Friday Harbor & Orcas Ferry Terminals (plus Lopez and Shaw): Parking, Bikes, Arrival Rules

WA Ferry Tracker › Friday Harbor and Orcas Ferry Terminals (plus Lopez and Shaw)

This page covers the four island terminals on the Washington State Ferries Anacortes/San Juan Islands route. Friday Harbor and Orcas get the most detail, since they're the two busiest and the only islands where you can reserve a car spot back to the mainland. For crossing times, reservation tiers and fares, use the route guides: Anacortes–Friday Harbor, Anacortes–Orcas, Anacortes–Lopez, Anacortes–Shaw and the inter-island ferry. For the mainland side, see the Anacortes terminal guide.

	Friday Harbor	Orcas	Lopez	Shaw
Address	91 Front Street S., Friday Harbor, WA 98250	8368 Orcas Road, Orcas Island, WA 98280 (Orcas Village)	1 Ferry Road, Lopez Island, WA 98261	12 Blind Bay Rd., Shaw Island, WA 98286
Car reservations to Anacortes	Yes	Yes	No (first come, first served)	No (first come, first served)
Terminal parking	None. Limited short-term street parking	36 spaces plus 16 angle spaces near the upper tollbooth. No parking on summer weekends	Limited, up to 72 hours	Limited, 12-hour limit
Bike racks	Racks near the terminal along Front Street	2 racks, 16 bikes	1 rack, 8 bikes	1 rack, 8 bikes
Waiting room / restrooms	Yes / yes	Yes / yes	Yes / no (no running water, portable toilets only)	Yes / yes
Overhead walkway or elevator	None at any island terminal. Walk-ons board and leave across the car deck

What's the same at every island terminal

You walk on across the car deck. Anacortes has an overhead passenger ramp, but WSDOT says the island terminals don't, so every walk-on boards and leaves on the vehicle deck. Crews tell you when to go. With kids or a stroller, wait for the signal and stay to the side the crew points you to.
Fares are collected westbound. On this route, WSF collects fares when you leave Anacortes for the islands, so you usually aren't charged again going back. Inter-island trips work the same way: WSDOT's island terminal pages say inter-island tickets are needed westbound only (for example, Orcas to Friday Harbor) and eastbound is free. Inter-island tickets aren't tied to a destination and work between any two islands. The route guides explain how fares work. This page doesn't list prices.
Bikes go first. At each island terminal, cyclists skip the car line. WSDOT asks them to arrive 20 minutes before the sailing so they board at the start of loading. A bike that turns up after car loading has started goes on at the end. Walk your bike on and off the boat.
Motorcycles load after bikes. The loading order WSDOT gives is bicycles, motorcycles, vehicles, then late motorcycles if there's room. It recommends motorcyclists arrive 20 minutes ahead. At Friday Harbor and Orcas it adds that sailings to Anacortes can overload when traffic is heavy, so arrive an hour early if you can't miss a particular boat. On the dock, keep to 10 mph or less, and take care when the car deck is wet.
Trucks: anything over 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight or wider than 8'6" needs WSF travel approval before it travels. WSDOT asks for three business days to process the oversize/overweight form. Boats on this route have limited height clearance, so tall vehicles may be loaded out of order.

Reservations and the 30-minute check-in rule (island side)

WSF's reservation page is the authority here, and the rules apply in both directions:

Which islands take reservations back to Anacortes: only Friday Harbor and Orcas. WSDOT says there are no reservations for vehicles going from Shaw or Lopez to Anacortes. Those cars load first come, first served, so the line at Lopez is the only way on.
When to arrive: WSDOT tells San Juan reservation holders to arrive 45–60 minutes before the reserved sailing, Friday Harbor, Orcas, Shaw and Lopez included.
The hard cutoff: you must check in at a tollbooth or with an attendant at least 30 minutes before your reserved sailing. Miss that and you lose the reserved spot and travel standby. WSDOT says the rule exists because loading and unloading at each island is complicated. On busy days you may queue before you even reach the booth, so plan for that.
At the booth: there's no separate reservation line. You join the same line, and after the tollbooth you're sent to the reservation holding lanes. Have the barcode from your confirmation email (printed or on your phone) or your confirmation number.
Changing boats on the day: you can try an earlier or later sailing the same day as standby. Tell the ticket seller so you aren't charged a no-show fee for the one you booked. WSF holds about 10% of space on San Juan sailings for standby and emergencies.
Changes and cancellations: make them before 5 p.m. PT the day before to avoid the no-show fee. You get one free final change after that. No changes are allowed within two hours of the sailing.

If your return is full, our sold-out reservation guide covers the release tiers and when cancellations tend to appear. WA Ferry Tracker alerts can message you on WhatsApp when space opens.

Friday Harbor ferry terminal

The terminal sits on Front Street at the edge of downtown Friday Harbor, the San Juan County seat and the only incorporated town in the islands. WSDOT's only directions are from Roche Harbor: follow Roche Harbor Road into town, and you'll find the terminal on Front Street. Coming from anywhere else on the island, head for downtown and the waterfront. The holding lanes and the terminal entrance are signed.

