Orcas Village Voyage Tips and guide

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Orcas Village (sometimes just called Orcas) is on the southern tip of Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. It is the first landing site for many tourists visiting the San Juan Islands via the Washington State Ferries and where many travelers spend time waiting for the ferry.

Washington State Ferries operates the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route:

• 48.59791-122.94411 Orcas Island Terminal, 8368 Orcas Rd, ☏ +1 206-464-6400, toll-free: +1-888-808-7977. The island's sole ferry terminal. 

The ferry also makes stops at:

• Anacortes Terminal on the mainland, about 1½ hours north of Seattle. This is the only easy way to take a car to the islands. Anacortes Terminal is connected by public bus to Mount Vernon and the rest of mainland, and by private shuttle directly to Seattle and SeaTac Airport.
• Lopez Island, at its northern tip, about 4 mi (6.4 km) from Lopez Village
• Shaw Island, near its northeast corner
• San Juan Island, at Friday Harbor

The ferry schedule is complicated. There's a sailing about once an hour in the summer, a little less often in the winter. One vessel makes several interisland loops, while the other vessels run from Anacortes to one or more islands and back.

Reservations are recommended for the San Juan Islands ferry, especially for summer weekends, when the wait for loading cars can be notoriously long. It is not unusual to wait in line for many hours, and missing the last ferry can mean a desperate search for accommodations to spend an unplanned night on the islands.

Walk-on passengers should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to sailing. Vehicle traffic should arrive at least 60 minutes prior to sailing, or 90 minutes during peak afternoon and weekend sailing.

• Kenmore Air, toll-free: +1-866-435-9524, fax: +1 425-485-4774, [email protected]. Kenmore Air seaplanes make several flights daily from downtown Seattle's Lake Union to seven locations in the San Juan Islands. Kenmore Air Express also offers daily land plane service between Seattle's Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI ^IATA) and Friday Harbor Airport (FRD ^IATA). Complimentary shuttle transfers are available to/from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA ^IATA) for passengers on either Kenmore Air service. A quick and spectacular, though not cheap, way to arrive. $75-139. 
• Northwest Seaplanes, 860 W. Perimeter Road – Renton, toll-free: +1-800-690-0086. provides scheduled and charter seaplane flights to destinations from South Lake Washington, in the heart of Seattle to the San Juan Islands, Vancouver Island, and British Columbia’s Inside Passage. They operate 4 planes each offering six seats. 

• Bay Head Marina, 372 Killebrew Lake Rd, toll-free: +1-855-948-6413 ext 1. Located a short walk away from the Orcas Ferry Terminal and has a boat ramp and ample parking. Facilitates boats up to 60 feet. 

• M & W Car Rentals (Orcas Ferry Landing), ☏ +1 360-376-5157. May 15 - Oct 15 only. This Orcas Island branch of a Friday Harbor-based business usually has just one size of car available (though a van may be available on request) and only during peak season. $59.95/day. 

The Village itself has several historic buildings and is worth getting out to explore when waiting for the ferry.

• 48.59786-122.943821 Orcas Village Store, 10 Killebrew Lake Rd (Orcas Landing), ☏ +1 360-376-8860, [email protected]. Daily 6AM - 8PM. Everything that a traveler needs for waiting in long ferry lines or just needing a picnic before exploring the island. Lots of locally sourced products. 

• Orcas Hotel Cafe, 18 Orcas Hill Rd. A wonderful classic restaurant overlooking the water and ferry terminal. Another great place to spend some time while waiting for the ferry. 

• Orcas Hotel Bar, 18 Orcas Hill Rd. 

• 48.59814-122.944791 Orcas Hotel, 18 Orcas Hill Rd, ☏ +1 360-320-6415, [email protected]. Built 1904 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. Offers an amazing view of Harney Channel, Shaw Island and the ferry terminal. 

Wi-Fi is available from the Orcas Hotel.

• Orcas Village is the launching point for Orcas Island, with easy access to Eastsound, the island's population center.
• It connected via ferry to the mainland and other major islands - Lopez Island, San Juan Island, and Shaw Island.