting to board the Ferry everyone was complaining about the older man and women at the ticket station. Finally we are on the Ferry headed to San Juan Island. I asked a simple question about arriving at the Island and again I was spoken to really rudely. Prepare to be treated like crap before coming here. We were excited for our first ferry experience! Thanks for making it unpleasant for me and my family. read more

I am a fan of the Anacortes Ferry. The employees are nice and they provide an opportunity to visit several different islands that would be difficult to see otherwise. The terminal has limited signage so we had to ask around to locate ticketing and to determine the correct line to wait in. Their pricing is fair and the boat is clean with plenty of seats. Snacks, drinks and bathrooms are available while on board and in the terminal. Anacortes Ferry was struggling with being on a schedule during my two experiences. Their time accountability is off the charts neglectful. Our return trip was over three hours late. Most of the businesses closed on the island so we were stuck waiting in the terminal. Information was spotty so we had to practice patience. Covid may have had a lot to do with the time limitations. read more

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THEY HAVE FOOD. We got some bangin breakfast sandwiches and coffee. They have souvenirs too with orcas and stuff on them. I wanted an orca mug and was going to buy it when we got back from whale watching, but I forgot. They sell jackets and fleeces as well in case you forgot to take one on your chilly sea adventure. Bathrooms are outside, but they weren't really that dirty like you'd expect them to be. A+ for sandwiches, coffee and orca merchandise! read more

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One thing that always bothers me is when employees complain nonstop about what they do for work and do a TERRRRRIBLE job at it. Life is too short and there are so many different jobs you can have in the PNW to work a job you hate or absolutely SUCK at. There are many others who would gladly do your job right now. That's the moral of the story with this sorry excuse for a ferry terminal. We went and first thing is the guys working the 2 toll booths (one takes money and next one tells you which lane to go like 1 guy can't do both for some reason) are just RUDE as it gets. First time I been here and one dude is being a smartass with me asking which lane I go to. Just a moron that literally a monkey could do his job better and you pay him in bananas. Then the ferry is late by almost 2 hours no one mentions anything and nothing on website. Like the ferry driver took a long lunch or a nap or something. 2 HOURS. Could you imagine if you went to your bus stop for work and it was 2 hours late for no reason? Also, $51 for 2 people is pretty steep! But, they know you have to go through them to go to the Islands so they through customer service out the window. My advice to the employees for the ferry that HATE their life...quit and go work doing something you actually somewhat enjoy. read more

It's hard to separate the feelings of being here with the actual facility. Depending on your agenda, this is the gateway to some fun adventures--kayaking trips around the islands, touristy trips to Friday Harbor, or even international waters that have you docking in Canada--the ferry ride is one of the last legs of your trip before the San Juan Island adventures really begin. But also, let's keep in mind that this is public transportation. This is a big bus on water. You drive you car on, you sit in old booths doing puzzles that are missing pieces, buying cafe food and you get to do this with hundreds of strangers together. I mean, bus on water. Even so, it's one of the more memorable experiences you can have. I've spent plenty of time at the terminal. Mostly in my car, or walking the dog down to the water. That's because you want to show up at least an hour before your reservation, and you want to have a reservation. Reservation doesn't really mean reserved seat unless you're very very early. Just roll up without one, and you just wait for whatever boat will have you. My first trip to the islands I actually had a reservation for a later boat, but got here early enough to take the earlier boat and they still had room. Is it worth a shot? Always. Does it work out always? Nope. That's why you have to be prepared to spend plenty of time here. There's a small cafe inside, and restrooms, and large garbage dumpsters outside as well as the aforementioned waterside trail and sidewalk for your pup, but other than that there's not much to do to pass the time. Once on the ferry, park and go up to the passenger lounge, do a bad puzzle, and pay attention to where they dock for your island. Bon voyage! read more

Another WA service that's gone down the drain. Lack of staff and lack of anything in the vending machines. Good thing we figured as much and brought food with us. read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

