San Juan Island is, well, an island, and with no bridge. Unless you have your own boat, reaching the island requires travel on the Washington State Ferries or by air.

Washington State Ferries

The ferry to San Juan Island originates in Anacortes. To get to the ferry dock, travel on Interstate 5 to Burlington and take the Highway 20 exit (Exit 230). Go west toward Anacortes for 14 miles on Highway 20 and then Highway 20 Spur. Turn right at the roundabout onto Commercial Ave. heading into downtown Anacortes. Continue on Highway 20 as it turns left onto 12th street. Follow the road 2.5 miles to the Anacortes ferry terminal. The drive is about 35 minutes from Interstate 5 to the Anacortes ferry terminal.

Vehicle space on the ferries is limited and a reservation is strongly recommended for both directions. Vehicle reservations for Friday Harbor Bike Fest are available now. Go to the Washington State Ferries website to obtain a reservation. Reservations are free unless you do not use the reservation or cancel by at least 5:00 PM the day before.

Washington State Ferries sells a third of each boat two months prior, a third two weeks prior, and a third two days prior to each sailing. Friday Harbor Bike Fest will send out reminders to those who purchase tickets or those who register their email addresses with us when reservations will be available.

An alternative is to walk onto the ferry. No reservations are required, and the ferries can accommodate bicycles and gear. The event at San Juan Island Brewing is a short bike ride or walk from the ferry landing.

Vehicle and passenger fares are charged only coming to the island. Return travel is free. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the ticket booth. There is no financial advantage to advance purchase, and advance ticket purchase is not required to make a reservation.

The ferry system will still be on the spring schedule at the time of Friday Harbor Bike Fest. You can view the schedule at the Washington State Ferries website. If you wish to arrive on the day of the event, you have three options:

• We will have a shotgun start of the Bike Event at 10:00 AM, but a flexible start up through 11:00 AM. If you intend to arrive for the shotgun start, and you wish to drive your vehicle onto the ferry, then we suggest the 6:20 AM boat arriving at 7:40 AM. This will also get you to the event in time for Breakfast with the Pirates!
• If you are walking on, you can take the 8:30 AM boat which arrives around 9:40 AM. This is the international boat with the ultimate destination of Sydney, BC, so no vehicle reservations to Friday Harbor are allowed.
• If you wish to start the bike ride a bit later than the shotgun start, you can take the 9:30 AM boat, which arrives at 10:35 AM.

Those staying for the Fest can take the ferry leaving Friday Harbor at 6:25 PM or 7:45 PM.

Parking

Parking is a limited resource in Friday Harbor. However, Friday Harbor Bike Fest provides free parking to participants in Ferry lot C, entrance off Nichols Street, adjacent to San Juan Island Brewing.

Other Information

• Lodging & Accommodations
• Breakfast with The Cutthroat Pirates