GOOGLE MAPS LINK TO THE RESORT
IT REALLY IS A DESTINATION WEDDING
Orcas Island is well out of Seattle - 113 miles via ferry, to be exact. You will not be able to Uber or Lyft from Seattle to the island, so please plan travel arrangements accordingly. We’ve listed a some directions and options below. Ride sharing will be a good option for some. What a bonding experience!
GETTING HERE
The gateways to Orcas Island are Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC. Once you arrive in Seattle or Vancouver, you may decide to spend some time in the city or simply travel directly to Orcas. There are two main ways to reach the island: by ferry from Anacortes (about 1.5 hour drive north of Seattle) or by plane/seaplane from Seattle (less than an hour flight from Seattle). You could also arrive via private boat and make use of moorage at the Marina in Rosario. You can also consider flying into Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, or Bellingham (BLI), which are shorter drives than Seatac (but may be more expensive to fly into).
We’ll cover all three options below and provide links. The Rosario Resort map and directions page also has some great directions to the island and resort with loads more details and, if needed, their front desk is happy to answer travel questions (360.376.2222).
BY FERRY (via car, rental car)
All those driving will need to take a ferry from Anacortes. The ferry system can be intimidating, but it’s totally navigable. All you have to do is reserve your ferry ahead of time and arrive at the Anacortes ferry terminal 30 before the scheduled departure time. The lovely WSDOT crew will take it from there.
Allow a comfortable 1-1/2 to 2 hours to the Anacortes ferry terminal from Seattle, or Vancouver B.C. Whichever you choose, relax, enjoy the drive and the scenery, you will be there soon!
Ferry reservations open up July 30th at 7:00 am PT.
*If your preferred sailing is already booked, check again at 7 AM 2 weeks before the day you want to sail, or again 2 days before. WSDOT releases 1/3 of the boat two months before, another 1/3 two weeks before, and another 1/3 two days before. The remaining 10% is saved for first-come, first-serve.
To reserve your spot, head to the WSDOT Ferry Reservation Page and proceed through the following steps:
Select route:
Departing From… Anacortes, WA
Arriving At… Orcas Island, WA
Select your travel date:
10/04/2019
Select your vehicle size:
Vehicle under 22 feet (trust us, you’ll know if you’re longer than 22’)
Up to 7’2” tall (see above)
Click Show Availability
More detailed info can be found at the WSDOT Save-a-Spot Page.
Reservations can be made at the WSDOT Ferry Reservation Page.
Be sure to reserve your ferry back from Orcas to Anacortes as well!
BY SEAPLANE or PLANE (no car required)
Kenmore Air flies directly to the dock at Rosario from South Lake Union in Seattle. You can even get a shuttle from SeaTac Airport with your ticket. It’s definitely the pricier of the two main options, but the flight is less than 30 mins and the views are breathtaking.
You could take a plane out of Boeing Field that will fly you to the Eastsound Airport, but you’ll then have to secure a ride to the resort - we highly recommend the seaplane if you’re planning to fly to the island. When are you ever going to get a chance to fly a seaplane up to the San Juan Islands? (https://kenmoreair.com)
BY PRIVATE BOAT
Rosario Resort & Spa has a small, full-service marina with slips available for boats up to 130 feet in length. In addition to the slips in the Marina, the resort offers buoys on a first come, first served basis. Please visit the Rosario Resort Marina Page for more information and reservations.
GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND
The most convenient method of getting around is by car. If you are flying into Seattle or Vancouver, we suggest you rent one when you arrive at the airport and then drive it onto the ferry. If you know other guests coming to the wedding, it may be an option to share a car. Depending upon where you stay on the island, you may only need a car for a few key events. Biking is an option but Orcas is a very hilly island, so it can be fun but also quite challenging. There is very limited public transportation during the summer months only, so we don’t anticipate this to be an option (http://www.sanjuantransit.com).
TAXI CABS ON THE ISLAND
Orcas Island Taxi/Eric 360.376.8294
Orcas Taxi Tours/Keith 360.376.6668
Scenic Shuttle/Terry 360.298.8414
RENTAL CARS ON THE ISLAND
Orcas Island Rental Cars: 360-376-7433, (http://www.orcasislandshuttle.com)
Orcas Car Rentals: 406-530-7090, (https://www.orcascars.com)
M&W Auto Sales and Rental: 360-379-5266, (http://orcasmopeds.sharepoint.com/Pages/RentalCars.aspx)