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If I had a dollar for every hour I've spent at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, I'd probably have enough to put a down payment on my own boat! Yes, many a childhood weekend was spent waiting...and waiting...and waiting for a ferry to the islands. You see, back in the "old days" they didn't have a reservation system like they do now, so you had to arrive early in the morning and hope you'd make it onto the ferry before sundown. The terminal itself is pedestrian. There are bathrooms, indoor seating, and even a food truck. If you're a walk-on passenger, you can buy parking at the terminal itself, or up the hill at the various restaurants/hotels that offer parking at rates in the $7-10/day range. If you're driving on, stay to the right as you approach the terminal, where you can pay for your fare and park in your designated lane while you wait for the ferry. If you end up having to wait awhile, there's even a beach to play on. read more

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Friendly, fast, and efficient service. This hasn't changed in the 20+ years my family has been coming here. Good loudspeaker system that is easy to hear when it comes time to load on the ferry. I love that there is beach access right next to the holding lanes in case you want to get out and stretch your legs. They have some picnic tables both overlooking the beach and on a grassy stretch near the building with the bathrooms. The bathrooms have always been clean in my experience and the dumpster/trash system well maintained. Before loading the ferry for Shaw and Orcas Islands (on the 21st of April 2020) I counted 35 vehicles getting off the ferry, a bit lighter traffic than when I have come here in the past. read more

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Punctual & friendly services - clean seating and wonderful view of the coastal waters. read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - Seating - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

Took a ride to Lopez island for the 4th of July festivities. The waiting room at Anacortes could be updated as can the ferry itself. It is a large boat, but the furniture could use improvement as well as the snack bar offering. We were disappointed that we couldn't get a return reservation for our car, so we opted to park at Anacortes for the holiday. Other than that, the process was smooth to board and get on at both locations. read more

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Great ferry to take over to one of the islands . People working on the ferry are very friendly and it was nice and clean

It takes about an hour or so to travel from Anacortes to Friday Harbor by ferry. The ferry is clean and provides for plenty of seating and tables. Great view of the islands while being transported and restrooms are adequate. Here are my recommendations: Buy food on the way to eat on the ferry, come early before the departure time, get in line to ensure you get on the ferry on time particularly during the peak hours and especially during the peak season in the spring and summer. I have heard that during the busy season, if you come less than an hour early you end up on the next departure but I haven't confirmed that. During the off peak, I had no problems when I got there 45 minutes early. Price was about $60 for a round-trip to Friday Harbor with a vehicle and two passengers. Per WSDOT, vehicles, bicycles, and kayaks not ticketed and in line at least 20 minutes prior to printed departure time may not be loaded. Vessel loading will stop two minutes prior to departure time. If you need the ferry schedule, go to this website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/Schedule/ScheduleDetail.aspx?departingterm=1&arrivingterm=10&roundtrip=true read more

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6/30/19 Heading to Canada. Sidney Canada to be exact... I see an island and a beach and I think of the words Bruce Lee said to Parsons. "that Island on the beach we can take this boat." It was a good thing the character Parsons didn't physically take on Bruce Lee aka Lee....instead he got humiliated which is worse. While I sit here writing this review, I have to say the check out process went by pretty smoothly. My enchaced ID card is something the boarder security was not up to date on. It took a good amount of time to get their stuff in gear. Still the orginal lady did her job about check and calling for someone more senior when she wasn't sure. I applaud her following the proper procedures. While walking around, I saw a lot of people sleeping stretched out on the long seats. The charging stations were the first to go and we found ours on shear luck. It wasn't as windy in the back of the boat as I have experienced this in the past. Today was nice and warm and people were sitting on the ground chilling and enjoying the view. Sidney Canada is about 55 minutes away now, but the view here on the boat is marvelous. Sidney Canada should have some nice merchandise. I looking forward to buying Canadian flag sweatpants and sweater. Yes, I will be pegged as a tourist. I am a tourist on vacation. Maybe even buy some Canadian flag boxers and undershirt....sky is the limit. read more

