The bottom line is: reserve early and comes early for your sailing, and you will have no trouble getting to the islands. If you arrive less than 30 minutes before departure, you lose your reservation and will be put on standby. You must be ticketed and through the toll booth at least 30 minutes before your reserved sailing. You can cancel or modify your reservation up to 5:00 pm the evening before the sailing day. Beginning two months before the season’s schedule begins, the first 30% of reservations are released for the whole season. 90% of open spaces for any sailing are held for reservations, with the remaining 10% kept for first come, first serve drive-ups. Reservations to the San Juans are available in a three-tiered system. It is possible to travel on standby, but understanding and utilizing the reservation system will make your journey much more accessible. ![]() You will need a schedule to plan your trip. There are regular sailings throughout the day. The ferries to the San Juans leave from the Anacortes terminal, a few hour’s drive north of Seattle. The most challenging and baffling part of your trip to the San Juan Islands could be wrapping your mind around how the ferry system works. Fortunately, you can easily spend the week island hopping on one tank. Fuel often runs $1.00 a gallon higher than what you will be used to paying, so tank up before you go. The savvy islander will shop on the mainland for their staples and take advantage of local farms and co-ops for fresh organic produce. Most groceries and goods must be transported by ferry, which limits what is available and generally increases the price. You can travel spontaneously, find guerrilla camps, and have a wonderful time, but you can maximize your options with some advanced planning. ![]() Reservations ensure you have a place on the ferries and a place to stay. There are many camping options, but there are also many campers. During the summer months, there are a lot of visitors exploring the islands, and 99% of them use ferries to get there. The key to a successful and stress-free trip is embracing reservations. ![]() The beauty of the landscape, the clearness of the water, public lands, abundant wildlife, quaint villages, slow pace, inspired craftspeople, and luscious farm stands make this a relaxing and delightful holiday destination. There are four islands served by the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system: Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan, and depending on the tide height, there are between 172 and almost 700 named and unnamed islands. The San Juan archipelago sits amidst the Salish Sea between the Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island, and the Washington mainland.
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