Overview
Orcas Village (sometimes called Orcas Landing or just Orcas) is on the southern tip of Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. The village is built around the island's only Washington State Ferries dock, making it the primary entrance to the largest of the San Juan Islands, as well as a pleasant place to wait for the outgoing ferry.
3 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
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 — 6 mi away. Directions
- ESD Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound — 8 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 85 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.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
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Photos
Map
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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
- 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.
The Sidney (BC)-Anacortes ferry service has been suspended] and will not resume until at least 2030.
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. 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 boat
Place Bay Head Marina
Located a short walk away from the Orcas Ferry Terminal and has a boat ramp and ample parking. Facilitates boats up to 60 feet.
Get around
The entire village is only two blocks, but it is perched on a steep hillside. The ferry loading zone is along the top, and everything else of interest is downhill towards the waterfront.
See
The village has several historic buildings and a scenic park with views of Shaw Island across the water. It is worth taking a few minutes to explore when waiting for the ferry - you'll hear the PA announcement when you need to return to your vehicle.
Buy
- There's a few gift shops along Orcas Rd.
Eat
Eat Orcas Hotel Cafe
A wonderful classic restaurant overlooking the water and ferry terminal. Another great place to spend some time while waiting for the ferry.
Drink
Sleep
Go next
- 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.
Nearby
Shaw Island
Rural area · 5 listings · 2 mi away
Friday Harbor
City / town · 27 listings · 6 mi away
Blakely Island
Rural area · 2 listings · 7 mi away
Eastsound
City / town · 30 listings · 7 mi away
Waldron Island
Rural area · 1 listings · 7 mi away
Lopez Island
City / town · 25 listings · 9 mi away
Decatur Island
Rural area · 4 listings · 9 mi away
Roche Harbor
City / town · 11 listings · 9 mi away
My experience
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