Ultimate Guide: 2-day San Juan Island Itinerary
The San Juan Islands are a gem of the Pacific Northwest, and we finally had an opportunity to spend two days on San Juan Island. While not hard to reach, it does take a little bit to reach these islands of Washington state, and my San Juan Island itinerary will guide you through everything you need to know for an amazing visit.
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Exploring Washington: Two Days on San Juan Island
What you need to know before you plan your San Juan Island itinerary
Bringing your car? Make a ferry reservation.
Don’t make the mistake we made. I had never taken my car to San Juan Island before and didn’t realize how crowded it would be. (Dumb, considering it was a holiday weekend.)
The Washington ferry system lets you make vehicle reservations, and those comprise 90% of the cars that are allowed on. (Another thing we didn’t know.) Heading out there, we got lucky and made it on. But on the way back, we missed the intended ferry, pushing us back an hour (which then put us on the “all-island ferry” that took an extra hour to return to Anacortes.
So, whenever you decide to go to any of the San Juan Islands (more than 24 hours in advance), make a reservation to guarantee your car a slot on the ferry. If not, you might be waiting and have your entire trip delayed.
Another note, it’s not cheap to bring your car on. Combined with the vehicle and our ferry tickets, it was $96. I understand the cost, but it was a momentary shock to hear the actual amount!
Going on a holiday weekend? Book your lodging early
The main hubs of San Juan Island are Friday Harbor (where the ferry terminal is) and Roche Harbor. There are other one-offs throughout the island, but those two are where you’ll find the most options.
Due to limited options, places can book out fast, especially on weekends and holidays. If you can plan ahead, do so. It’ll save you a lot of planning headaches.
Find more lodging options on Hotels.com and VRBO.
Not a lot of campsites
This is one of the challenging aspects of San Juan Island. There is not much public land, and consequently, not many campgrounds. The best place is San Juan Country Park on the west side of the island. There are limited camp sites, and every time I looked, they were booked out. So, plan in advance if you want to camp.
Then there’s Lakedale Resort, which offers campsites, but these can cost as much as $70 during the summer season. You do have access to a variety of amenities and activities on site. But it’s not exactly cost-effective.
Another option is to book through HipCamp. This is camping on private property, and it is also not inexpensive.
What is the travel time from Seattle and Bellingham?
To reach Anacortes, it’s approximately 90 minutes from Seattle, assuming the traffic is decent. If you plan to arrive at the ferry terminal for an early morning ferry, you should have no traffic issues.
From Bellingham, expect a 50-minute drive.
How many days do you need on San Juan Island?
I personally think two days is just fine for San Juan Island, but if you want to include a third (ex, Friday afternoon through Sunday), you won’t hear any complaints from me. There’s definitely enough to do for a weekend.
After that, unless you enjoy simply sitting and reading or kayaking to new places, you may run out of new things to do.
Book tours for whale watching, kayaking, bioluminescence, wine tasting, and more!
See more San Juan Island Tour Options Here.
Is a day trip worth it?
Yes, a day trip to San Juan Island is totally worth it, and you can see and do a lot. However, I wouldn’t recommend bringing a car unless you have a confirmed vehicle reservation, as it may add too much uncertainty.
Here’s what I recommend doing (without a car):
- Get on an early morning ferry (during the summer, there’s a 6:10 am and a 9 am option)
- Go Whale Watching and see orcas, humpbacks, and grey whales
- Book a half-day kayaking tour
- Walk around Friday Harbor (we enjoyed San Juan Island Brewing, Chepe’s shack, Friday Harbor SKYBAR for wine tasting)
- Rent scooters to go around the island
How long is a nonstop ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor?
You can expect a nonstop ferry ride from Anacortes to Friday Harbor to take 70 minutes. The morning ferries will likely be on time, but as the day progresses, they tend to run a bit behind schedule.
Don’t want to drive? Fly instead!
Looking to maximize your time on San Juan Island? Hop on a flight from Seattle and arrive quickly! The best bets are Friday Harbor Seaplanes and Kenmore Air.
Or, perhaps you’d like to take a flightseeing trip around the area? Jump on a plane in Seattle and soar around the islands.
Restaurants Close Early
As we get into the summer months in Washington, our sunset stretches beyond 9 pm. This allows you to get out and explore much longer than you would in other areas. But another downside is that sometimes you don’t realize you need to eat dinner until it is 8 pm.
