We’ve got shuttles running on Friday and Saturday nights to get you all to and from San Juan Island! See below for the shuttle schedules. You’ll be looking for a shuttle called San Juan Island Transit, heading to Saltwater Farm. They’re just about the only shuttle service in town so they should be easy to spot!
Saturn’s Return
This is the only pickup for Saturn’s Return
Friday Harbor
There will be a second loop through Friday Harbor after the first drop off at Saltwater Farm
Return shuttles will begin running at 8 pm with the last pickup from Saltwater Farm around 9 pm.
Bus 1
This is the only pickup for Saturn’s Return
Bus 2
There will be a second loop through Friday Harbor after the first drop off at Saltwater Farm
Return shuttles will begin running at 10 pm with the last pickup from Saltwater Farm around 11:15 pm.
Return shuttles will take guests to JP’s for Ira’s Big Bowling Birthday Bash (our after party), Friday Harbor hotels, and to Saturn’s Return as needed.
Shuttles will be available to take guests from JP’s back to Saltwater Farm and Saturn’s Return starting at 12:30 am and running until 2 am.
Cue the planes, trains, boats, and automobiles!! San Juan Island is located in the northwest corner of Washington State – in fact, you can almost see Canada from our wedding venue. Our goal is for your travel here to be as painless (and fun!!) as possible. We love an adventure – especially when it involves island hopping – and we hope you do too.
Let’s talk about getting to the island. Like booking accommodations, travel to San Juan Island is best reserved in advance (just not quite as far in advance).
If you’re traveling from out of state, you can fly into SeaTac (Seattle/Tacoma) or Paine Field (Everett). SeaTac is the larger of the two airports with the widest array of flight options. Paine Field is much smaller but technically closer to the venue. We may recommend flying through SeaTac to ensure that any travel issues can be mitigated more quickly, but Paine Field may be a good option for folks who are able to fly directly there.
Note: If you are flying into Washington, we suggest arriving by Thursday, August 8 and departing late Sunday, August 11 — or even Monday, August 12. From either airport, it is still a lengthy drive and an hourlong boat ride or a short second flight to get to and from San Juan Island. We’d love for you to avoid travel stress while you’re here for our wedding!
If you are coming in from out of town, you may want a rental car if you are planning to do more than attend wedding activities. We also are hoping to organize shuttles as needed/appropriate – more to come on that.
Once you’re on the ground in Washington, there are a few options to get to San Juan Island.
Perhaps the most scenic way to get to San Juan Island is by airplane. You can take a small plane from SeaTac or Paine Field directly to Friday Harbor Airport (FHR) or you can also take a float plane (!) from a variety of locations in and around Seattle to Friday Harbor.
Our preferred way to get to San Juan Island is via Washington State Ferry, which requires getting to Anacortes, Washington (about 1.5 hours north of Seattle, depending on traffic – via car or shuttle) where you can walk, bike, or drive on to the ferry.
If you are comfortable walking on to the ferry (which means you will need to carry your luggage), you just need to get to Anacortes. We are happy to help organize carpools or there is also a shuttle that picks up at both airports and downtown Seattle. You can also bike on to the ferry (like we did back in 2021). Again, we’re happy to coordinate carpools for luggage or people if you decide to walk or bike. You do not need an advance reservation if you plan to walk on or bike on to the ferry (though you will need to arrive 45 minutes prior to your preferred sailing time to buy a ticket).
If you plan to drive on to the ferry, you will need a reservation. Washington State Ferry reservations become available at 7 am PT in blocks released:
If you are driving onto the ferry, you must arrive 1 hour before your ferry’s scheduled departure. Don’t worry though, we will be in touch via email, text, and on this very website with the when, how, and what to do if you plan to drive.
When can I next book my ferry?
If you’re arriving Thursday, August 8th more reservations are available
If you’re arriving Friday, August 9th more reservations are available
If you’re departing Sunday, August 11th more reservations are available
Which times should I book?
There’s a few options each day. The full schedule is here, but can be confusing to read. You’ll want to make sure you book one that starts in Anacortes and ends in Friday Harbor (and reversed for the return trip). Those options are listed below:
Anacortes to Friday Harbor departure times
Friday Harbor to Anacortes departure times
What does a reservation mean?
A reservation guarantees you a car spot on the selected ferry. You pay $19 for the reservation and pay the rest of the fare when you arrive at the ferry terminal. You only need one reservation per car.
Do I need my license plate information to book?
No, you don’t need this info, so if you have a rental car you absolutely can reserve now.
How much time should I factor in to get to the ferry terminal?
You need to arrive 1 hour in advance of your ferry departure time and the ferry terminal is about a 2 hour drive from the Seattle Airport (however it can take even longer depending on summer traffic). We recommend allowing plenty of extra time. If you’re really early, Anacortes is a cute town to explore. The ferry terminal itself has a nice little beach walk, but there isn’t much else to do there.
Do I have to drive onto the ferry?
No, you can also walk onto the ferry! You can park your car at the Anacortes ferry terminal and walk onto the ferry. You do not need a reservation for a walk-on. If you aren’t able to get a reservation beforehand, walking on is a great option! You will still be able to get around the island for the important events but may have a little less flexibility to explore.
What happens if I miss my reservation?
Remember to arrive one hour in advance!! Each boat has a small amount of drive-up availability. When reservations don’t arrive early enough, they start opening availability to drive-up cars. You can try to get a drive-up spot on a later ferry or you can park your car and walk on, but note the time between some ferry departures.
Can I make a ferry reservation for a different sized car than the one I’m driving?
Unfortunately, no. You need to make a reservation for the size of vehicle you will be driving or they will not honor it and will send you into the standby line.
If you’re staying in Friday Harbor, there is a lot to do that does not require a car. There is a bus on the island as well as moped and bike rentals that can transport you between sights fairly seamlessly. We will also have a shuttle between Friday Harbor and the venue for wedding-related activities.
There is very limited taxi service and no rideshare service. If you are interested in using a taxi, please let us know so that we can help you make a reservation.
However, if you are staying outside of Friday Harbor, it may help to have a set of wheels, such as a car or bike, to get between places. Again, we’re happy to help set up carpools too!