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Made an online reservation for trip going to and leaving from the Friday Harbor destination. A bit expensive, around $140.00 for a cargo truck with a 12' x 8' x 8' bed. Ferry was pretty much on time, and the staff did a good job of quickly embarking and disembarking vehicles. Beyond the fairly expensive cost of travel, I have no complaints. The Galley serves wine and good beer, and if you are very hungry, there are multiple food options to select from. I opted to eat at Anacortes, and based upon the appearance of the food in the Galley, am glad I did, save for the Ivar's clam chowder offered, which is hard to beat, even if you make your own at home. The scenery you can enjoy on a WSF is pretty much without compare. While many view the Ferry as tourist entertainment, it is a crucial element of travel for those who live in San Juan County, and much of the Puget Sound area for that matter....and thusly quite important, rather than being a frivolous aspect of life. From where I sat on the ferry, WST did a very good job! Check it out, and see what your experience was like, then...you can Yelp! it too! read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - Friday Harbor from the ferry as we pulled away. - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

This was--as some would say--a bucket list experience, taking the WSF to Vancouver Island. As far as beauty, comfort on the ship, crew efficiency on the ferry, and a palatable duration of trip, it certainly was. However, the peripherals involved made it a struggle. A struggle I guess most people can handle, but my ADHD-self wishes I knew a few things before we committed to travel... NOTE: this opinion is based on traveling right smack in the middle of the high season... When you look at the WSF schedule, you see a 2-hr/45 min trip from Anacortes to Sidney. First, add an hour and a half showtime prior to boarding in both directions. All locals will tell you to do that ensuring you get onboard in peak season--even if you have reservations, like we had for months. And then there is....customs. Ohmidearlord, this is a mixed bag. It depends on the agent, and which direction you are going to figure out how much of your day you're going to waste. Canada was sloth-slow, which we expected, but we were shocked on the way back by not one--but TWO--customs experiences. We were interviewed by a US Agent after purchasing tickets in Sidney BC, and thought we were done. Oh no. All vehicles were stacked in multiple lanes for round two upon reentry, and depending on what lane you get in, you will lose a lot of your travel day. What we learned: If in a car do not, repeat, do not get in the lane with RVs & travel trailers. Don't do it. If you are directed to get in that lane, make a break for a different lane whenever you can. No one will stop you, and you will be on your merry way 45 mins earlier than if you don't. Ridiculous... After experiencing all this, I will now highly consider crossing the border in Blaine WA, and catching the Tsawwassen BC ferry to Vancouver Island. Less customs, more than one ferry a day like the Anacortes/Sidney line, cheaper with the exchange rate, and....for all other reasons stated above. It took us five hours to get from Sidney BC to Bellingham WA. Enough said... read more

Anacortes Ferry Terminal - Mom/Daughter in Comfortable Seats... - Ferries Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

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If you are driving a vehicle onto ferry, I highly advise you reserve a spot. I parked my vehicle at Anacortes and walked onto the ferry, $14.00 round trip per person. Daily parking at the ferry is only $7.00. Plenty of seating, cafeteria available, with some hot food options. Ferry stops at all of the islands for pick up and drop off. Approximately two hour one way ride to Friday Harbor. Great views and photo ops along the way. read more

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The person at the ticketing office told us the wrong lane number and we ended up in Friday Harbor instead of Lopez Island. We had to wait for another ferry in Friday Harbor but the Lopez Island ferry goes to Orcas Island and Shaw Island before getting us to Lopez Island. We paid $66.00 to literally ride the ferry all day. To add on top of that we had a friend who was in her own vehicle on our adventure, she too paid $66.00. You fail WA State Ferry. You fail. read more

Every person my group encountered with in the few booths on the way to Orcas island and on the way back was incredibly rude and unhelpful. We understood that being down one ferry meant unexpected wait times but when they estimate 1-6 and have no information to share it seems like they could care less to be helpful. Lots of workers were very monotone and short as if maybe they've been dealing with rude people all day but my group was in a good mood regardless of having to spend most or trip at the ferry terminal so we didn't appreciate the attitude. read more

