Everything to Do on a Day Trip to Orcas Island from Seattle

A day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle is definitely possible, but you may want to carve out more time because you’re going to fall in love with this crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest.

If you’re not familiar with it, Orcas Island is part of the famous San Juan Islands, a chain of ~170 islands about an hour off the Washington mainland. While there are a ton of islands dotting the Salish Sea, Orcas Island is one of the three main islands people typically visit alongside Lopez Island and San Juan Island.

What makes this area so special? Well first, it’s one of the best places in the US to go whale watching. It’s not uncommon for San Juan Islands visitors to spot orca whales from the shore, plus it’s breathtaking seeing all the other wildlife like herons, otters, and seals while you’re searching for them.

In addition to wildlife, you’ll find something for just about every interest on Orcas Island. From outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking to artisanal delights like crafts, wine, beer, and food, there is so much to do.

To help you fit it all in, here’s my guide to taking a day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle. I also have more ideas if you’re able to extend your trip, including where to stay and how to navigate the ferry. Get ready for a fun trip exploring one of the best areas of Washington state!

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Day Trip to Orcas Island from Seattle

Get ready for an extremely long day in order to make the most of Orcas Island. Follow this to a tee to explore the best of the island, or leave a bit later and pick and choose activities that interest you.

Note, this itinerary assumes a 5 AM departure is already unbearable for some people. However, if you’re up for an even earlier start, depart around 3:30 AM to make the ~6 AM ferry so you have more time on the island.

5 AM: Depart Seattle for Anacortes

Make the ~1.5 hour drive north of Seattle to Anacortes, the town where you catch the ferry to the San Juan Islands. You may notice that the next step in this itinerary starts at 7:25 AM, which may make you question the 5 AM start time for this day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle.

Well, it’s because you should arrive at the ferry terminal between 45-60 minutes before your ferry departure to ensure you get on the boat. Even with a reservation, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reserves about 10% of spaces for emergency vehicles and those without a reservation. If they arrive before you, they may take your spot on the ferry.

A vehicle reservation is essential if you plan to take your car, particularly in summer. While it’s possible to get one of those 10% unreserved spaces, you’ll need to get to the ferry line about an hour before departure to increase your chances. If there’s no space and you have to wait for the next boat, you’ll be sitting in your car for many hours. No one wants to do that!

Ferry reservation Tips

Walk and bike-on passengers don’t need a reservation to get to the San Juan Islands. They can just show up ~30 minutes before departure without worrying about getting on the boat. However, if you plan to take your car or motorcycle (which I recommend unless you’re a super strong biker or using an e-bike), it’s especially important to keep these tips in mind.

Determining your ferry departure time

Check the ferry schedule to determine which boat you want to take. This itinerary assumes you’ll choose the one that departs Anacortes around 7:25 AM.

Notice that not all ferries stop at all the islands and that some times have little icons next to them. Use the key to make sure you’re choosing a ferry that allows cars, as some of them are walk-on only.

Make your vehicle reservations 2 months in advance

WSDOT releases vehicle spaces at 7 AM PST two months before every departure date. Particularly if you’re planning to travel between June – August, you want to be ready to book as soon as they go live.

Use the ferry vehicle reservation tool to reserve. For this itinerary, choose Anacortes as your departing port and Orcas Island as your arrival one. Note, vehicle reservations are free unless you no show.

If you’re planning to visit multiple islands, start your itinerary at the island farthest west because you only pay for westbound tickets. That means visiting the islands in this order: San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island.

Note, reservations are not accepted between islands. If you’re visiting multiple islands, you just drive on the ferry at your desired departure time. You only need reservations between the islands to Anacortes.

As you make your reservation, you’ll notice that they ask about your car type. Most normal cars are under 22 feet long and under 7’2″ tall, so choose those options.

Don’t forget to make a reservation both ways

Vehicle reservations are one way only, so after you make your reservation for the Anacortes to Orcas Island route, go through the process again to make one from Orcas Island to Anacortes on your desired departure date.

If you can’t get your desired reservation, check again 2 weeks before your trip

WSDOT releases more vehicle spaces 2 weeks before a ferry departure date, and again 2 days before. If you didn’t get the reservation you wanted, check again at 7 AM PST 2 weeks and then 2 days before the date you want to reserve.

Pro tip: You can also change your vehicle reservation at these times. I always recommend booking any vehicle reservation you can get 2 months in advance to make sure you can get on and off the island. Then check 2 weeks or 2 days before to modify it.

