This guide covers the best places to visit on all three main islands, with how long to allow at each, where to stay and how to handle the ferries.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
June through September for dry weather, outdoor dining and the best chance of seeing whales.
How long
Three to four days for San Juan and Orcas; add a day for Lopez.
Getting there
Drive to Anacortes and take a Washington State Ferries boat, or fly by seaplane from Seattle.
Why visit the San Juan Islands
The islands sit in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, so they receive far less rain than Seattle and enjoy long, bright summer days. The waters around them are among the best places in the world to see killer whales, along with harbor seals, porpoises, sea lions and bald eagles.
There is history too. In 1859 a dispute over a shot pig nearly started a war between the United States and Britain, and both nations kept troops on San Juan Island for twelve years before the border was settled.
San Juan Island: Friday Harbor and the west side
Friday Harbor
The ferry lands right in Friday Harbor, the only incorporated town in the islands. Its streets climb from the marina past galleries, bookshops, cafes and seafood counters.
Lime Kiln Point State Park
On the west side of the island, Lime Kiln Point State Park is often called Whale Watch Park because orcas and other whales sometimes pass close to the rocky shore as they travel along Haro Strait. Paths lead past a lighthouse from the early twentieth century and the remains of historic lime kilns.
English Camp
On the shore of Garrison Bay, English Camp is where British Royal Marines were based during the joint occupation. You can see the restored barracks, a white blockhouse, a formal garden and a cemetery, and a trail climbs Young Hill for views over the islands. Allow two hours.
American Camp and Cattle Point
At the windswept southern end of the island, American Camp preserves the site of the US Army post on open prairie, with trails to the bluffs, a lagoon and South Beach, one of the longest public beaches in the islands. Red foxes and bald eagles are common.
Roche Harbor
At the north end of the island, Roche Harbor was once a company town built around a lime works and is now a busy marina village with historic white buildings, gardens and a waterfront restaurant scene. A short walk through the woods leads to Afterglow Vista, the unusual columned mausoleum of the McMillin family, who ran the lime company.
Orcas Island: mountains and lakes
Shaped like a horseshoe, Orcas is the largest island in the group and the most rugged, with forested hills, freshwater lakes and the small village of Eastsound at the top of the bay.
Moran State Park and Mount Constitution
Moran State Park covers more than five thousand acres of forest, lakes and waterfalls. Its centerpiece is Mount Constitution, at about 2,400 feet the highest point in the islands.
Cascade Lake, Mountain Lake and Cascade Falls
Lower in the park, Cascade Lake has a swimming area and rowboat and paddleboard rentals in summer, while Mountain Lake is circled by a gentle loop trail of about four miles through old forest.
Eastsound and Turtleback Mountain
Eastsound is the island's commercial heart, with cafes, bakeries, galleries and a Saturday farmers market in the village green during the season. West of the village, Turtleback Mountain Preserve has trails through oak woodland and open meadows to viewpoints over the western islands.
Lopez Island: the quiet one
Lopez is the first ferry stop and the most relaxed island, known for gentle hills, farms and a local custom of waving to every passing driver. It is popular with cyclists because its roads are relatively flat.
Shark Reef Sanctuary and Iceberg Point
A short forest trail leads to Shark Reef Sanctuary on the west shore, where rocky headlands look across San Juan Channel to islets busy with harbor seals and seabirds.
Lopez Village and Spencer Spit
Lopez Village is a small cluster of shops, a bakery and a farmers market in summer. Nearby, Spencer Spit State Park has a sandy spit enclosing a lagoon, with beach walks and camping.
Sea kayaking and wildlife cruises
Some of the best experiences in the islands happen on the water. Guided sea kayak tours launch from several harbors on San Juan, Orcas and Lopez, paddling past kelp beds, seal haul-outs and rocky shores where bald eagles perch in the firs.
Planning a trip to San Juan Islands?Compare hotels, flights and vacation rentals for San Juan Islands on Expedia.Book nowFood and local flavors
The islands eat what the land and sea provide.
The best way to taste the islands is at a farmers market. Friday Harbor and Eastsound host Saturday markets in season, and Lopez Village has a summer market too.
Popular dishes to try in San Juan Islands
Where to stay
Friday Harbor has the widest choice of inns and rentals and suits first-time visitors and those arriving without a car. Roche Harbor is ideal if you like marina life and historic surroundings. Eastsound and Moran State Park on Orcas suit hikers and families, with cabins, rentals and campgrounds.
Where to stay in San Juan Islands
Best time to visit
Summer (June to September) is the high season, with warm dry days, long evenings and all businesses open.
Getting there and getting around
Most visitors drive about an hour and a half north from Seattle to Anacortes and take a Washington State Ferries boat to Lopez, Shaw, Orcas or Friday Harbor.
Bringing a car gives the most freedom, especially on Orcas. Bicycles, scooters and rental cars are available on the islands, and seasonal shuttles have operated on San Juan Island; check current schedules.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Take a morning ferry to Friday Harbor.
Second day
Explore English Camp and Roche Harbor in the morning, then American Camp and Cattle Point in the afternoon.
Third day
Take the inter-island ferry to Orcas.
Fourth day
Hike Turtleback Mountain in the morning, then stop on Lopez on your way back to Anacortes for a walk at Shark Reef.
Practical tips
- Reserve vehicle space on the ferry as early as possible for summer travel, and arrive at the terminal well before departure.
- Book lodging months ahead for July and August.
- Buy a Discover Pass for parking at state parks.
- Choose whale watching operators that follow viewing guidelines and keep proper distances.
- Pack layers; even summer evenings on the water are cool.
- Drive carefully on narrow roads shared with cyclists and deer.
Find local businesses in Friday Harbor on WiserMap
Friday Harbor is the main gateway to the San Juan Islands, with kayak outfitters, whale watching operators, cafes, seafood spots and places to stay close to the ferry.
