I really enjoy visiting the San Juan Islands. Our favorite thing to do is to take the ferry and…read moreisland hop for a day. The Washington State Ferry is interisland and takes locals and visitors from one island to the next. The ferries run year-round and will take you to each of the four main islands - Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, and Shaw. We drive to Anacortes and start our day on the ferry there. Then we usually go to Orcas or San Juan and grab lunch at Friday Harbor. There are also snacks and drinks available to purchase on the ferry. I love the view of the islands from the ferry window or outside on the deck above. It is a nice relaxing ride. We like to play cards while we island hop. Sometimes you can catch some marine life in the waters. The San Juans are home to a variety of wildlife and one of the best places in the world to witness whales in the wild. I usually keep a paper schedule on me so that I can plan out my ferry route and make sure that I am at the dock for the next ferry out. Sometimes they run a little behind, but usually they are on time.

Comfortable boats, scenic views, decent facilities-- but always late. If you're on any kind of…read moreschedule and are bringing a car, I wouldn't count on getting to your destination within a reasonable time frame. Especially in the peak summer season without a reservation -- and even then, no guarantees.

This was my first time riding the Washington State Ferry, and the Anacortes terminal made the…read moreexperience easy and enjoyable. The terminal itself isn't huge, but it's well-organized and has all the essentials. There are restrooms (note: the entrance is outside), a snack bar with some hot food made to order, grab-and-go snacks, and vending machines for quick bites or drinks. Inside, you'll also find travel brochures, maps, and multiple ticket counters where you can buy ferry tickets or ask questions. I was a walk-on passenger and found the process very straightforward. Parking is nearby--just a short walk from the terminal--and costs $13 for the day. You can either scan the QR code posted on signs or use the pay station machine. Just a tip: if you're walking on, stay in the far left lane when entering the terminal--all other lanes to the right are for vehicles boarding the ferry. Overall, everything was clearly marked and staff were helpful. It was a smooth first-time experience, and I'd definitely ride again!

This is not my favorite ferry terminal. I was SHOOK that 2 people and a trailer was $350. When I…read moremade the reservation (which you have to do months and months in advance...) it had NO pricing. We would not have brought a trailer if we had known. We have taken it on other ferries and it is more expensive, but $350 is insane. You have to get there 30-60 min early, but there isn't much to do here. The snack shop just has unhealthy fried food and packaged snacks. I am gluten free and vegetarian and a $6 water bottle was my only option. Luckily I had low hopes going in and brought some snacks of my own. The bathroom was pretty rough to. It is next to a lovely beach down kind of a steep hill. Good for the 'gram, bad for the wallet.

Busy ferry terminal & marina. Cars & boats are coming & going. Clean bathrooms, maps & boat…read moreschedules are posted here.

Rather than make this a referendum on the entire ferry system in Washington (short version: more…read moreexpensive than you think, pretty inconvenient, sometimes unreliable, and the only game in town), it's more going to be a few words about the terminal here on San Juan Island. This was my first trip to SJI, despite having been in the islands a few times before. I finally made it to Friday Harbor and it was a lovely town. The terminal, however, is quite modest and not anything to write home about. What is great, however, is that it's located in the heart of town. Unlike other islands where you get off and have to drive elsewhere (looking at you, Orcas) this is totally walkable if you want to leave your car and just go into Friday Harbor to walk around for the day. I came in vehicle, so I drove off the boat and into town, and chose to drive the entire perimeter of the island, which is also a totally great way to do SJI. On the flipside, that location is also great on the way out. You should plan on arriving an hour or so before your departure. The lanes to load are on a steep hill, so be sure you have a good parking brake. You can get out of your car and then walk over to get ice cream, or look for souvenirs, or whatever you please, just do keep an eye out for the ferry. Unfortunately, loading lanes enter straight from the road so look for the person in the orange vest to get your lane assignment. This part is a bit chaotic, and our return trip was backed up behind a very late ferry so we had to park in town, then repark in the loading lane.

