Getting here
Traveling to Orcas can be tricky. There are a number of ways to get to the island, most easily by driving your car on to the ferry. Before you do, we strongly recommend you make a reservation.
Photo by Debra Heffley Jones
Driving and car rentals
Whether you’re driving from Seattle or Vancouver, it’s an easy route to the Anacortes Ferry Landing, where you can park and walk on to the ferry (no reservation necessary) or bring your car (reservation highly recommended). Car rentals are available on the island through Orcas Island Rental Car.
Ferry
From the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, passengers can drive on or walk on and meet a taxi or rental car on the island side. Depending on whether you make one or two stops before Orcas, the ferry ride is 1–1.5 hours long and a great opportunity to decompress as you leave the mainland and city life behind. We strongly advise you to reserve a spot for your vehicle as early as possible on the Anacortes–San Juan Islands route on the Washington State Ferry (WSF) website. And don’t forget to make a reservation for your return trip to Anacortes. Once you arrive at the Orcas Island Ferry Terminal, it’s about a 15-minute drive to the village of Eastsound.
Private planes and seaplanes
From Seattle, Kenmore Air offers scenic seaplane flights from Seattle to Deer Harbor, Rosario Resort, and West Sound or a wheeled plane flight from Boeing Field to Eastsound Airport. If you’re coming from Bellingham and you’d rather spend your time being here than getting here, San Juan Airlines offers daily 15-minute flights from Bellingham and other locations.