Community Forums

MrsChilerick · 04-24-2015, 09:40 AM

We're planning to be in Anacortes the first week of July. After doing some preliminary research, I've read that reservations are recommended for the ferry over to the islands. We'd like to spend a day exploring each island and I'm wondering what our chances are of getting on a ferry with our jeep without them are that time of year. Does anyone have any experience visiting the San Juan's in the summer and have any insight into how to best approach the trip? We usually don't plan down to the day, but maybe we have to here?

BFlinn181 · 04-24-2015, 02:52 PM

When we visited Olympic NP, we stayed in a nearby campground as a base. Each day we'd pay attention to the weather reports and plan accordingly. On a rainy day, we went to places in Port Angeles, saving the trip up Hurricane Ridge Rd. when the mountains weren't fogged in and covered with clouds.
I suggest you do the same, base camp and take daily trips from that location. I can't talk about the ferry, I don't know how busy it is and if reservations are the only way to get aboard. Just try to be flexible, especially in the NW.

coupevilleDF · 04-24-2015, 06:17 PM

Previously the only reservations were for the Canadian run. That changed this year so th e really is not much history to go on. I would plan on reservations. You could make them for each island you want to visit then add more if you want to go back. I would make Orcas (possibly 2 days) and San Juan (Friday Harbor) the top two. You might be able to do San Juan and Lopez the same day.

When you do inter island, you might have to back off the ferry.

dnystrom · 04-24-2015, 06:34 PM

We never made reservations. We just parked our car in line and went shopping on San Juan Island. Anacortes was never a problem for us. We lived in Marysville and went to visit friends in Friday Harbor. I would not worry about it. There are no reservations that I know of from Anacortes or any other W.S.F.S. that runs there.

coupevilleDF · 04-24-2015, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnystrom

We never made reservations. We just parked our car in line and went shopping on San Juan Island. Anacortes was never a problem for us. We lived in Marysville and went to visit friends in Friday Harbor. I would not worry about it. There are no reservations that I know of from Anacortes or any other W.S.F.S. that runs there.

The reservations just recently started. As I recall, only about 10% of the spots are open. The island residents are NOT happy. Here is the WSDOT link:
https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferr...e/default.aspx

dnystrom · 04-24-2015, 07:13 PM

Well Raise My Rent! Things are a changing! I like the good o'l day's.

TANDD · 04-24-2015, 08:21 PM

OHH MY! There is a new res system for the San Juan ferries and I believe you will have a slim chance getting a vehicle on a boat the first week of July without a res.. Especially out of Anacortes. The new system crashed te first day it was up last week due to mass requests. Gooood luck!