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Anacortes ↔ Friday Harbor
Timing, tickets, parking, bikes, and the details that matter before you board.
See live departures →Photo: Adam W. Ritchey
Photo details: Jewelled water and a clearing sky at Friday Harbor.Original ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Changes: Resized for web.Commuter guide
Questions riders ask before this trip
Friday Harbor is the longest and busiest island run from Anacortes. Keep three things straight and it is a fine trip: a car reservation is not a ticket, reservations are one-way, and the stops on your exact sailing decide when you arrive.
How early should I arrive for the Anacortes–Friday Harbor ferry?
Driving with a reservation, WSF advises reaching Anacortes 45 to 60 minutes before departure. A reservation protects vehicle space only if you meet its check-in rules; arriving after the cutoff can put you back in standby. Leave more room on summer weekends.
Source: Official WSF reservation guidance ↗Is my Friday Harbor vehicle reservation also my ferry ticket?
No. Passenger and vehicle fares are collected westbound at Anacortes, with no fare collected for the return from Friday Harbor. The reservation holds a vehicle spot; the fare is separate. Buy a ticket online or pay at Anacortes.
Source: Official Anacortes–Friday Harbor fares ↗Can I park at Anacortes or Friday Harbor and walk on?
Anacortes has paid parking for walk-on passengers. If you are leaving a car behind, Anacortes is the practical side; don't build a return plan around finding terminal parking in Friday Harbor. Friday Harbor has no WSF terminal lot, only limited short-term street parking nearby.
Source: Official Friday Harbor terminal information ↗Can I bring a bicycle to Friday Harbor?
Yes. No vehicle reservation is needed for a bike. Arrive about 20 minutes early and tell staff your destination because island sailings can make several stops. Anacortes has a 12-bike rack in the passenger terminal; bicycles walk on and off through the Friday Harbor passenger terminal.
Source: Official Anacortes terminal bicycle guidance ↗Do I need vehicle reservations in both directions?
If you are taking a vehicle, reserve Anacortes to Friday Harbor and Friday Harbor to Anacortes separately. Walk-ons and bicycles don't reserve, and a vehicle without a reservation joins limited standby space. WSF reservations are one-way.
Source: Official WSF vehicle reservations ↗How long is the Anacortes–Friday Harbor crossing?
Plan on roughly 70 to 90 minutes, depending on whether the sailing is direct or stops at other islands. The same departure board can contain trips with very different arrival times. Read the specific sailing, not just the route name.
Source: Official Anacortes–Friday Harbor schedule ↗What should I do if vehicle reservations are sold out?
Check again when WSF releases later allotments and as other travelers cancel. If the car is optional, parking at Anacortes and walking on removes the hardest variable. Standby exists, but space is limited and waiting can span several sailings on busy days.
Source: Official WSF reservation release information ↗Could my ferry stop at another island first?
Yes. A ferry going west isn't automatically your ferry. The San Juan Islands schedule mixes direct and multi-stop trips, and loading lanes are organized by destination. Confirm the stops and arrival time for your exact sailing, then follow the destination signs at Anacortes.
Source: Official Anacortes–San Juan Islands route schedule ↗