WA Ferry Tracker › Anacortes to Friday Harbor Ferry
🔔 Free ferry alerts on WhatsApp| Departs | Anacortes |
|---|---|
| Arrives | Friday Harbor (San Juan Island) |
| Crossing time | about 70 minutes direct, about 1½ hours with a Lopez stop |
| Reservations | Vehicles, both directions |
| Operator | Washington State Ferries (WSDOT) |
Crossing time and stops
Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is usually the last domestic stop on the Washington State Ferries Anacortes/San Juan Islands route, so the ride length depends on which sailing you pick. A direct boat takes about 70 minutes. Sailings that call at Lopez (and sometimes Shaw or Orcas) take closer to 1½ hours, and a few take longer. The WSF schedule shows the stops for each departure, so check it when you choose a sailing rather than assuming the boat goes straight there.
WSF runs seasonal schedules (fall, winter, spring and summer) and changes them for holidays and vessel problems. In early November 2026 WSDOT reported a smaller boat temporarily filling in for the 144-car Samish, which means fewer car spaces on some sailings until it returns. Check the WSF travel alerts before you leave home.
Vehicle reservations (both directions)
Friday Harbor is one of only two San Juan terminals (with Orcas) where you can reserve a car spot both ways: Anacortes → Friday Harbor and Friday Harbor → Anacortes. Reservations are free to make, one-way, and they are not tickets: you still buy the fare. If you don't show up, WSF charges a no-show fee, so cancel anything you won't use.
WSF releases standard car space in three tiers: about 30% two months before the season starts (10 a.m. Pacific), another 30% two weeks before each sailing (7 a.m.) and the last 30% two days before (7 a.m.). Roughly 10% is held back for stand-by and emergencies. The winter-season release (Dec. 27, 2026 – March 20, 2027) was moved to Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m., according to WSDOT's bulletin. WSF asks reserved vehicles to arrive 45–60 minutes before departure on this route.
Car or walk-on?
Friday Harbor is the easiest island to do without a car. The ferry lands right at the edge of town, and the shops, restaurants and the waterfront are all walkable from the dock. Walk-on passengers and bicycles never need a reservation. If you want to see the west side of the island (the shoreline parks where people watch for orcas, for example), you can look at island transit (often seasonal), taxis, bike rentals or a car rental in town. A useful trick: park at the Anacortes terminal, walk on and rent on the island for just the day you need it. Our Anacortes parking guide has the lot details.
If you do bring a car, remember the vehicle fare is charged one time for the round trip: on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route WSF collects vehicle fares westbound only. Fares depend on vehicle length and height, and a peak season surcharge applies to vehicles from May 1 through Sept. 30. Use WSF's fare calculator for the exact price for your date.
Busy times
The worst lines are on summer and holiday weekends: westbound on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, eastbound back to Anacortes on Sunday afternoon and holiday Mondays. Midday weekday sailings are usually easier. WSDOT publishes a "best times to travel" chart for each season, and the terminal cameras show the holding lanes live. Without a reservation, arriving early helps but doesn't guarantee a spot on a full boat.
Tips
- Book your return sailing when you book the outbound one; Sunday returns are the first to fill.
- From Seattle, Anacortes is roughly a 1½–2 hour drive without traffic; WSDOT suggests at least 2½ hours from Sea-Tac Airport. In November 2026 WSDOT also flagged an SR 536 bridge closure in Mount Vernon; check the WSF alerts for detours.
- If you're heading on to Orcas or Lopez afterwards, see our inter-island ferry guide; those hops are first-come, first-served.
- More detail for drivers: Friday Harbor ferry with a car.
Riding with a toddler or baby
- Kids ride free. WSF says children and youth under 19 travel free when they're not driving, so a family car fare is really just the vehicle-and-driver fare plus any other adults.
- Walk-ons board over the car deck at the islands. At Anacortes you use the overhead passenger ramp, but WSDOT notes that at all the island terminals walk-on passengers load and unload via the car deck. Keep little ones in a carrier or holding hands, and expect to wait for the crew's signal.
- Pack for the line, not just the boat. With a car you may sit in the holding lanes for an hour or more in summer. Snacks, a change of clothes and a charged tablet go a long way. Most San Juan boats have a galley and restrooms once you're aboard.
- Get upstairs early. Once the car is parked you can head up to the passenger deck; window booths fill fast on summer sailings. Note your car-deck stairwell so you can find the car again before arrival.
- Car seats for walk-on trips. If you walk on and plan to use a taxi, shuttle or rental car on the island, bring your own car seat or confirm one is available; a lightweight travel seat or a carrier plus stroller is easier on the ramps than a big stroller.
How WA Ferry Tracker helps
WA Ferry Tracker is a free, independent tool. It shows live WSF vehicle reservation space for Anacortes ⇄ Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, refreshed through the day. If the sailing you want is full, create a scheduler with your date and the sailing times you'd accept. The tracker keeps checking every few minutes (including after cancellations and the two-week and two-day releases) and sends you a WhatsApp message when space opens, so you can book on the official WSF site before someone else does. It doesn't book for you, and it isn't affiliated with WSF.
FAQ
How long is the ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor?
About 70 minutes on a direct sailing. Sailings that stop at Lopez or other islands take about 1½ hours or a little more. The WSF schedule lists the stops for each departure.
Do I need a reservation for the Friday Harbor ferry?
Not as a walk-on or cyclist. With a car, reservations are strongly recommended in both directions, especially on summer and holiday weekends. Stand-by space is limited.
Can I reserve the return trip from Friday Harbor to Anacortes?
Yes. Friday Harbor and Orcas are the two island terminals that take eastbound reservations. Reservations are one-way, so book each direction.
Do I pay the ferry fare both ways?
On the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route, vehicle fares cover the round trip and are collected westbound, leaving Anacortes. Children under 19 ride free.
What if my Friday Harbor sailing is sold out?
Check again right after the two-week and two-day releases at 7 a.m., try other sailings that day, or set a WA Ferry Tracker scheduler to get a WhatsApp alert when space opens.
Sources
- WSDOT ferry schedules
- WSF Vehicle Reservations (release tiers, arrival times, no-show fee)
- WSDOT: Ferry travel alert bulletins
- WSDOT: Ticket information (youth fares, roundtrip San Juan fares, peak surcharge)
- WSDOT: Anacortes terminal (directions, ADA, loading)
- WSDOT: Best times to travel on ferries
Independent guide, not affiliated with Washington State Ferries or WSDOT. Schedules, fares and rules change by season, so confirm on wsdot.wa.gov before you travel. Last updated November 4, 2026.