WA Ferry Tracker › San Juan Islands Inter-Island Ferry
🔔 Free ferry alerts on WhatsApp| Departs | Any of the four San Juan terminals |
|---|---|
| Arrives | Friday Harbor, Orcas, Shaw and Lopez |
| Crossing time | from about 10–15 minutes (Orcas–Shaw) to about 1½ hours (Friday Harbor to Orcas the long way), depending on stops |
| Reservations | None (first-come, first-served) |
| Operator | Washington State Ferries (WSDOT) |
What the inter-island ferry is
Washington State Ferries runs a separate inter-island service that moves between the four island terminals (Friday Harbor, Orcas, Shaw and Lopez) without going to Anacortes. WSDOT describes the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route as three runs: the mainline Anacortes service, the inter-island service and the international Sidney, B.C. run (which is suspended). Mainline Anacortes boats also stop at several islands, so you can sometimes hop between islands on them too.
On the printed WSF schedule, inter-island sailings appear in the Anacortes/San Juan Islands timetable, and the island tourism bureau notes they're highlighted so you can tell them apart. In VesselWatch there's a separate "San Juan Inter-Island" view showing the boat live.
How long the hops take
It depends entirely on which stops the boat makes. Orcas to Shaw is a very short hop (around 10–15 minutes). Lopez to Friday Harbor is roughly 35–40 minutes on a direct run, and Orcas to Friday Harbor about 50 minutes direct. Friday Harbor to Orcas or Shaw can take an hour and a half when the boat goes the long way via Lopez. Look at the arrival time listed for your stop on the schedule rather than guessing.
No reservations: first-come, first-served
Inter-island travel does not take vehicle reservations; cars load in the order they arrive. On summer weekends the mid-morning boats are the most popular, so arrive well ahead (local guidance suggests about an hour early with a car in peak season) and avoid cutting it close on the last sailings of the day. If you're doing a day trip to another island, plan your return on an earlier boat than the last one so a delay doesn't strand you.
WSF also has a specific policy for disruptions: when it announces an inter-island service problem and routes inter-island vehicles through Anacortes, those vehicles get priority leaving Anacortes and aren't charged a fare, according to San Juan County's ferry FAQ.
Who pays
Fares on the San Juan route are collected in one direction. For inter-island trips, walk-on passengers ride free, and vehicles pay an inter-island fare when traveling westbound (for example Lopez to Orcas or Friday Harbor, or Orcas to Friday Harbor); eastbound hops between islands are free. Children under 19 always ride free on WSF unless they're driving. Check WSF's fare calculator for the current vehicle price.
Car, bike or walk-on?
Since walk-ons ride free and never need a reservation, island hopping on foot or by bike is the easiest way to see two islands in one trip, such as staying in Friday Harbor and spending a day on Orcas or Lopez. Bikes are a classic choice for Lopez and Shaw. With a car, budget time for the lines and remember there's no way to lock in a spot.
Real-time info
The inter-island schedule gets adjusted more often than you'd expect: WSDOT posted an adjusted inter-island schedule as recently as Nov. 4, 2026, with a delayed Friday Harbor departure and a mainline Anacortes boat making an extra Lopez stop to cover. Before you go, check the WSF alerts and VesselWatch, or sign up for WSF's free email/text route alerts.
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 fits in
Because inter-island sailings can't be reserved, WA Ferry Tracker doesn't track them. Where it helps is the legs to and from the mainland: it watches live reservation space for Anacortes ⇄ Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw and sends a free WhatsApp alert when a full sailing opens up, so you can lock in the Anacortes legs of an island-hopping trip and leave the inter-island hops flexible.
FAQ
Can I make a reservation on the San Juan inter-island ferry?
No. Inter-island vehicle travel is first-come, first-served. Only trips to and from Anacortes take reservations.
Is the inter-island ferry free?
Walk-on passengers ride free between islands, and eastbound vehicle hops are free. Vehicles pay an inter-island fare when traveling westbound.
How early should I arrive for the inter-island ferry?
With a car in summer, about an hour early is a safe rule, especially for mid-morning weekend boats. Walk-ons can arrive much closer to departure.
How long is the ferry from Orcas to Friday Harbor?
About 50 minutes on a direct sailing, and longer when the boat stops at Shaw or Lopez. Check the arrival time on the WSF schedule for your sailing.
Does WA Ferry Tracker track inter-island sailings?
No, since they can't be reserved. It tracks the reservable Anacortes ⇄ island sailings and sends WhatsApp alerts 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
- Visit San Juans: Inter-island ferry
- San Juan County ferry FAQ
- WSDOT Terminal Design Manual, Appendix P (route overview, PDF)
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.