Getting Here & Getting Around
Orcas Island is located in the San Juan Islands near Anacortes, Washington. There is a ferry that runs between Anacortes and Orcas Island, which carries both cars and foot passengers. It is possible to bus to the Anacortes ferry landing and then walk onto the ferry; it is also very simple to drive. Alternatvely, flights are available to Orcas Island from Seattle, Bellingham, and other locations.
Festival events take place in Eastsound, which is approximately a 20-minute drive from the ferry landing. Car rentals and taxi service are available on the island (see below). No bus service is available on Orcas Island in September.
Directions for Driving to Orcas Island:
From Seattle or Vancouver, BC, take I-5 to exit #230, the Anacortes-San Juan Islands Ferry exit, just north of Mt. Vernon. In Anacortes, follow the signs to the ferry terminal. Board the ferry to Orcas Island (see Ferry Travel, below). On Orcas, turn left as you come off the ferry ramp, and follow the main road (Orcas Rd.) 8.1 miles to Eastsound. Turn right on Main St. (at Washington Federal’s big clock); The Outlook Inn is on your left in the first block.
Locations of Festival venues (all are at Eastsound,WA 98245): Check-in and all of the Friday events except the Workshops take place at The Outlook Inn (171 Main St.). Fiction Workshop is at OPAL Conference Room (corner Lover’s Lane and Enchanted Forest Road, .3 mi. from The Outlook Inn). Nonfiction Workshop is at the Eastsound Fire Hall Conference Room (45 Lavender Lane, .8 mile from The Outlook Inn). Saturday Jumpstart! check-in (for those starting Saturday) and all Saturday and Sunday events (except Workshops) take place at the Orcas Center’s Madrona Room (917 Mt. Baker Rd). From the Workshop classrooms to the Orcas Center it is .6 mi from the Fiction Workshop and .2 mi from the Nonfiction Workshop. The terrain isn’t perfectly flat, but there are no steep hills. The Outlook Inn and the Orcas Center are located on the south and north sides of the village of Eastsound; each is a few blocks from the center of the village. Maps of Eastsound will be included in your Welcome Packet.
Ferry Travel:
Ferries run about every 2 to 3 hours, and there are no reservations. Fares are round trip. Current car/driver fare is $44.15; passenger fare is $13.75 (less for 65+). Travel time varies from 50 to 85 minutes, depending on the stops made, and at times the ferries run a bit late. If you’re driving on, plan to arrive 60 to 90 minutes ahead of time. Foot passengers can walk on and do not need to arrive early. When planning your trip, be sure to refer to an updated summer schedule. Schedule information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries (look up Anacortes to Orcas Island and vice versa), or you can call 1-888-808-7977. This is a recorded line, but if you press 0 during office hours you can ask to speak with the Anacortes terminal, which may be able to give you updates on expected wait times. Currently the afternoon & evening ferries Thursday leave Anacortes at 3:45, 7, and 9 p.m.; Friday morning ferries run at 6 am and 7:10 am.
Bus Transportation to Orcas:
The Airporter Shuttle (1-866-235-5247) serves the Anacortes ferry, as well as Sea-Tac, Seattle, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham, and Yakima.
The local (mainland) bus company, Skagit Transit, also serves the Anacortes ferry and connects with nearby transit companies. The following are local bus companies: Whatcom Transportation Authority (serves Bellingham area); Everett Transit (serves Everett): King County Metro Transit (serves Seattle).
Air Travel to Orcas:
Kenmore Air (1-866-435-9524) offers scheduled flights between Seattle and Orcas Island.
San Juan Airlines (1-800-874-4434) offers scheduled flights between Orcas Island, Anacortes, Seattle, Bellingham, Port Angeles, and British Columbia.
Northwest Seaplanes (1-800-874-0086) offers scheduled and chartered flights from Seattle and British Columbia to the San Juan Islands.
Taxi Service & Rental Cars on Orcas:
Orcas Island Taxi: 360-376-TAXI (8294)
Offers 24-hour taxi service. Bikes are no problem. No website.
Orcas Island Shuttle: 360-376-RIDE (2433)
Offers rental cars and charter buses.