Book your tickets separately (even if you’re a walk and bike-on passenger)

Your vehicle reservation is not your ticket. This is really confusing, I know, but ’tis life. So after you make your vehicle reservations both ways, buy your ferry tickets. Make sure to choose the Anacortes-Orcas Island route on the left sidebar before you purchase.

Tickets to the San Juan Islands are roundtrip, so you don’t need to do this step twice like you did when making your vehicle reservation. To buy your ticket, expand the “Single Ride Ticket” option and choose the appropriate driver plus vehicle ticket based on what you’ll be driving. Don’t forget to also add passenger tickets to your order.

You’ll pay a pretty penny to bring your car, but you really do need one to explore the island unless you plan to rent an e-bike. Expect to pay ~$70 for the driver and vehicle (or ~$30 for motorcycles) and ~$7.50 – $15 per passenger. Remember the driver’s ticket is paired with the cost of the vehicle, so you only need to add additional tickets for non-drivers. Kids under 18 ride free.

Print your vehicle reservations and tickets

You’ll want to bring these with you to show the ferry booth attendant at the terminal. Also, note that this booth is what Google considers a “toll”, so don’t panic when you see “toll road” on your Google Map directions. You already paid it when you bought your ticket.

7:25 AM: Take the ferry to Orcas Island

Whew, that was a lot of info about getting onto the ferry. If you’re overwhelmed, I offer travel planning services so feel free to reach out if you’d like help.

Now that you’re on the boat, turn your car off and settle in for the ~1 hour ferry ride to Orcas Island. You can stay in your car if you’d like, or go upstairs to check out the views, do a puzzle, or get a refreshment at the snack bar. There are also free newspapers and reading paraphernalia to help you pass the time.

Note, 7:25 AM is a summer departure time. If you’re traveling another time of year, check the schedule and choose a departure time as close to 7:30 AM as possible. Just make sure you don’t choose a walk-on-passenger-only boat if you plan to drive.

9 AM: Hike Turtleback Mountain

Here’s where your day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle really begins! Drive ~15 minutes from the ferry terminal to the Turtleback Mountain North Trailhead for a moderate hike that’s 5.7 miles round trip and a 1,295 elevation gain. It should take you about 3 hours without any long stops. Note, this itinerary assumes you won’t do the full loop, but that’s an option if you want to extend the hike to about 8 miles.

Once you’re at the top of Turtleback Mountain, you’ll get uninterrupted views of the San Juan Islands and Salish Sea. I remember being more winded than I wanted to be on this hike, but the view made it worth the effort!

12:15 PM: Go beer or wine tasting

There are two great options to get a drink after your hike. If you finished your hike earlier and have time, stop at both in this order!

Orcas Island Winery

Just one minute from the trailhead is Orcas Island Winery. It’s the island’s first winery and they have a gorgeous farmhouse and 16 acres of land perfect for relaxing and picnicking. Their modern tasting room also has a bunch of goodies from small producers, so feel free to grab a snack or souvenir.

Their wines are mostly made using grapes sourced from the Washington mainland, but they have some developing vineyards. If they have any wines on their menu using their local grapes, definitely get them! Keep an eye out for Puget Sound AVA white varietals like Siegerrebe or Madeleine Angevine that are not common in other areas of the world.

Island hoppin’ Brewery

A little under 10 minutes from Turtleback Mountain is Island Hoppin’ Brewery. This feels like a locals-only hangout spot thanks to its off-the-beaten-path location. They source grains and hops from Washington and turn them into tasty beers you can enjoy in a flight on their patio. If you’re feeling peckish, they also have some cheese, salmon, nuts, and pickles to tide you over before lunch.

1:30 PM: Get lunch at Brown Bear Baking (or go to the farmers market first if it’s a Saturday during summer)

About 3 minutes from the brewery (or 10 from the winery) is downtown Eastsound. Here is where you’ll find all the shops and majority or restaurants. Before you explore them, get lunch at Brown Bear Baking.

This is my favorite spot to grab lunch. They make everything in house and have an awesome selection of pastries, cookies, cakes, and sandwiches. I love the turkey ABLT and pastrami sandwiches, so get those if they’re on the menu!

The Orcas Island Farmers Market runs from 10 AM – 2 PM on Saturdays May through September. If you’re visiting at this time, make sure to stop here before lunch to check out the vendors before they pack up.

2 PM: Peruse downtown Eastsound

Orcas Island has the best downtown shopping area of all the San Juan Islands. It’s not very big, so you should be able to explore it in an hour or so. Here are my favorite places to stop.

