So… you want to plan a weekend to the San Juan Islands! Whether you are coming from Seattle or from afar, the San Juans are so pretty and relaxing. The perfect getaway from the city, to islands that have the same energy as Stardew Valley.
This post is about a San Juan Islands weekend trip, but obviously you can add or remove a few days if you have the flexibility the rest of the world desires. I would love to rent a house out here for a month in the summer time, since life here feels like microdosing retirement.
For the deep dives: I wrote a full San Juan Islands ferry reservations guide and a San Juan Island bike day trip from Seattle trip report — this post is the “which island + what to do” overview.
San Juan Islands Trip Checklist & Logistics
Checklist (and what I will be discussing in this post)
- select your island
- hotel/campsite
- ferry reservation
- method of transportation
- activities
- food
Heads up!
- summer is peak season, so book hotels and ferries early
- there will likely be availability up until, but it just won’t be the cheapest/nicest spots
- cell service can be a bit spotty (T-Mobile crushes tho)
- fantastic views of the Puget sound + mountain ranges all around
Ferry Reservations & Getting to the San Juan Islands
To get onto the islands, you will need to board one of the lovely Washington State ferries. Keep in mind this can be competitive in the summer time, so follow my San Juan Islands ferry reservations guide to make sure you get a ticket.
- You will need to book a ferry in advance if you’re driving on, but ferry reservation /= ticket
- Walk-ons and bicyclists do not need a vehicle reservation — see my Friday Harbor bike day trip for what bike-on looks like in practice
- Ferries to the San Juan islands depart from Anacortes.
- Anacortes is about a 2 hour drive from Seattle, or about 2 hours from Vancouver, BC (plus border wait — not the same as Vancouver, WA!)
- Add an extra 45 minutes in your schedule though for getting to the ferry ahead of your sailing time + traffic.
- Ferries cost around $69–$86+ for car + driver round trip to Friday Harbor depending on vehicle length and season — check WSDOT fares
Weather & Best Season to Visit
Most people visit the San Juans in the summer time!, Yet, even in June you will find yourself wanting a light jacket or shawl for those early mornings wondering around the islands. It can get pretty windy on the islands, so don’t forgo the jacket just because it is summer. So to clarify, the temperatures while I have been there have usually been in the high 50s to 70s
The San Juans get less rain than Seattle, which is nice on the days where Seattle gets rain and the San Juans get blue skies. This is because, fun fact, they sit in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains.
I wear a variety of layers given the unpredictable nature of the wind. In town, the classic PNW casual Patagonia/North face gorpcore is acceptable for the adventurers, but there are many people wearing classic summer outfits like dresses and shorts at restaurants and bars.
Which island? (or multiple?)
I have done each island as their own weekend trip, instead of combining them. I have a dream of doing a mega awesome biking trip where I bike a different day on each island, which is possible through WSF inter-island sailings (not a separate “island hopper” — check the schedule carefully, especially with a car). Reader, you will be the first to know when I do complete the feat.
The best option for a weekend visitor checking out the islands for the first time, is to just stick with a particular island and enjoy the weekend there. All three islands have a relaxed vibe, with wonderful access to scenic viewpoints of Washington’s glorious mountains and the sparkling Puget Sound. The pace is slower here than the cities, and you will find yourself enjoying slow walks through parks with your coffee. (That’s the point of coming here, is it not?)
I’ve visited Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island. Shaw Island, which can also be visited using a Washington State Ferry, is usually not a main tourist destination, and is much less crowded. You can still visit it, but keep in mind it has less tourist infrastructure (shops and hotels). I will focus on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan island in my review.
Orcas Island
Of the three Orcas Island is the most rugged with forests covering most of the island. It has Moran State Park and Mount Constitution. (if you drive all the way to the top, you can get great views of the sound.) I did a few hikes while I was there, and kayaked… in a lake in a forest in an island in the sound. Orcas has a lot of small art galleries scattered around Eastsound and Olga — great stops as you explore. If you aren’t planning on biking, and are more into hiking, Orcas is lovely.
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is known for its biking, at least in my circles. This is because it is the least hilly, and it has lots of routes where cyclists can stop at scenic viewpoints. Since it is the least busy, it also means the roads are safer due to less traffic. Lopez Village is the main hub on the island, but generally Lopez is very rural so Lopez is best for people looking for a chill relaxing stay away from the city. On Saturdays, they have a farmers market near the center of town, but you can always grab a coffee. Keep in mind that there are significantly less food options here than Orcas or San Juan.
San Juan Island
San Juan Island is the most populous island and Friday Harbor is the county seat for San Juan County. Arriving at San Juan is much different than Orcas and Lopez, since the ferry drops you off in the middle of the downtown area, and it has a lot of restaurants, shops, and cafes for visitors. Generally, if you are an activity based person more than a sit in the woods in your solace person, this island is best, as it has lots of restaurants and people visiting. Friday Harbor is a launching point for whale watching tours, sea kayaking, and general wildlife tours. That being said, Friday Harbor is still very chill compared to any city on the mainland. Friday Harbor feels like Stardew Valley.
On any of the islands, many of the restaurants close earlier than expected for the city folk (me), since it can stay light in the summertime well past 9 pm.
Car, bike, or walk-on?
Emoji guide to transport on the island:
💚 = great fit · 💛 = works with planning · ❤️ = hard without a car/ride
| Island | Car | Bike | Walk-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orcas | 💚 | 💛 | ❤️ |
| Lopez | 💛 | 💚 | 💛 |
| San Juan (Friday Harbor) | 💛 | 💚 | 💚 |
Orcas Island — bring a car
Unless you have legs of steel, for Orcas you definitely need a car to make it up the twist hills (i mean, Mount Constitution is right there). Casual riders could definitely attach their bikes to their car, and enjoy a chill ride for some of their stay. It would be difficult to walk on this island, unless you had a taxi or friend ready to grab you on the other side. That being said, Seattle is home to ferocious and strong bikers, so biking this island is lightwork to them.