The staff on the ferry was lovely and I have no complaints in that regard. However, attendants at the ticket booths were consistently abrupt to the point of rudeness. They declined to answer questions, ignored our reservation, and talked over us without care. Only leaving this review in hopes that someone may read it and consider that attendants are the initial point of contact for the ferry system and leave an impression. It takes minimal effort to be kind. read more

Reservations are recommended for travel between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands now. A credit card is required to reserve the reservation. A $10 charge will be charged to the credit card if one no-shows or is not processed 30 minutes before reservation slot. An email and text message is sent as a reminder. For Anacortes terminal, please be advised of the following: * You must be ticketed and through the toll booth 30 minutes prior to your reservation. For peak sailing times, it is recommended that you arrive at the end of the line 45-60 minutes prior to departure time, so that you reach the toll booth with 30 minutes to check in. If you are not processed into the holding area at least 30 minutes prior to departure time, you will forfeit your reservation and travel standby on a first-come, first-served basis. * The total fare, based on the vehicle size, passenger type and count, is due at the time your reservation is redeemed. Your reservation is not your fare. * If you do not show up for your reservation and do not travel on the same service day from the same departure terminal, you will be charged the no-show fee. * You can cancel this reservation up to 5 PM today. You will incur a no-show fee if you cancel after 5 PM. * Unlimited changes to your reservation are permitted up to 5 PM today. One final change is allowed after 5 PM today. Cancelling a reservation after the final change has been made will result in the no-show fee being charged. * No changes can be made 2 hours or less before the reserved sailing. * You may want to consider visiting our Ferry Alert Bulletins page for information that may affect your travel plans. If you have any questions regarding this email, please contact customer service at wsfinfo@wsdot.wa.gov or call 1-888-808-7977 (in state) or 206-464-6400. read more

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Today was my first trip to the San Juan Islands and I was pleased how everything turned out. I'd like to get back before August! This was the weekend that I was supposed to be catching up on paperwork in Seattle, but that just didn't seem the right way to spend a Saturday. It's 1 hr and 5 minutes from Anacortes to Friday Harbor, sailing on the Elwha. If you take the 2:40pm to Friday Harbor and return on the 6:45pm Chelan, that gives you around three hours to check out the county seat of San Juan County, which is plenty of time to roam through a few galleries or chotski shops, and grab a bite to eat. The scenery along the ferry route is the best. You pass by Orcas, Shaw and Lopez Islands, as well as several other smaller islands. In June, the 6:45pm run is a good time to come back, because the islands are bathed in a golden-red evening sunshine. Parking is in big demand at the Anacortes ferry terminal and it's $10/day. Still, I like parking and walking onto the ferry. The lower lots may be filled and that will force you to park in the Upper Lot. If that happens, it's about a ten minute walk down to the ferry terminal. read more

I took the Ferry yesterday morning to Friday Harbor. The walk-on fare was only $10.95 and parking at the terminal was $5. I took the 6:10 AM Ferry out and the 11:10 AM Ferry back. That gave me about 3.5 hours to putter around the Friday Harbor area. It's all the time I really had before I needed to drive back to Seattle for a late afternoon flight back to Oakland. There wasn't much to see off the Ferry on the outbound boat since it was dark. You did see the outline of the islands, the occasional lights coming from those isolated waterfront homes (of the rich and famous), the spooky lighting of the Lopez Island terminal and of course the city lights of Friday Harbor as we came in. The Ferry itself was roomy with lots of comfortable places to sit and relax. The bathrooms were just fine. The Ferry Terminals themselves were basic and did their job. And the folks selling tickets, handling the walkways, and guiding the cars were all friendly and hard working. Returning to Anacortes was a real treat in terms of seeing Orca, Shaw, San Juan, and the other islands in the daytime. It was a reasonably clear day and distant peaks could also be seen. It was a real treat to stand outside with the wind to your face, the view all around, and the birds keeping pace with the boat as it sliced through the water and around the various islands, big and small. A half day in the San Juan Islands is not enough to do this gorgeous area justice. I'd love to come back to San Juan Island and explore some of the history, such as the Pig War that helped decide the US - Canadian border in this area. I'd like to bike on Lopez Island and explore Orcas Island. I'd enjoy taking the Ferry all the way to Victoria (via Sydney) BC and maybe move on to Salt Spring or maybe other parts of Vancouver Island. read more