The Orcas Project

The Orcas Project is one of my favorite stops in downtown Orcas Island. It’s a bottle shop that has a beautifully curated list of wines, including their own house label. They offer tastings in their flower-filled alley, so get a flight to see which of their wines you like best.

Orcas Island Leather Goods

Orcas Island Leather Goods makes beautiful leather goods. You can buy bags, dog collars, belts, jewelry, planters, and just about anything else you can think of. They also offer leather-making kits, which I tried during a partnership with them years ago and absolutely loved. Here’s my finished project if you’re interested in trying this yourself!

Forest Ceramics Gallery

I first discovered Forest Ceramics at one of Seattle holiday markets I attended years ago. They make gorgeous pottery using a cutting technique that reveals colorful layers below.

Clever Cow Creamery

Clever Cow Creamery is a great place to stop for an ice cream break between shop visits. I love their coffee flavor, but they offer samples so get whatever tastes good!

Material Wit

Material Wit curates beautifully home goods perfect for those who like a minimal, Scandinavian aesthetic.

Girl Meets Dirt

Girl Meets Dirt is a touch north of downtown, so it’s a good place to stop on your way out before heading to Moran State Park. They make beautiful jams and shrubs in interesting flavors like Island Plum, Salted Caramel Apple, and Tomato Jam.

Orcas Island Pottery

Orcas Island Pottery is another spot outside of Eastsound that would make a good stop before heading to Moran State Park or after Turtleback Mountain if you were faster than the allotted time in this itinerary. They have a beautiful location right on a bluff with gorgeous water views. You’ll find their pottery dotting their grounds and inside two different cabins, so there’s a lot to explore.

3:30 PM: Explore Moran State Park and Mount Constitution

No trip to the San Juan Islands would be complete without a visit to Moran State Park. Just remember to display your Discover Pass in your vehicle before leaving your car. You can purchase them in the parking lot if you don’t already have one.

One of the most popular destinations in the park is Mount Constitution. At 2,409 feet, it’s the highest point in all of the San Juan Islands. There are a bunch of hikes you can take to reach it, but most people just drive up to the observation tower to take in the gorgeous views.

A local told me that the peak is often overcast in the morning, so visit in the afternoon for your best chances of uninterrupted views. And remember to pack a jacket. It’s very windy up there!

Once you have your fill at Mount Constitution, make your way to other areas of the park to explore the trails and scenic viewpoints. Here’s the park’s brochure and here’s a simpler map of trails.

There are 5,424 acres and 30 miles of trails to explore, not to mention 5 lakes, so there’s a lot to see. My favorite place to stop is Cascade Falls, only a short drive from the Mount Constitution observation tower. You can do the whole 3-mile hike to see multiple falls, but you can also make the short walk to Cascade Falls before turning around and heading back.

Pro tip: Depending how fast you are and how much daylight you have, Obstruction Pass State Park is another lovely park about 20 minutes south of the Mount Constitution peak. Just make sure to factor about 15 minutes to get back to Eastsound.

5:30 PM: Get dinner at Matia Kitchen

Any foodie will tell you the coveted reservation to secure for your day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle is Matia Kitchen. It’s a fine dining restaurant open seasonally with a dark, moody vibe. They serve hyper local food with beautiful, creative presentations. Plus you’ll find a great wine list.

While the menu changes regularly, if the chicken liver mousse is on the menu, get it. I don’t typically like liver, but they handle it beautifully and the preparation I had came with yummy grapes that cut through the irony flavor.

Pro tip: If Matia Kitchen is closed or you can’t get a reservation, check out Houlme or Mijitas instead.

7:30 PM: Get a nightcap at The Barnacle

The Barnacle is the perfect stop to end your day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle. You’ll find a cozy bar and quaint outdoor area a bit off the main shopping strip in downtown Eastsound. They have a creative menu featuring excellently crafted cocktails that spirit enthusiasts will appreciate.

9 PM: Arrive at the ferry terminal

After making the 15-minute drive from The Barnacle, check in at the ferry to wait for your ~10 PM departing boat. Remember, you want to get there between 45-60 minutes before your departure time.

This is the last ferry to the mainland, so in addition to getting there early, make sure to check the real-time map and any announcements about route changes to ensure you don’t miss it.

10:00 PM: Depart Orcas Island

After a jam-packed day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle, relax on the ferry back to Anacortes. If you’re taking the last ferry as this itinerary suggests, the ride will be longer because the boat will stop at every island to pick up passengers trying to make it to the mainland. You likely won’t get back to Seattle until about 1:30 AM, but it’ll be well worth it if you only have one day to explore Orcas Island.

