Overview
Friday Harbor is the main city on San Juan Island, the most populous of the San Juan Islands. It is also the county seat of San Juan County. Friday Harbor is quite commercially developed, considering its remoteness, and offers more of a laid-back, country club vibe than one of a fishing community.
6 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Friday Harbor
The Whale Museum
Exhibits include life-sized whale models, articulated skeletons, information on the endangered Southern Resident killer whales' family groups (pods), and current scientific research on local species. Other exhibits featu…
Friday Harbor Laboratories
Friday Harbor houses one of the oldest and most famous marine research institutions, Friday Harbor Laboratories (or Labs, as it better known to locals). Situated inside University of Washington Biological Reserve, you wi…
San Juan Island National Historical Park
The United States and Great Britain once made overlapping claims on the San Juan Islands. In 1859, they nearly went to war over a dead pig. Both established a military presence on the island, which are now preserved by t…
San Juan Islands Museum of Art
American Camp Visitor Center
The main park visitor center has exhibits, park film, a bookstore, and rangers on hand. You can visit the original officer’s quarters, the Redoubt, and the Laundress Quarters, and several hiking trails originate here.
Cattle Point NRCA
Cattle Point and its old lighthouse overlook the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Cattle Pass. On a clear, beautiful day you can feel the wind of the Pacific and see across the strait to the Olympic Peninsula.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 33°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Port Angeles)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- FRD Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor — 1 mi away. Directions
- ESD Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound — 13 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 82 mi away (major hub). Directions
Washington State Ferries operates the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning American Camp Visitor Center, Cattle Point NRCA
- Lunch Roy's Island Buzz Drive-Thru
- Afternoon San Juan Island National Historical Park, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching
- Dinner CoHo
- Evening Haley's Sports Bar & Grill
Day 2
- Morning The Whale Museum, San Juan Islands Museum of Art
- Lunch Vic's Drive In
- Afternoon Friday Harbor Laboratories, Discovery Sea Kayak Tours
- Dinner Spring Street Deli
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By ferry
Washington State Ferries operates the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route:
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 from Lopez Village
- Shaw Island, near its northeast corner
- Orcas Island, at Orcas Village
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.
The Sidney (BC)-Anacortes ferry service, serving Friday Harbor, has been suspended] and will not resume until at least 2030.
By private boat
Friday Harbor is an official U.S. ports-of-entry and can process boaters through customs. The Cardinal Rule is touch land at customs dock before any other stops, fines for not doing so can be up to $5000. Besides a passport for everyone on board, you will need your boat's license number and User Fee Decal number.
Customs enforces USDA guidelines for what foods are acceptable to bring into the country and these guidelines are constantly changing so it is best to check in with them before arriving. Boaters are responsible for knowing the prohibited foods and can be fined for not declaring them.
By seaplane
Place Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air seaplanes make up to seven flights daily from downtown Seattle's Lake Union to Friday Harbor Marina (as well as to Roche Harbor Marina at the northwest corner of San Juan Island. Kenmore Air Express also offers daily land plane service between Seattle's Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI) and Friday Harbor Airport (FRD). Complimentary shuttle transfers are available to/from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for passengers on either Kenmore Air service. A quick and spectacular, though not cheap, way to arrive.
By plane
Go Friday Harbor Airport (FRD)
Friday Harbor has a well-equipped though modest airport. Kenmore Air serves Seattle Boeing Field airport directly (35 minute flight). It is a US Customs Port of Entry, so it can be your first stop from Canada by personal aircraft.
By bus
Place Island Airporter
Island Airport runs one trip each day to/from Sea-Tac Airport to two locations on the San Juan Islands including Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. Ferry boarding is guaranteed and the trip is scheduled to take 3 hr 45 min.
Get around
Everything is within walking distance from the harbor. For those arriving by ferry, there are plenty of places to eat and things to do to spend a day or two.
By bus
Place San Juan Transit
A private bus service that covers almost all points of interest on San Juan Island, and drivers can stop almost anywhere along the route. From Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, there is a departure about every hour between 9AM-6PM in summer, less frequently during the off-season. Some buses meet the ferries and will wait if a ferry is coming in; however check the schedules ahead of time. They also offer chartered services for group travel and guided bus tours for up to 29 people.
See
In town
See The Whale Museum
Exhibits include life-sized whale models, articulated skeletons, information on the endangered Southern Resident killer whales' family groups (pods), and current scientific research on local species. Other exhibits feature pinnipeds, porpoises and other marine mammals of the Salish Sea, wildlife videos, and Northwest Native American culture and artifacts relating to marine mammals.
- The Waterfront — Watch the majestic Washington State Ferries sweeping in and out of Friday Harbor. Produces no waves even at 25 knots speed! Watch the take-off and landing of seaplanes from the south edge of harbor.
Nearby
Friday Harbor makes a great base for exploring the east side of San Juan Island:
See Friday Harbor Laboratories
Friday Harbor houses one of the oldest and most famous marine research institutions, Friday Harbor Laboratories (or Labs, as it better known to locals). Situated inside University of Washington Biological Reserve, you will see island raccoons, tree frogs, banana slugs, Columbian black-tailed deer, Norway rat, White-footed mouse etc.
- The laboratories are located on a 476-acre biological preserve which is open to the public for day-use. Public visitors are asked to check in at the Office before exploring the Preserve and to stay on the well-traveled, wide, fire-access road (the “fire trail”). The shore trail splits from the fire trail and goes along the coastline.
Do
Kayaking
There are several kayaking tour organizers in the town. Typically costs $85 for one day trips up to $150 per day for camping tours.
Do Discovery Sea Kayak Tours
With a location downtown where the ferry drops you off. Discovery Sea Kayaks has been running tours with routes that deliver the opportunity to see one of the three Orca Pods that travel their region. Experienced naturalist guides provide a safe and educational kayak adventure.
Whale watching
The west coast of the island is famous for whale watching. You can get all relevant information in a couple of tourist centers, or take one of the several cruises from Friday Harbor.
Buy
Eat
Eat CoHo
Serves Island-grown Pacific cuisine with an international flair. Coho’s team of talented chefs have created an exciting menu developed around the seasonality of fresh ingredients from the surrounding Islands with menu ideas drawn from the owner’s European heritage and her cookbook, La Cucina Anna Maria: Good Life Recipes from San Juan Island. Each night they showcase simple and artful fare that allows the flavors of the individual ingredients to resonate on the palate.
Eat Vic's Drive In
since 1958! Basic burger joint, good food at good prices.
Eat Roy's Island Buzz Drive-Thru
Roy's milkshakes are particularly popular.
Eat Spring Street Deli
Hot and cold sandwiches and wraps, freshly made to order. Good selection of beer available across the hall at the Spring Street General Market.
Drink
Sleep
Nearby
Shaw Island
Rural area · 5 listings · 4 mi away
Orcas Village
City / town · 10 listings · 6 mi away
Roche Harbor
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
Lopez Island
City / town · 25 listings · 7 mi away
Decatur Island
Rural area · 4 listings · 10 mi away
Waldron Island
Rural area · 1 listings · 11 mi away
Blakely Island
Rural area · 2 listings · 11 mi away
Stuart Island
Rural area · 7 listings · 12 mi away
My experience
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