Traveling To and From Canada

Whatever your route, include the San Juan Islands in your journeys! Travel between the islands and Canada as you explore the great Pacific Northwest!

NOTE:  The Washington State Ferries international service between Anacortes/Friday Harbor and Sidney, BC/Vancouver Island is suspended until further notice. Updates can be found on the Washington State Transportation website.

From Vancouver, BC to the San Juan Islands

• Drive from Vancouver, BC towards the Peace Arch Border Crossing and cross into Blaine, WA - about an hour and fifteen-minute drive. 

• Once you cross the border into the U.S., you will be on Interstate 5 (I-5) heading south. Continue on I-5 for approximately 69 miles (111 kilometers) until you reach the city of Burlington, Washington.

• Take Exit 230 for State Route 20 (SR-20) towards Anacortes and follow the signs to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal.

• From there, you can take the Washington State Ferries to Lopez, Orcas, Shaw or San Juan Island. Reservations for vehicles are highly recommended.

From Victoria, BC to Friday Harbor/San Juan Island

• Kenmore Air services daily round-trip flights between Friday Harbor Airport on San Juan Island and Victoria International Airport (YYJ) on Vancouver Island, just 20-minutes outside of Victoria, BC. Passengers can also travel directly between Paine Field in Everett, Boeing Field in Seattle, and Friday Harbor Airport and Victoria International Airport. 
  • NEW in 2024 - Kenmore Air seaplane service between Friday Harbor Marina & Victoria Inner Harbour (starts March 1, 2024)

While in past years the Washington State ferry from Sidney, BC  ran to Friday Harbor, ferry service was disrupted in 2020 and continues to be suspended until further notice. See updates here.

From Vancouver, BC to Victoria, BC

Drive from Vancouver to Tsawwassen (about an hour from downtown Vancouver) to catch the Tsawwassen/BC ferry to Sidney BC on Vancouver Island. Then drive south to Victoria (about a 40-minute drive).  For more information, check out the BC Ferries website.

From Victoria, BC to Vancouver, BC

To travel between Victoria (on Vancouver Island) and the city of Vancouver (on the mainland), drive from Victoria Swartz Bay, north of Sidney, about a 40-minute drive, where you can get on the ferry to Tsawwassen. The Tsawwassen ferry landing is about an hour drive to or from downtown Vancouver. For more information, check out the BC Ferries website.

Pacific Northwest Loop

After your visit to the San Juan Islands, Vancouver and Victoria, consider taking your car onto the Black Ball Ferry Line that runs from Victoria to Port Angeles, Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula. From there, a scenic 47-mile drive east takes you to the historic town of Port Townsend, where you can catch a Washington State Ferry to Coupeville on Whidbey Island. From Coupeville, drive south to the Clinton/Mukilteo Washington State Ferry terminal, return to Interstate 5 (I-5), and continue to Seattle to explore the Emerald City and other wonderful cities and towns in Washington.