Getting to the Shells

WHERE ARE THE SHELLS?

The Clamshell and The Mussel are located in Washington state. It’s in the town of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Friday Harbor is NOT an island. Again, it is a town on San Juan Island.

San Juan Island is one of several islands in the San Juan Islands chain. It can be confusing because “San Juan” is the name of an island, it represents all the islands in the chain, and it is also the name of the county. You might hear “San Juan Island” (meaning the actual island), “San Juan Islands” (meaning all the islands), and “San Juan County” (meaning the county which includes all the islands in the chain).

If you’re new to the San Juan Islands, the large islands include Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, and Shaw. There are several small islands surrounding these large islands, but the ones listed have ferry access using the Washington State Ferries system. The other islands are only accessible by charter or private boat or plane (land and sea).

HOW CAN I GET THERE?

The state ferry system in Washington is large, and the boats are large. Most ferries can hold about 90+ cars. As mentioned, you can get to San Juan Island by using the Washington State Ferries. You can walk on, bike on, or drive a car on. We’ll break that information down for you below.

Don’t feel intimidated to use the ferry!

It’s an easy system. The only major word of caution is that the ferry waits for no person. It’s a sad, hard lesson people learn. Check the WSF schedule and plan ahead. The ferry schedules do change between seasons, so make sure you go to WSF and check the most current schedule.

Washington State Ferries - https://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/

The route you want to select is “Anacortes/ San Juans”. You want a ferry that goes to Friday Harbor. If you are driving on, you must have a reservation each way. Walk on passengers do not need a reservation.

WALKING ON

Parking a car in Anacortes

At the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, there is long-term parking. You can park your car in one of the paid lots, walk on the ferry, and explore Friday Harbor without the hassle of driving on.

Parking at the ferry terminal is $8 for 24 hours during the off season. Prices change for the busy summer months, so make sure you check the rates before you park. There are ticket machines in each lot, and you can extend your time using a phone. There are several lots for parking including a lower lot right by the ticket office (usually fills first), a middle lot, and an upper lot. We have never had an issue finding a spot, but during summer months, you might have to park in the upper lot, which means you need to factor in walking time from the different lots to the ferry terminal.

Do I need a car in order to experience San Juan Island?

Here’s our opinion…

If you are only staying in and around Friday Harbor, you do NOT need a car. If you are walking on the ferry, you can walk to The Clamshell, to the town, and most excursion companies are picking you up in town. If you’re only in Friday Harbor for a few days, don’t bring your car. Also, there are lots of motorized and non-motorized transportation options. We always promote supporting local businesses, so plan on using on-island companies. There is also an island trolley and island bus system.

If you want to explore the entire San Juan Island and even other islands, you will need a car. San Juan is a big island, and you’ll need something to get you around, especially if you are here for more than a few days.

Walking On

Once you have parked your car and paid for parking, you can go into the ferry terminal and buy your ticket. Once you have your ticket, you wait until they make an announcement that you can load the ferry. In Anacortes, you walk on using their overhead bridge. At the top of the walk on bridge, there will be a ferry worker who will scan your ticket. When you arrive inFriday Harbor, you exit the boat by going down to the front of the boat (where the cars are parked), and you will walk off before the cars are unloaded.

When you’re ready to leave Friday Harbor, you go to the ferry terminal (make sure you are getting on the right boat) and wait to be instructed by the ferry worker to walk on. You do NOT need your ticket. You paid for your full fare in Anacortes. You will walk on at the front of the boat (like how you exited when you arrive in Friday Harbor) and walk upstairs. When you arrive in Anacortes, you’ll stay upstairs and exit from the top of the boat using the bridge.

Don’t be afraid to ask a ferry worker (or someone who looks like they know what they doing) for help! Both ferry workers and islanders are happy to help, and who knows you might make a friend!

BIKING ON

If you’re into road biking, you can walk your bike on the ferry and bike the island. Similar ferry process as walking on expect you will load the ferry a different way because of your bike. Bikes are kept on the lower deck (where cars are parked), and you don’t have to stay with your bike. Just ask the ferry worker how to walk your bike on. Also, there is a charge for your bike on this ferry.

