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City guide

San Juan Islands

S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Type Island

Why go

  • Archipelago in the Salish Sea in Washington, US.
  • Served by Waldron Airstrip (WDN).

History

The San Juan Islands are part of an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The San Juan Islands are part of Washington state, and form the core of San Juan County.

Airports

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) 24 mi to the centre
1640 Electra Blvd, Sidney, BC V8L 5V4 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 5 airlines (WestJet, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Pacific Coastal Airline…) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Vancouver, Calgary, San Francisco, Toronto, Edmonton… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Vancouver (45 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 8 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Bellingham International Airport (BLI) 24 mi to the centre
Bellingham, WA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines) · direct flights to 9 destinations incl. Las Vegas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Mesa, Oakland… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Vancouver (43 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 9 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Friday Harbor Airport (FRD) 5.5 mi to the centre
Friday Harbor, WA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Seattle (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Kenmore Air M5 (CNC) · 1 route: Seattle

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Orcas Island Airport (ESD) 10 mi to the centre
Eastsound, WA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Friday Harbor (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Roche Harbor Airport (RCE) 11 mi to the centre
Roche Harbor, WA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 2 destinations incl. DHB, FBS (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 2 direct destinations
  • Kenmore Air M5 (DHP) · 2 routes: DHB, FBS*

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Lopez Island Airport (LPS) 5.5 mi to the centre
Lopez, WA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. WSX (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Kenmore Air M5 (DHP) · 1 route: WSX*

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Shaw Island
Ferry terminal · 1.6 mi from the centre · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Lopez Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.7 mi from the centre · Washington State Department of Transportation
Outdoor
Lopez Island
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Lopez Island Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre
Outdoor
Orcas Island
Ferry terminal · 2.7 mi from the centre · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Friday Harbor
Ferry terminal · 4.7 mi from the centre · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Lopez Island ↔ Shaw Island
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Lopez Island ↔ Friday Harbor
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Friday Harbour (San Juan Island) to Lopez Island via Orcas Island and Shaw Island
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Lopez Island to Friday Harbour (San Juan Island) via Shaw Island and Orcas Island
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Shaw Island ↔ Orcas Island
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Orcas Island ↔ Lopez Island
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Friday Harbor ↔ Shaw Island
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Orcas Island ↔ Friday Harbor
Ferry route · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Waldron Airstrip (WDN); 7 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: ESD has direct flights to 1 destination on 1 airline (incl. Friday Harbor). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Shaw Island, 1.6 mi); routes include Lopez Island ↔ Shaw Island, Lopez Island ↔ Friday Harbor, Friday Harbour (San Juan Island) to Lopez Island via Orcas Island and Shaw Island.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for San Juan Islands. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Ferry · Washington · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Jet card, management · Managed fleet across US bases · Locally based jet card and aircraft management with private terminals in ~20 US cities.
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Membership charter · King Air 350i, Citation, Hawker, Global · US membership and on-demand charter; Delta Air Lines is a major shareholder.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.