Overview
Lopez Island is the third largest of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. This relatively flat island features some of the best natural parks and preserves in the San Juan Islands. Its bucolic charm makes it a place to escape the busy world and appreciate nature and community.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 8 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lopez Island
Spencer Spit State Park
The state park features two sand spits that enclose a salt chuck lagoon that provides a migratory stop for waterfowl.
Aleck Bay
Odlin County Park
Watmough Bay
Agate Beach County Park
Otis Perkins County Park
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 — 7 mi away. Directions
- ESD Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound — 16 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 76 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 Aleck Bay, Agate Beach County Park
- Lunch South End Market & Cafe
- Afternoon Watmough Bay
- Dinner The Galley
Day 2
- Morning Odlin County Park, Spencer Spit State Park
- Lunch Vita's Wildly Delicious Cuisine
- Afternoon Otis Perkins County Park
- Dinner Ursa Minor
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.
Understand
Compared to its larger neighbors Orcas Island and San Juan Island, Lopez remains quite undeveloped. This is a conscious decision by local residents, who prefer a rural lifestyle, even if it means forgoing modern conveniences such as phone service, and being underpopulated enough to be considered flyover space by the pilots at Whidbey Island Air Force Base. Many residents rely heavily on local agriculture, as high prices make it cost-prohibitive for many residents to eat imported food out of season.
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.
- Shaw Island, at the northeastern corner, near the island's only services.
- Orcas Island, at Orcas Village.
- 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 strongly recommended for vehicles, 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 with reservations should arrive about 60 minutes prior to sailing. Vehicles without reservations should prepare to wait several hours during peak afternoon and weekend sailing.
By boat
Lopez Island has two marinas with guest moorage, both in Fisherman Bay:
By seaplane
Place Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air seaplanes make several flights daily from downtown Seattle's Lake Union to seven locations in the San Juan Islands including Lopez 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.
Get around
Bring a car on the ferry. While the roads are great for cycling, you won't want to bike the whole way to the South End.
There is an island taxi service but it is not reliable.
See
See Aleck Bay
Do
Locals and tourist enjoy spending their time hiking, biking and kayaking.
The locals are very community oriented. The library, community center, and grange feature events each week from concerts to guest speakers.
Beaches
Buy
Most businesses on the island are in Lopez Village, at the entrance to Fisherman Bay.
Eat
Eat Fine Mess Bakery (formerly Holly B's Bakery)
A great bakery. This favored spot of the island's visitors is open mostly during the summer.
Eat Haven
One the water, fun menu, village location
Eat South End Market & Cafe (Formerly Islandale Store)
in the Islandale building on the South End.
Eat The Galley
Attached to the bar, featuring fried foods and a few healthier entrees.
Eat Ursa Minor
An upscale, farm-to-table dining experience.
Eat Vita's Wildly Delicious Cuisine
A to-go gourmet deli and wine shop inspired by the owners' Francophilic bent.
Drink
- Lopez Islander Resort, The Galley and Haven have dedicated bars.
- Vita's Wildly Delicious is a gourmet deli and wine bar. You can buy wine by the bottle or glass.
- Lopez Village Market has a large selection of beer, wine and liquor but closes early.
Coffee
Eat Isabel's Espresso
A local favorite and a great place to catch the Island Vibe
Eat Lopez Coffee Shop
Family run coffee shop that makes wonderful drinks.
Sleep
Stay MacKaye Harbor Inn
The only B&B on the island and is open during the spring and summer months.
Most lodging on the island requires reservations. Vacation home rentals require that their owners' post a County Vacation Home Permit in their listing to be a legal accommodation.
Go next
- Orcas Island — The largest of the San Juan Islands, littered with harbor villages, artist galleries and old-growth coastal forest.
- San Juan Island — Whales frequent the shores where a farmer once nearly triggered a war.
Nearby
Decatur Island
Rural area · 4 listings · 4 mi away
Blakely Island
Rural area · 2 listings · 7 mi away
Shaw Island
Rural area · 5 listings · 7 mi away
Friday Harbor
City / town · 27 listings · 7 mi away
Orcas Village
City / town · 10 listings · 9 mi away
Anacortes
City / town · 16 listings · 12 mi away
Deception Pass State Park
Park · 41 listings · 12 mi away
Roche Harbor
City / town · 11 listings · 15 mi away
My experience
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