It's a ferry terminal right on the water. With a large grassy area with picnic tables. You can even…read morewalk down to the waterfront and soak in the beautiful view before heading out. Any interaction I've had with any ferry workers has been nothing but outstanding. Thank WA for having such an amazing ferry service so everyone can enjoy the islands. Be kind and be safe. SYOY!

Make sure to book both ways for your trip. The wait on Orcas to get back is ridiculous. The u…read morereliable ferry is always full and has a schedule that doesn't work, with long gaps and only 15 car spaces for people who don't book ahead.

We went online to get instructions. Our first stop was to open up the Saturday Market in Anacortes…read moreon Saturday that opened at 9AM. The people were super friendly to us and our dog. At the ferry, the person who scanned our digital ticket was super nice. We went over, drove around, check out the labyryth, and went to the store, more friendly people. When we took the ferry the friendly blond lady remembered us. I do not think there is a bathroom on the ferry, but fortunately, there is one at the store. There is a small area to sit on benches inside I think. I wanted to take a photo but didn't think the people would necessarily want me to photograph them. I love the ferries in Washington. They each have their own personality and this one is fun too. I wish I had researched what to do on Guemis Island better.

Great service to a local PNW Island Paradise for exploration and fun day trip out of dodge!…read more One of my wife's favorite places to explore and learn about the history and mystery of living alone, on a private island with very distant neighbors. We stayed at an amazing resort that was comfortable, cozy, with lots of interesting homes and beach front to explore. SFTS "Short funny true story." After we arrived and checked in I decided to take a short nap on the couch when I was suddenly awakened by a lady asking me..."what I was doing in her cabin?" What she didn't realize. was, she mistakenly thought she was in her cabin, right next to ours, and we had a laugh, and fireside chat later that evening. You know...you meet the most interesting people on the beach...and learn so much about the locals...what a fun anniversary getaway for anyone who likes to explore and have some quiet time/beach time, nap time!

Washington State Ferries (WSF), Kennewick vessel, Friday, August, 16, 2024, 9:30 am. We were on a…read moreroad trip in a Class B RV (which is van-sized), and needed to travel from Port Townsend, WA to Coupeville, WA. In investigating our options on a mapping app, we found that we had two options -- to drive about 215 miles (4 hours, 45 minutes, plus toll) OR take a ferry (about 8 miles, 45 minutes plus wait time). With some apprehension about how it would work with our oversized and tall vehicle, we decided to take the ferry. We made a reservation online about two weeks before our planned trip, and many of the time slots for our preferred travel date were already taken but we were still able to get a slot at 9:30 am. The reservation "no show" fee was $10, charged only if the reservation is not used. We were pleased to find that there was a category to identify our vehicle as being "under 22' in length, and 7'6" to 13' tall." (There are also options to ride standby when vessel space is available). Washington State Ferries has loading down to a science. On our travel day, we were warmly greeted by the attendant at the entrance tollbooth. One senior (my husband) with vehicle under 22' was $15.30, while I was counted as an adult passenger for $4.10, for a total of $19.40 for two people and the RV. After paying, we were directed by staff to park in a specific lane (with other RVs) and allowed to disembark from our vehicle to grab a coffee or use the restrooms. The process of loading the ferry was highly organized. Every inch of space seemed to be used -- without unused space but also without there being vehicles that didn't fit. We were most impressed in seeing how easily an 18-wheeler semi also fit! After all of the vehicles were parked, the ferry left the dock and many passengers left their vehicles to move upstairs for the water views or to grab a snack. Disembarking in Coupeville was equally efficient. Overall, we had a great experience -- smooth sailing, efficient operations -- but also recognize that service disruptions may occur due to adverse weather conditions or emergency repairs. On this particular day, we were fortunate to have saved hundreds of miles and hours of driving, and nice smooth sailing. One small quibble. We found the WSF's website to be confusing for newcomers to ferry operations. .

Not a fan of this one. When your service is so volatile that high winds can cancel most, if not all…read moreof the ferries in a single day, just build a bridge. Also, the guy standing on the curb near the entrance, who informed us of the cancellations, told us that there were no reservations available for any other crossings, even later in the evening. This proved to be completely false, as we booked a reservation five minutes afterward, and by mid afternoon, the winds had subsided enough that we were able to board and cross without any issue. Government incompetence at its finest!