How to get to Orcas Island

Here are the different ways to get to Orcas Island. Washington state ferries are very reliable and frequent, as WSDOT runs the biggest ferry system in the US, but if you’re curious about other modes of transport, read on.

Driving + Ferry

The itinerary above assumes you’ll drive to Anacortes from Seattle and take a car on the ferry. This is my recommended transportation mode, as the islands are quite remote and Uber/Lyft doesn’t exist. While you can try to do local taxis, there are a limited number so you’ll have to factor in wait time for the taxi to get you between each stop.

If you don’t have a vehicle, I encourage you to rent a car at the airport or in your hometown if you’re a Washington local. Rental cars on the island are very expensive unless you do alternative vehicles like scooters or e-bikes.

Walk or Bike-on Ferry

One of the downsides of driving onto the ferry is that you have to coordinate vehicle reservations and an early arrival to make sure you get onto the boat. You don’t need to do that if you don’t plan to bring a car, so if that stuff stresses you out you can walk or bike onto the boat if you’d like. Note, you need to pay extra for a bike.

However, I don’t recommend this mode of transportation. There are a few reasons for this. First, as I mentioned above, the islands are very remote and public or ride share transportation is few and far between. For Orcas Island in particular, the ferry terminal isn’t near the downtown area so you will be stranded waiting for transportation if you don’t have a car.

Biking could be a good option, but you have to be a very strong biker or have an e-bike. The islands are too big for most people to navigate, and Orcas Island is hillier than the more biker-friendly Lopez Island.

Lastly, you’re going to have to figure out how to get to the ferry about 1.5 hours north of Seattle. While you can find public overnight parking if you really don’t want to bring your car on the island, I say if you’re already going through the effort to bring your car there, just go the full distance.

If you don’t have access to a car, bus and train transportation isn’t really an option unless you’re willing to make 3-4 connections. So your best bet is to hire shuttle. Bellair is the most popular option that runs a route between Sea-Tac Airport and Anacortes.

Flying

If you don’t want to navigate the ferry, you can also fly. However, note it’s going to be expensive since commercial airlines don’t fly to the small airports on the islands.

Kenmore Air is the most popular options for flying to Orcas Island from Seattle. You can choose between a land or seaplane. If you want to fly from Anacortes or Bellingham, San Juan Airlines is another option.

Where to stay on Orcas Island

If you’re able to make more than one day of it, here are some of my favorite accommodations.

Outlook Inn

link to book | get directions | price: ~$330 – $450/night | best for: location and water views

Outlook Inn is one of the nicest places to stay on Orcas Island. It’s a short walk from downtown Eastsound’s shops and restaurants, plus it’s perched right on the water so you get epic views. You’ll also find an excellent onsite restaurant that’s excellent for breakfast.

West Beach Resort

link to book | get directions | price: ~$375 – $500/night | best for: families and beach access

West Beach Resort is where my sister and her family stay anytime they go to Orcas Island. It’s a casual resort made up of rustic waterfront cabins overlooking the beach. You’ll find fire pits, hiking trails, picnic tables, a shared hot tub, onsite restaurant, and more so it’s the perfect spot for families looking to stay in one spot for a while.

Timber Lodge Log Home

link to book | Rosario area | price: starts at ~$500/night | best for: log cabin vibes

This cabin has been on my list of places to stay on Orcas Island for a while. It has a stunning lofted log cabin great room, water views, hot tub, and game room with a piano, pool, bar, and hundreds of movies you can enjoy from the theater. There’s also a private path and plenty of nooks for exploring the property.

Where to eat on Orcas Island

Here are all my favorite restaurants on Orcas Island, including the few I recommended in the day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle above. Feel free to swap any of these others in depending on your tastes and schedule!

Matia Kitchen

website | get directions | cuisine: Pacific Northwest | best for: fine dining | open seasonally | reservations accepted

As I mentioned above, I think Matia Kitchen is the best restaurant on Orcas Island thanks to its commitment to local ingredients and ability to transform them into inventive dishes. While there were a few dishes I didn’t love as much as others when I last went, they’re cooking at a caliber you wouldn’t expect on such a small island. So for these reasons I think it’s worth trying to visit.

There are some drawbacks you should be aware of. Mainly, it’s probably the most expensive meal on the island. While I’ve paid more at some of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle, factor this in if you want to keep a budget on your day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle.

Lastly, it can be difficult to get a reservation. If you want to make sure you snag one, sign up for their newsletter a few months in advance to be the first to know when they open up. You’ll also learn about their member only dining options during their off season if you want to explore this for your visit.