Parking and drop-off

WSDOT is blunt: there is no parking at the Friday Harbor terminal, only limited short-term street parking. In practice:

Dropping off walk-ons: plan a quick curbside stop or use a short-term street space, then move on. Don't wait in the vehicle lanes unless you're riding.
Leaving a car for a day trip to the mainland: you'll need to find parking elsewhere in town, so check the posted time limits. Or leave the car on the mainland in the Anacortes lots and walk on.
Picking someone up: check the VesselWatch map for the boat's position before you drive down, so you aren't circling Front Street.

Walk-ons, bikes and motorcycles

Walk-on passengers use the waiting room and board over the car deck. Friday Harbor has no overhead walkway and no elevator. Bikes load through the passenger terminal and skip the vehicle holding lanes. WSDOT notes racks near the terminal along Front Street and asks cyclists to walk on and off. The agent will tell you when you can ride while offloading. Motorcycles stage on the yellow curb lane in front of Cannery Landing. The motorcycle notes on WSDOT's page still mention tickets for international travel to Sidney, B.C., but WSF suspended the Sidney service in 2020. Its reservations page says the route isn't expected back until at least spring 2030.

Inside, and the walk into town

WSDOT lists a waiting room, restrooms and food service at Friday Harbor. The galley hours it posts are for the boats, so don't count on a café in the terminal itself. The big advantage here is that town starts at the dock. Spring Street, the marina and the waterfront restaurants are a short walk. A few blocks inland you'll find the San Juan Historical Museum on Price Street and The Whale Museum, which opened in 1979 as the country's first museum devoted to a species living in the wild. Fairweather Park has a statue of Popeye the harbor seal and Susan Point's Coast Salish-style sculpture Interaction. To get around the island without a car, there are taxis and bike and moped rentals, and San Juan Transit runs island routes. Check current schedules, since service varies by season. WSDOT also lists the Island Airporter, which runs from Sea-Tac Airport to Friday Harbor.

When Friday Harbor boats fill

WSDOT's fall 2026 best-times chart for the Anacortes/San Juan route (vehicle traffic) shows a clear pattern for sailings leaving Friday Harbor. The morning boat that commuters and day-trippers use is "likely full" Monday through Saturday. The mid-afternoon departure fills late in the week: often or likely full Thursday to Sunday. The other morning sailings are sometimes full on weekdays. Midday and evening departures are marked unlikely to fill every day. If you're driving back without a reservation, an evening boat is your best bet. With a reservation, the morning boat is the one where checking in by the 30-minute cutoff matters most. The full method is in our best time to take the ferry guide, and the WSDOT charts give the specific sailings.

Orcas Island ferry terminal

The Orcas terminal is at Orcas Village (also called Orcas Landing) on the island's south shore, at 8368 Orcas Road. Eastsound, the island's main village, is at the head of the bay to the north. Allow roughly 15–25 minutes by car, longer by bike. Moran State Park and Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juans at 2,409 feet, are beyond Eastsound. So if you walk on, arrange your ride before you arrive. A summer shuttle van has run from the landing to Eastsound in past seasons, so check whether it's operating on your dates.

Parking, drop-off and the two booths

Parking: WSDOT lists 36 spaces plus 16 angle spaces near the upper tollbooth. Parking isn't allowed there on summer weekends, and it's never allowed on the county road leading down to the terminal. On a summer weekend, plan a drop-off instead of a parked car.
Two booths: the terminal has an upper lot tollbooth and a lower ticket booth. WSDOT sends pre-ticketed motorcyclists to the lower booth and motorcyclists without tickets to the upper tollbooth. Drivers should follow the signs and staff directions, and ask at the booth if they aren't sure which lane they need.
Inter-island tickets: going west from Orcas to Friday Harbor needs a ticket. You can buy one at the terminal kiosk or online in advance. Going east to Shaw or Lopez is free.

Bikes and walk-ons

Cyclists can pass the line of cars and go straight to the holding lanes at the lower dock. Arrive 20 minutes before the sailing and walk your bike on and off. There are two racks holding 16 bikes. Walk-ons wait in the terminal and board over the car deck. Orcas has no overhead loading and no elevator. WSDOT lists a waiting room, restrooms and food service. Right at the landing, the historic Orcas Hotel (opened 1904, not affiliated with WSF) runs a café with a patio overlooking the dock, which is a handy place to wait out a long line.

When Orcas boats fill

For sailings leaving Orcas, the fall 2026 chart puts the pressure on the morning and late-morning departures: sometimes or often full on weekdays and Saturdays, and likely full on Sunday late morning. Early-afternoon and evening departures are mostly unlikely to fill, though Sunday afternoons and evenings creep up to "sometimes full." The late-afternoon boat is sometimes full most days. If you're coming back without a reservation, avoid the Sunday late-morning departure.

Orcas closures in early 2027

WSF plans to replace the transfer span machinery (the dock section that raises and lowers to meet the boat) at Anacortes, Lopez and Orcas in early 2027. It has announced a 48-hour Orcas closure on Tuesday–Wednesday, March 9–10, 2027. Ferries keep their schedules but skip Orcas, and Orcas reservations aren't offered those days. Lopez closes for 48 hours on March 16–17. Watch the WSF bulletins for any changes.