If you plan to bring your bike, let us know ahead of time. We can arrange where to lock your bike up while at The Clamshell.

DRIVING ON

Driving on is not complicated, and you can drive on a car, van, truck, motorcycle, RV, etc. For this ferry route, you must have a reservation each way. If you don’t have a reservation, you most likely will not get on the boat, especially during the summer season. You can make your reservation online through the Washington State Ferries. As stated above, the ferry route you want to select is Anacortes/ San Juans. You want to select a route leaving Anacortes arriving in Friday Harbor, and a return route leaving Friday Harbor arriving in Anacortes. It’s fine if you select a route that stops at other islands. Just make sure you carefully look at the schedule and select an arrival route that does go all the way to Friday Harbor and a return route that does go all the way to Anacortes.

When you get to the Anacortes ferry terminal, follow the signs on the side of the road and painted on the ground. You’ll go to the ticket booth to check in with your reservation. Once you’ve check in, the ferry worker will tell you which lane to get in. You get into your lane and wait until the ferry workers load the boat. Once they are ready to load the boat, you just follow the other cars, and most importantly, listen to the ferry workers! Once you are parked on the ferry, you can get out of your car and go upstairs. Just be sure to get back in your car to unload before the boat stops.

When you’re ready to leave Friday Harbor, the ferry lines are a little different than Anacortes because it’s smaller. Remember your return ticket is already paid, and you should have a reservation holding your spot. You just get into line on Front Street, a ferry worker will check your reservation, and you wait to be loaded. Again, listen to the ferry worker’s instructions when loading. Same process as above. After you’re parked on the ferry, you can go upstairs. Just be back to your car before it’s time to unload.

Tip - If you lock your car while on the ferry, you need to turn your car alarm or motion sensor off. (If your car doesn’t have this, you’re fine.) The motion of the ferry will cause your alarm/ motion sensor to go off, and the ferry will announce that you need to turn your alarm off. Car alarms are loud when parked in the belly of the ferry, and if it keeps happening, you’ll most likely make the ferry workers, locals, and other passengers SUPER annoyed. If you don’t know how to turn the alarm/ motion sensor off, just leave your car unlocked. Cars that typically have this issue are Mini Coopers or any BMW.

PRICING

Pricing for walking on or driving on can be found on the Washington State Ferries website. It is cheaper to walk on. Make sure you get the correct ticket price. There are different prices for youth, adults, and seniors, and the prices vary if you walk on, walk on with a bike, or drive on. If you drive on, you have to pay for your car (and that includes the driver), and then you pay for additional passengers. Depending on your car size, you pay accordingly. Again, pricing is provided on the Washington State Ferries website. Typically, a walk on adult ticket is $15, and this is the total cost to/ from Friday Harbor. If you walk on, you do NOT need to have your ticket when leaving Friday Harbor. You only need it to get on the boat in Anacortes.

Also, don’t be too shocked by the ticket prices. Tickets from Anacortes/ San Juans have a single cost. This means that you do not pay a fare each way. Passenger and vehicle/driver fares are collected at Anacortes, while no fares are collected at Friday Harbor. You can go between islands with your fare! Just make sure if you are driving on that you make your reservations.

CAN I GET THERE A DIFFERENT WAY?

Yes! There are other ways to get to the San Juan Islands, but those ways are by boat or plane. You don’t have to use the Washington State Ferries, but it is the easiest and cheapest option. There are charter boats, seaplane and airplane companies , and the Seattle to San Juan Island Ferry (The Clipper) that can take you to San Juan Island.

PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR (WATER)

The Clamshell is within walking distance to the Port of Friday Harbor. Boats of all types and sizes can drop off passengers or moorage here. The Port of Friday Harbor is also where the Friday Harbor Seaplane Dock is located. Again, The Clamshell is within walking distance.

FRIDAY HARBOR AIRPORT (LAND)

If you fly into the Friday Harbor Airport (land airport), it is about a 25 minute walk to The Clamshell. You’ll need to get a taxi or Uber (and yes, there is Uber on the island!) It’s about a 5 minute drive from the Friday Harbor Airport to The Clamshell.