Lopez Island — bring a bike
Lopez island is the biking island, due to its relative flatness and less busy-ness. Biking is easy (duh, I’ve done it!), but keep in mind the main campsites may not be right near the town grocery stores or food stops. Similar, I don’t think walking would easy unless you had a friend picking you up.
San Juan Island — walk-on friendly
For San Juan island, it is extremely common to see lots of walk-ons holding their suitcases as they walk up the ferry boardwalk. San Juan’s ferry terminal is in Friday Harbor, which makes it easy to walk to restaurants, the seasonal town trolley, and even calling a taxi to your hotel. Biking and car, obviously, are also possible and would make your stay more flexible.
Where to stay: yurt, camping, or cabin
Orcas Island — yurt
When I visited Orcas Island for the first time two years ago, I stayed in an Airbnb in a Yurt in mid-June. It was incredibly beautiful sunset and we made our own food with the outdoor kitchen. Although hotels and cabins were available, we stayed in a Yurt because, well, we like yurts. It was also nice to have an outdoorsy place during our outdoorsy vacation.
Lopez Island — camping at Odlin
Last year, I camped in Lopez Island at Odlin County Park. After disembarking the 10 pm ferry over to the island, I biked about a mile from the ferry and was able to quickly set up camp to make it to bed around midnight. I had a full bikepacking camping set, so it was easy to mount to my bike, and then unclip the bags. Even though I loved bikepacking, it was convenient to have friends with large cars so they could store groceries, alcohol, and coolers without worrying about the weight of carrying it on my back. The Odlin campgrounds were lovely with vault toilets a short walk away from the campsite. I liked the campground, but since the ferry terminal and Odlin are far away from Lopez Village, it wasn’t easy to quickly grab dinner. Keep in mind, I was on a bike so everything is more dramatic on a bike.
San Juan Island — hotels & no car
On San Juan Island, given the ferry terminal’s proximity to Friday Harbor, it feels a lot more realistic to enjoy the trip completely without a car, without wanting anything. They had a fleet of taxis and a trolley system to take visitors around town, with plenty of hotels and resorts on the island. I have not stayed in a hotel, but I am taking notes for the next time I go.
Things to do on the San Juan Islands
So, what are you going to do on the islands once you get here?
Whale watching, sea kayaking, and wandering around scenic viewpoints are common across all three islands. Keep in mind that whale watching season is May – September, another reason why the summer is the main season in the San Juan islands.
Orcas Island
Like I mentioned earlier, Orcas is much more rugged and adventurous than the quieter Lopez Island or the lively San Juan Island. Below are all the activities you can do here, with Moran State Park and Mount Constitution the most unique.
- art galleries — Eastsound, Olga
- walking around Eastsound — waterfront village
- hike Moran State Park — lakes, trails, waterfall
- Mount Constitution — drive or hike, summit views
- kayaking/paddleboarding in lakes — Cascade, Mountain lakes
- sea kayaking — Salish Sea tours
- winery — Orcas Island Winery
- farm-to-table meals — island restaurants
- thrifting — vintage, local shops
- eat seafood — oysters, shellfish
- tidepooling — check out the tidepools along the beaches!
Lopez Island
Lopez Island is the best for biking since it is relatively flat. I did a 30 mile round, just making my way down random scenic points on the island, but you could easily do many more. I did a bike route that linked many of these scenic view points, and grabbed food as I went along.
- bike — scenic loop roads
- farmers market — Saturdays, seasonal
- beach walks — pebble beaches
- visit scenic points on the island — lookouts, farmland
- farm-to-table meals — island restaurants
- eat seafood — oysters, shellfish
San Juan Island
San Juan Island is my most recent trip, and it was a day trip, not an overnight stay. I biked around the island, visited the Sculpture Park, and looked for whales in Roche Harbor — full write-up in my San Juan Island bike day trip.
- whale watching tour — May–Sept, book ahead
- shopping in Friday Harbor — downtown boutiques
- sea kayaking — harbor tours
- paddleboarding — Friday Harbor
- Roche Harbor Resort — marina village
- American Camp — NPS history, prairie
- English Camp — NPS history, garden
- Lime Kiln Point — shore whale watching
- San Juan Islands Sculpture Park — outdoor art, Roche Harbor
- eat seafood — oysters, chowder
- wineries — San Juan Vineyard
Where to eat
I’ve eaten and recommend the following places:
Orcas Island
- brown bear baking — coffee + bread
- lower tavern — pub, burgers
- olga rising — coffee, breakfast
- olga store co-op cafe — cafe, deli
- buck bay shellfish farm — shellfish, oysters
- lascaux cafe — cafe, lunch
- orcas island winery — wine tasting
Lopez Island
- islander bar and grill — pub grub
- isabel’s espresso — coffee
- el taco bout it — tacos, food truck
- fine mess bakery — bakery, seasonal hours
- vita’s wildly delicious — deli, pizza (confirm open — seasonal)
- Islandale/Southender — store, cafe, bar (south Lopez)
San Juan Island
- Blue Water Bar and Grill — breakfast, pub
- Spring Street Deli — sandwiches, deli
- San Juan Vineyard — wine tasting
More from this trip series
- San Juan Islands ferry reservations guide — booking windows, Anacortes tips, step-by-step screenshots
- San Juan Island bike day trip from Seattle — my Memorial Day Friday Harbor loop (winery, sculpture park, sunset chowder)
Hope this helps you plan out a visit to the San Juan Islands!