Pro tip: A restaurant called Gertie’s is in the old Matia location. Unfortunately the chef’s at Matia Kitchen used to be partnered with the owners of Gertie’s, but they had creative differences and decided to part ways. Gertie’s is a more casual spot, while Matia Kitchen kept their fine dining roots. I haven’t been to Gertie’s yet, but hear good things!

Houlme

website | get directions | cuisine: Italian | best for: pizza

Houlme is the new name from the people behind the famous Hogstone. I haven’t been to their rebranded concept yet, but they still serve their wood-fired pizzas that have earned national attention. To give you an idea of what their pizzas are like, here’s a photo of when I last went to Hogstone.

Brown bear Baking

website | get directions | cuisine: American | best for: quick breakfast or lunch

I love this quaint cafe right in downtown Eastsound, hence why I think you should include them as a stop on your Orcas Island day trip from Seattle. It can get crowded, but they have a fair few outdoor tables and are the perfect food for a picnic.

New Leaf Cafe

website | get directions | cuisine: American | best for: brunch | reservations for dinner only

This is the Outlook Inn’s restaurant. They make an excellent brunch that’s a great way to start the morning. If available, get the crab cake Benedict. The eggs are perfectly runny and the crisp texture on the potatoes is addictive.

Mijitas Mexican Kitchen

website | get directions | cuisine: Mexican | best for: a casual dinner | reservations accepted

This place is a casual Mexican restaurant I think not enough people are talking about. You’ll find quite a large outdoor patio, or you can sit inside and be surrounded by quaint cottage vibes with eclectic Mexican decor.

The menu has classics like carne asada and guacamole, but get the more interesting items you don’t see on typical Mexican American menus. My go-to is the short ribs dish. I don’t typically love mole, but Mijitas’ version is earthy and not too sweet.

Clever Cow Creamery

website | get directions | cuisine: dessert | best for: ice cream | open seasonally

Clever Cow Creamery is a great stop while exploring downtown Eastsound. They serve Lopez Island Creamery ice cream and have a ton of flavors to choose from. You’ll also find malts here, which is something I grew up seeing on the east coast but rarely see in Washington.

I really like their coffee ice cream, but they give samples so try whatever looks good!

Doe Bay Cafe

website | get directions | cuisine: Pacific Northwest | best for: breakfast or lunch on the eastside of the island

Doe Bay Cafe is a good dining option when exploring the remote eastside of Orcas Island. It’s part of the Doe Bay Resort & Retreat that’s right along the water. It’s popular for breakfast, but they also serve dinner.

What makes them special is that it’s not just a touristy restaurant on a resort. People actually go out of their way to visit the restaurant thanks to their commitment to local ingredients, most of which they grow, and excellent quality. For example, the last time I was there I had an omelet that I’m pretty sure is what they’re talking about in those French cookbooks about proper technique.

Buck Bay Shellfish Farm

website | get directions | cuisine: seafood | best for: fresh oysters | open seasonally

If you love finding the best oysters in Seattle, you can’t miss a visit to this working shellfish farm. They have a pretty extensive menu of both raw oysters and cooked items like tacos, fish and chips, ceviche, and more. Obviously you should get the oysters, but get whatever else looks good and enjoy the water views as you take in the ambiance from picnic tables.

Orcas Island whale watching

You may be wondering why I didn’t include a whale watching tour in this day trip from Orcas Island to Seattle. Well, the reason is it’d be really difficult to fit in much else since most are 3-4 hours.

However, if you’re hell bent on seeing killer whales and want to swap it in for other activities, check out Groupon for whale watching tour discounts. Just make sure they depart from Orcas Island and not San Juan Island or Anacortes.

If you don’t have time for a whale watching tour, check out the Orcas Network map that shows sightings, including those you can see from land. Sign up for their newsletters to receive emails when they find them.

Map of things to do in Orcas Island

Need more ideas of things to do, or just want to know where everything is? Here’s my Google Map of things to do on Orcas Island. I add things to it I want to try in the future.

More to explore near the San Juan Islands

If you can only fit in a day trip to Orcas Island from Seattle, so be it. But if you can fit in more than one day, I highly encourage it! And if you can add on multiple days, check out these places nearby:

• The Best San Juan Island Day Trip Itinerary
• Everything You Must Do on Lopez Island
• Why Lummi Island is Worth a Visit
• My Favorite Things to Do in Anacortes
• Things to do in Skagit on the Way to San Juan Islands
• The Ultimate Bellingham Guide
• What There Is to Do on Whidbey Island
• Camano Island, One of Washington’s Hidden Gems
• Best Islands Near Seattle

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