San Juan Islands

Travel Information

Crystal Seas is here to make kayaking in the San Juan Islands a highlight of your vacation! With the exception of a few of our Washington kayak tours which involve inns and/or biking, all of our tours start from San Juan Island. We offer complimentary pick-up in Friday Harbor... as part of our kayak tours so all you have to do is get yourself there.  Below are some links and general info about how to get here, accommodations and the weather.  Please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions or just want to run your San Juan Island kayaking plans by us.   Thanks and enjoy kayaking Washington State and the beautiful San Juan Islands.

The most common ways to get to Friday Harbor from the Seattle area:

Drive your own car, a rental or take the Airporter Shuttle to Anacortes (about 2 hours from Seattle and then walk-on (highly recommended - no ferry lines) or drive-on the Washington State Ferry to Friday Harbor (just over 1 hour).

Board the Victoria Clipper as a walk-on from downtown Seattle and get off in Friday Harbor (about 3-3.5 hours).

Take a flight with Kenmore Air from downtown Seattle or the SeaTac International Airport to Friday Harbor (about 40 minutes).

Driving to Friday Harbor...

...from the Seattle Area...

Head north on I-5 just past Mt. Vernon. Take exit 230, (Highway 20) westbound to Anacortes-San Juan Ferry. Follow "Anacortes-San Juan Ferry" signs. Drive through Anacortes and turn left at the light next to Safeway. Continue on this road until you come to the Washington State Ferry terminal. Park your car at the terminal and walk-on as a foot passenger or drive-on with your car. If you plan to drive on the ferry you should arrive at the ferry terminal 90 minutes to 2 hours in advance depending on the day.

(Total Drive Time from Seattle: 2 hours).  We plan our kayak tours around the ferry schedule.

...from Bellingham or Vancouver, B.C....

Head south on I-5 until Burlington, if you reach Mt. Vernon you have gone to far. Take exit 230, (Highway 20) westbound to Anacortes-San Juan Ferry.

Follow "Anacortes-San Juan Ferry" signs. Drive through Anacortes and turn left at light at Safeway. Continue on this road until you come to the Washington State Ferry terminal. Park your car at the terminal and walk-on as a foot passenger or drive-on with your car. You will be kayaking Washington State so you will not need a passport. If you plan to drive on the ferry you should arrive at the ferry terminal 90 minutes to 3 hours in advance depending on the day.

(Total Drive Time from Bellingham: 1 hour. Total Drive Time from Vancouver, B.C.: 2 hours plus border crossing time of 30 min.- 1 hour).
 

Shuttling to Friday Harbor...

...from Seattle to the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Anacortes..

Gray Line - (800) 426-7532 ...bus service from downtown Seattle to Anacortes. Then you take the Washington State Ferry to San Juan Island where you will find your kayaking Washington tour.

...from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Anacortes...

Airporter Shuttle - (800) 448-8443 ...scheduled shuttle service from the Seattle airport to Anacortes.

Bellair Shuttle - (800) 235-5247 ...chartered shuttle service from the airport to Anacortes.

Via the land to Sidney, B.C....

Gray Line - (800) 426-7532 ...bus service from downtown Victoria, B.C.

Boating to Friday Harbor...

...from Anacortes...

Washington State Ferries - (800) 84-FERRY or (206)464-6400 ...the main access for foot-passengers, bicycles, cars, boats, motor homes.  This is the most common way to get to your San Juan Island sea kayaking adventure.

...from downtown Seattle...

Victoria Clipper (San Juan Explorer) - (800) 888-2535 ...foot-passenger only ferry.

...from Bellingham...

San Juan Island Shuttle Express - (360) 671-1137 ...seasonal foot-passenger only ferry.

...from Everett...

Mosquito Fleet - (206) 787-6400 ...seasonal foot-passenger only ferry.

...from Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula...

Puget Sound Express - (360) 385-5288 ...seasonal foot-passenger only ferry.

...from Sidney, B.C., which is about 30 minutes from Victoria, B.C. on Vancouver Island...

Washington State Ferries - (800) 84-FERRY or (206)464-6400 ...the main access for foot-passengers, bicycles, cars, boats, motor homes...

...from Victoria, B.C....

Victoria Clipper (San Juan Explorer) - (800) 888-2535 or (206) 448-5000 or (250) 382-8100 ...foot-passenger only ferry.