San Juan Island Ferry Question
 

I want to take the Anacortes Ferry to Friday Harbor. It departs @ 11:55AM. I see that I can buy my ticket online and it is good for 90 days. What time should I actually line up my car to make sure that I am on the ferry. Is it ever totally full. This would be for Friday August 10, if that particular day of the week makes any difference. I need to take my car, as I am doing the Maya Westside charter Whale watch tour on the other side of the island. I suppose I could just walk on and catch a taxi as an option as well.

I just looked the Taxi is $33 roundtrip from Friday Harbor to Maya Charters and back. The car will cost me $45 on the Ferry. So not really much difference. I assume that I would have to pay a fair to park my car at the ferry.

If it was me, I would leave the car at Anacortes, walk onto the ferry, and cab to the whale watching venue...bet you're not the only one heading that way.

Yes, you and a ton of your closest friends will all be in line for a ferry to the San Juans on a Friday in August. Plan on waiting quite a while.

We always park our car in Anacortes, walk on to the ferry, and use the great island bus service: http://www.sanjuantransit.com/

It's only $10 roundtrip!

HTT

Maya Westside Charters. I think his boat only holds like 6 people. So, I don't look for that many to be headed that way. Most of the other trips/boats depart right by the ferry.

How long of a wait? 30 minutes, 2 hours. I have no clue as what to expect.

So, I can just walk on and not have to wait?

I am really confused.

You can't buy a guaranteed spot on the ferry early can you?

It could easily be a couple of hours. We always take our car though. Walking on is different though. So you need to decide what you plan to do. No reservations for most WA ferries, including this route.

<i>> No reservations for most WA ferries, including this route.</i>

I have a reservation with vehicle on the 8:25 ferry from Anacortes to Sidney B.C., Monday August 13. Is that because it's a different route?

Guess I still need to arrive by 7:00 AM, according to the confirmation e-mail they sent me.

All the info you need is on the Washington State Department of Transportation website below. I linked a couple of the above question related areas, below.

Briefly, no you can not make reservations at this time (trial process underway for some routes not Anacortes to San Juans only Anacortes to Sidney Canada and Port Townsend - Coupeville.)

You can buy tickets online in advance but except the 2 routes above, you do NOT have a reservations so it is first come first go.

You need to choose a schedule time that is the least busy and early than you planned to go, (check the Schedules link below and look at the "Busy times" link on the schedule page to the right of the route you wish to go one) and hope in the Summer you get on by going very early. Be sure to have a full tank of gas and be prepared to kill time while waiting by reading a newspaper or a book or etc. You can NOT leave the car for long: thanks to 911 there is seriouis scrutiny now and "abandoned vehicles" are towed.

Spirodog, I checked Anacortes to Friday Harbor for you and 11:55 is one of the most busy times: I'd choose one of the earlier crossings. As a guideline ususally the 2nd or third scheduled crossing in a day is better chance to get on...

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_desk/route-maps/

http://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/Default.aspx

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/wave2go/

https://business.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/reservations/

If I decide to go without the car, is it possible that the "walkons" would all be full too? Sounds like it might be easier to just walk on. I'm seriously contemplating about forgetting it. It sounds super risky.

Walk-ons don't require reservations, and you won't be turned away.