On our trip to the San Juan Islands, we realized this was far too late and many places were closed by 7:30 pm (ON A SATURDAY). We ended up eating at the San Juan Brewing Company – along with everyone else on the island who was visiting, as they were the only ones open!
A Weekend and/or Two-Day San Juan Island Itinerary
My main goal is to create a two-day itinerary, but this is also perfect for a weekend itinerary in San Juan Island.
San Juan Island Day 1
We got on the 10:30 ferry and enjoyed a beautiful day of sailing through the San Juan Islands. It was a stunning morning and had views of the North Cascades, Mount Baker, and all the islands on our way west. As it was likely our last time in the region before moving, we soaked in every moment!
It was a great start to our San Juan Island itinerary.
Kayaking
After embarking at Friday Harbor, we headed out to Roche Harbor to go kayaking. From my quick research, this was the best place to rent kayaks and launch off immediately.
Jaimie and I did a two-hour kayak rental, heading west out of the harbor (dodging massive yachts and seaplanes on the way) and making a clockwise route to return. It was a perfect day to be on the water, and I couldn’t have drawn it up any better!
Back on land, we enjoyed a glass of wine on the pier before walking around the area a bit more.
Lakedale Resort
From here, we drove 10 minutes to Lakedale Resort to check in for the night. We had booked a Canvas Tent and were blown away by the resort. It sits on three lakes, offers tons of amenities free to guests (canoe and kayak rentals, games, swimming, firewood, and breakfast if you glamp).
We enjoyed some time on-site, took a walk, and played some games. Then we headed back into town for dinner at the San Juan Brewing Company. It was packed, but we scored a spot at the bar and enjoyed burgers and beers. 10/10. No complaints.
San Juan Island Day 2
On the second day of our San Juan Island itinerary, we took it slow in the morning. We grabbed breakfast in the mess tent (mostly carbs, but it’ll do) and went canoeing for 40 minutes on the north lake.
The lake was calm and glassy, making for a beautiful morning in nature.
Lime Kiln State Park and American Camp
Once we departed, we headed to Lime Kiln State Park. It’s pretty small, but it’s a good time and a must-see place on the island. We took the short path down to the coastline and looked for whales. Lo and behold, we saw one! It was quite a distance away, and I didn’t get any good photos, but if you visit, be sure to bring binoculars.
We also briefly walked over to the lighthouse before heading back to the car and setting off to the San Juan Island Historical Park and American Camp. The goal for the next spot was to see foxes. I knew we were a month late (maybe more, as April seems to be the best time), but I was hopeful.
We did see one right off the road pulling up, and then further out on the prairie. That said, none of my photos were good; it technically wasn’t successful. However, we spotted a couple of bald eagles and enjoyed a three- to four-mile walk in the area, which was lovely.
Friday Harbor
It was around 4 pm when we left American Camp, and because we didn’t have vehicle reservations for the ferry, we wanted to get in line. Unfortunately, everyone else had that same idea. But that’s neither here nor there. Once we parked, we went window shopping, grabbed some birra from Chepes Shack, and grabbed a glass of wine at Skybar.
Eventually, we boarded a ferry and arrived back in Anacortes around 10:00 pm. With another 90 minutes of driving ahead of us, we were tired, but stoked we had such a great weekend in the San Juan Islands!
What are the best things to do on San Juan Island?
No matter how long you’re visiting San Juan Island, make sure you add these to your San Juan Island itinerary.
- Whale Watching
- Kayaking
- Visit the American Camp at San Juan Island Historical Park
- Grab lunch at Roche Harbor
- Check out Lime Kiln State Park
What to pack for a trip to the San Juan Islands
- Rolling Duffel Bag
- Pants/Jeans/Hiking Pants
- Fleece Jacket – Women’s Fleece
- Rain jacket: Men’s & Women’s
- Down Jacket (October-April): Men’s & Women’s
- Toiletries
- Hiking Shoes: Men’s & Women’s
Final Thoughts on Two Days on San Juan Island
The San Juan Islands are ready for adventure, and my favorite is definitely San Juan Island. This itinerary will provide you with everything you need to plan a memorable trip and enjoy two days in nature, away from the hectic life of Seattle and major city life.
Enjoy your stay on the island and remember to do your best to leave no trace as you hike and explore in the area.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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