Lopez and Shaw in brief

Lopez (1 Ferry Road) is on the island's north tip, about 4 miles from Lopez Village, according to WSDOT. Parking at the dock is limited, with stays of up to 72 hours. There's a waiting room but no restrooms, no running water (portable toilets only) and no food. Motorcyclists skip the staging lanes and go to the lower lot next to the terminal. The bike rack holds 8. Since there are no eastbound reservations, the line decides who gets on. The fall 2026 chart shows weekday sailings leaving Lopez from early morning into early afternoon often or likely full, while evening boats are unlikely to fill. Get there early for a morning boat, or plan for the evening. WSDOT also says there's no kayak launching or beach access at the terminal.

Shaw (12 Blind Bay Rd.) is reached from Shaw Island County Park: turn right onto Squaw Bay Road, then right onto Blind Bay Road and follow it to the end. Parking is limited, with a 12-hour limit. There are separate lanes for Anacortes traffic and inter-island traffic, so ask the ticket seller if you aren't sure which lane you need. The bike rack holds 8. Most Shaw departures are marked unlikely to fill in the fall chart. The exception is one mid-morning boat that's sometimes or often full on weekdays.

Accessibility

No island terminal has an overhead walkway or elevator, and walk-ons use the car deck. Every boat on the route has an elevator between decks. Outages are posted on the WSF alerts page (one boat's elevator was listed as out of service in early November 2026), so check before you go.
If you're in a vehicle and need elevator access or extra room for a lift, tell the ticket seller or attendant at the terminal before boarding. WSF asks drivers who need a particular spot on the car deck to arrive 30 minutes before the sailing. Spots near an elevator are limited and can't be guaranteed.
To request a wheelchair on a specific sailing, call WSF at 206-464-6400, at least 24 hours ahead if you can. Staff can help you on and off but can't give hands-on personal assistance, so bring an attendant if you need one.
Lopez has no restrooms at the terminal. Use the ones on the boat.

Lost and found

Items left on this route, including at the island terminals, go to the Anacortes ferry terminal. They're held for 30 days. Call (206) 515-3439 or email WSFLost_Found@wsdot.wa.gov, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday to Friday. WSF information agents at (206) 464-6400 can also help, daily 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

A simple island-side routine

Know whether your terminal takes reservations eastbound (Friday Harbor and Orcas only).
Check the alerts and VesselWatch before leaving your lodging. Inter-island schedules in particular get adjusted at short notice.
Drive in 45–60 minutes ahead with a reservation, and never later than the 30-minute check-in. Without one, go by the best-times chart.
Bikes: 20 minutes ahead. Walk-ons: be on the dock before loading starts, because you board across the car deck.
Have your confirmation barcode ready, and tell the ticket seller if you're switching sailings.

FAQ

Is there parking at the Friday Harbor ferry terminal?

No. WSDOT says there is no parking at the Friday Harbor terminal, only limited short-term street parking nearby. For drop-offs, stop briefly at the curb. For longer stays, find parking in town and check the posted limits, or leave your car on the mainland and walk on.

Can I park at the Orcas Island ferry terminal?

Sometimes. WSDOT lists 36 spaces plus 16 angle spaces near the upper tollbooth, but parking isn't allowed there on summer weekends, and it's never allowed on the county road leading to the terminal.

Can I reserve a car from Friday Harbor or Orcas back to Anacortes?

Yes. Friday Harbor and Orcas are the island terminals with eastbound reservations. Lopez and Shaw have none, so vehicles there load first come, first served. Reservations are one-way, so book both directions.

How early should I arrive at the Friday Harbor or Orcas terminal?

With a reservation, WSDOT says to arrive 45–60 minutes before the sailing and check in at a tollbooth or with an attendant at least 30 minutes before. Otherwise you lose the spot and travel standby. Bikes and motorcycles should arrive about 20 minutes ahead. Motorcyclists should come an hour early for busy sailings to Anacortes.

Is there an elevator or overhead walkway at the San Juan island terminals?

No. None of the island terminals has overhead loading or an elevator, so walk-ons board and leave across the car deck. Anacortes has an overhead ramp, and the boats on the route have elevators between decks.

Do I need a ticket for the inter-island ferry from Orcas or Friday Harbor?

Going westbound, yes (for example Orcas to Friday Harbor). You can buy one from the terminal kiosk or online in advance. Eastbound inter-island travel is free, and WSDOT says inter-island tickets work between any two islands.

Where is lost and found for the San Juan Islands ferries?

At the Anacortes ferry terminal. Items are held for 30 days. Call (206) 515-3439 or email WSFLost_Found@wsdot.wa.gov, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekdays.

Is the Orcas ferry terminal closing in 2027?

For two days. WSF has announced a 48-hour Orcas closure on March 9–10, 2027 for transfer span work. Boats will skip Orcas, and Orcas reservations won't be available those days. Confirm on the WSF bulletins page.

📤 Share this on WhatsApp

Sources

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 5, 2026.