Brooke & Joshua

Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands, which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state. Getting there requires some advanced planning but it's a fun part of the adventure! The most important thing is to make your plans as soon as possible as most options require reservations and will completely book up if you wait too long. The first step if you're not from Seattle is to fly to SeaTac airport (located about 30 minutes south of Seattle). After that please check out the options below. Thank you in advance for making the effort, and do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

The most common way to get to the island is by ferry---a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience! Ferries to Orcas depart from a town called Anacortes which is 90 minutes north of Seattle and two hours north of SeaTac airport (without traffic). It's about a 60 minute, very scenic ferry ride---bring your camera! When you dock at Orcas, it's about a 15 minute drive to the village of Eastsound, and about 40 minutes to Doe Bay Resort (wedding venue).

The ferry schedule for summer 2021 has officially been released. There are only a handful of ferries each day so you need to plan ahead. You have two choices for the ferry: drive-on or walk-on.

Ferry website: http://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/ 

Go ahead and book your ferry reservation ASAP!

Drive-On: Driving is a great option because it means you'll have a car when you get to the island, which is convenient for exploring. You can rent cars at SeaTac airport (buddy up to save money and trees!). If you decide to drive, it's crucial that you make a reservation for your car as ferries fill up quickly in summer. Car fares start at $44 (pay at the ferry and only pay one way), the return trip is free. Credit card information is required for making your online reservation, as you will be charged a $10 no-show fee if your reservation is not redeemed. You need to arrive at the ferry terminal ~60 minutes prior to your reservation time. 

Walk-on: You can also choose to ditch the car and walk onto the ferry. If you walk on, you do not need to make a reservation. Walk-on tickets are about $14 and you pay at the ferry. There are several large parking lots close to the ferry terminal. There are also bus and shuttle options from SeaTac to Anacortes. You should get to the ferry at least 30 minutes before your departure time. Once you're on the island, you can consider renting a car (limited availability). Cars are definitely useful for exploring but you may be able to get by without one as there are a few taxi options on the island as well as possibilities for carpooling.

Coming to the San Juan Islands by plane is an unforgettable experience. All around is some of the most stunning scenery found anywhere in the world. But small craft travel is not for everyone. Flights are during the daylight and there is limited room for baggage. Flight time is approximately 60 minutes from Seattle. You can either take a seaplane from South Lake Union in downtown Seattle or a regular prop plane from close to SeaTac airport.
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Seaplane: Kenmore Air seaplane flights depart from South Lake Union in Seattle and fly to three different locations on Orcas. We recommend you fly to Rosario Resort which is the closest to Eastsound (aka downtown Orcas) and Doe Bay (aka our wedding venue). From there you can have a rental car delivered or take a taxi to your accommodation on Orcas. Check here for more info: http://www.kenmoreair.com/. 

Land Plane: A convenient option from SeaTac is Kenmore Air's regular flight service (aka not a sea plane) which departs from Boeing Field (a small airport near SeaTac). Kenmore air offers a shuttle from SeaTac to the Kenmore Air terminal. Flights go to Eastsound airport on Orcas which is less than a mile from the village of Eastsound. Check here for more info: http://www.kenmoreair.com/.  
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Again, once you're on the island, you might consider renting a car (limited availability). Taxis are available but there is no uber or lyft service (I repeat, no uber or lyft!).

The most convenient method of getting around is, you guessed it, by car. The easiest way to have one on the island is to rent one when you arrive at the airport and then take it onto the ferry (if you know other guests coming to the wedding, it may be an option to share a car).  Biking is an option but Orcas is a very hilly island, so it can be fun but also quite challenging. There is also very limited public transportation during the summer months (check http://www.sanjuantransit.com/).

Cabs:
Orcas Island Taxi/Eric 360-376-8294
Orcas Taxi Tours/Keith 360-376-6668
Scenic Shuttle/Terry 360-298-8414

Rental Cars (on the Island):
Orcas Island Rental Cars: 360-376-7433, www.orcasislandshuttle.com/
Orcas Car Rentals: 406-530-7090, https://www.orcascars.com/   
M&W Auto Sales and Rental: 360-379-5266, http://orcasmopeds.sharepoint.com/Pages/RentalCars.aspx.