I've taken this ferry from Victoria to Vancouver a handful of times over the years. This was the…read morefirst time I had reservations. Because of an accident, I had to change my reservation to a day earlier. We needed to get off the island ASAP and get back to the states in case my wife needed to see a doctor or be hospitalized. Customer service was good to work with. They listened to my story and helped me change my reservation a couple of times. No waiving of fees, not that I was hoping for fee waiver. They did their job and was able to make reservations on the ferry that my wife wanted. Car boarding instructions was a little unclear. I wanted to keep my wife in the car as we made our crossing. I was told that we were supposed to go up to the seating area. Later on I found out that she could've stayed in the car. It was a nice ferry ride from Victoria to Vancouver. It was very smooth compared to the Port Angeles to Victoria ferry ride where it was a little rough. Also, the BC Ferry to/from Victoria and Vancouver is scheduled for almost every hour. BC Ferries is like a well oiled machine. I most likely will take it again to make up for what our medical emergency made us miss.

The Swartz Bay terminal is really well organized and labeled. I have used both the vehicle side and…read morethe walk-in side many many times. For walk-on, the waiting area is very close to the entrance to the terminal and so you can arrive quite late and still make it on to the ferry. There is a free luggage check-in service from Swartz Bay to Tsawassen that I use all the time. Just weigh the bag, attach a heavy tag if necessary and slide it down the baggage slide! I love it as I don't have to carry luggage onto the ferry. Luggage arriving from Vancouver get put on the carousel outside - it can sometimes take awhile to arrive. From the vehicle side, it's very easy to get on with a ferry reservation. If arriving early enough, there is very little lines to get in and service is very fast. There is a small cafe once in the waiting area to use the washroom and grab snacks. The terminal staff are all very nice and informative. Everything is well labeled so visitors won't get lost. It is also pretty clean considering how many people travel through each day. On holidays and weekends, it can be crowded. There are two bus lines that go to downtown which are very slow and get crowded quickly. Sometimes it won't even be able to fit everyone and people have to wait at least an hour for the next one. There are taxis that typically wait outside the terminal, but there are usually very few so be sure to get outside quickly.

This ferry provides the means of getting from the mainland from I-5/Ferndale, traversing across the…read moreLummi Tribal land, to reach Lummi Island. I have used this critical link preC19 in October 2018, June 2019, and during the pandemic October 2020, and hopefully again in June 2021. I have wandered the island, loved the beauty and tranquility, and especially enjoyed visiting Sunset Beach and The Willows Inn. Ferry crew are efficient, professional, and have safety in mind. I have travelled across in sunny/calm, foggy, and stormy conditions. Google and check their site for the current conditions, schedule, and fare information. PreC19 it was cash only, during the pandemic masks required and debit/credit cards allowed.

It's a really quick several minute trip between the mainland (Gooseberry Point in Bellingham) and…read moreLummi Island. The service is pretty frequent: 2~3 times an hour on weekdays and once an hour on the weekend. Here's a link to the official schedule page: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/562/Ferry-Schedule. I think it's very inexpensive. We took our car (a small SUV). It was only $20 round trip ($13 for the vehicle and the driver and $7 for the additional passenger). Here's a link to the official fare page: http://wa-whatcomcounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/12671 Things to know: -There's no public transportation on Lummi Island; you either take your car on the ferry or hitchhike there (which does not seem uncommon there) -It's a very small ferry. Cars will be very close to each other on the ferry; they are so close that you cannot open the door to get out of your car. -You pay for roundtrip when you go to Lummi Island; it's "free" to go back to Gooseberry Point. -You pay on the ferry. They accept credit cards. Other than the (almost) uncomfortably tight situation on the ferry, I'm very happy with this ferry service to Lummi Island. ****************************** If you found something useful in my review, please hit "useful" so that I can improve my reviews. If you love food and traveling, follow me, or better yet, let's become friends on Yelp! Thank you and happy Yelping!