I love the rural nature of Pacific North West. It's amazing that I can stand in the middle of Seattle and see the mountains from the town centre Located a short distance from Seattle are all sorts of gems and one of my favourites is now the San Juan Islands after I visited them last year. The gateway to this paradise is Anacortes, from which Washington State Ferries operates daily crossings to the major islands There is no pre-booking system, so make sure you get there on time to get a spot on your ferry of choice. Helpfully, their website has a table listing which of their crossings are the most popular The vehicle queueing system was clearly labelled and there's a small cafe in the ferry terminal which also houses the waiting area for the foot passengers My round trip car journey to Orcas cost $60.75. The ferry has a lot of seating and a self service restaurant on the top deck. However, I suspect you'll be like me and spend most of the trip watching the gorgeous scenery out of the window, including Bill Gates's private estate The ferry arrived on time for both my journeys and it was a great way to travel to and from Orcas read more

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I really do love the Washington State Ferry System! I guess for me going on a ferry is still very much a novelty coming from the Midwest! I have done the Vashon Island Ferry twice and the ferry going from Vashon to West Seattle so I'm not completely new to the experience but those ferry trips are a short amount of time to really sit back and relax. The ferry going to West Seattle is a longer ride than the other Vashon ferry but on the Anacortes Ferry trip you can really sit back and enjoy the scenery. Of course the length of your trip depends on where you are going. The Sidney, BC and the Friday Harbor ferries are the longer running ones while Orcas Island, Shaw Island and Lopez Island are shorter. We went on the ferry that went to Friday Harbor. It was a perfect sampling of seeing the beauty that the other San Juan islands have to offer as you go past them. I have to say the organization as to how the ferry is set up is very efficient and as simple as possible despite several ferries leaving from this terminal. We were taken a bit aback by the cost to go to San Juan which was about $70.00. From the Anacortes terminal you now need to make online reservations to get a spot on the boat. We thought it was $20.00 but that fee is only in case you cancel or are a no show. The rates to the other islands are less expensive and the trip to Sidney is about $80. After our wonderful trip though it was well worth the surprise expense. I look forward to using the Anacortes terminal in the future as we continue to explore the other San Juan Islands and eventually return to Friday Harbor. I can't speak for the other islands but the rates for just a passenger and not your car is of course to no surprise, much cheaper and you don't really need to have your own car to come when they have scooter rentals and the trolley that covers many of the island's destinations. read more

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The process is easy and the ferry is clean and comfortable for a quick trip to the islands. The ferry was pretty late and I was nervous about being able to make my whale watching tour despite picking a ferry that was supposed to give plenty of time. When I got into friday harbor someone there said that the ferry is always late. read more

I went to San Juan Island for the first time over the weekend, so this was my first experience with the ferry from Anacortes. I was pleasantly surprised. The ferry is spacious and clean, with tons of seating both inside and out. The views of the islands are STUNNING. We spent most of our time outside, admiring the beautiful views. It was likely the best ferry ride I've been on for viewing surrounding scenery. Prices seem expensive (over $50 dollars for a vehicle and driver and $11.50 for each additional passenger), but realize that these rates are round-trip. You pay once on your way over and you do not have to pay on your return. Recommendations to make your trip the best one possible: - Make sure you arrive with plenty of time before your desired departure. We arrived about 10:20am for an 11:55am ferry and we were near the back of the pack boarding the boat. You may want to consider arriving even earlier to ensure you'll get a spot. - Buy your ticket online ahead of time - we did this and it made things easier. You just print it out and they scan it at the booth and you're on your way. It's easier than digging out cash or waiting to sign a credit card receipt. - Bring a coat! It's darn windy sailing across the water. Have fun!!! read more

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