I grew up in Western Washington and even though I haven’t lived there with any normalcy for two decades, I still call it home. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful spots in the United States and I think everyone should take the opportunity to visit! One of my favorite things to do when I’m home is visit the San Juan Islands, which sit in the Puget Sound close to the Canadian border.
The San Juan Islands are only accessible by boat or seaplane, but I think that adds to their attraction. I could ferry hop for years and not get tired of the scenery. The islands manage to stay relatively untouched, as far as commercialism is concerned. People go there to recreate, power down, and get away from the hustle and bustle of crazy mainland living. 
Because I no longer live within a few hours driving distance to the islands, I’ve had to come up with creative ways to visit when I need my island fix. I’m going to share with you the least expensive way I know to get you to the San Juans because you really need to go. You will want to go again and again once you’ve visited that first time, I promise.
Visiting the San Juan Islands for Cheap
- The islands are beautiful during the summer. I’m talking breathtaking, you’ll be looking for real estate, beautiful. If you can manage it- awesome! If you need to keep your cost down, visit in the off season. It is still just as gorgeous. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t rain ALL the time in Western Washington. The last time I went up was in April. The weather was cool, but it was clear almost the entire weekend I was there. Be flexible with your dates, too. Great deals can come up last minute!
- Allegiant Air flies into the Bellingham airport, which is much closer to the islands than the SeaTac airport. Not only is it closer, but we all know Allegiant Air is cheap. My roundtrip ticket from Las Vegas to Bellingham was $100. No joke. Now, you don’t get to pick your seat and you can’t check a bag, but it’s worth it. Pack light. Sit by a stranger. Your goal is to make it there- you can do anything for 2 and a half hours in the name of the beauty that is waiting for you.
- VRBO and Airbnb are your friends. Especially in the off season. If you’re looking to stay on one of the islands, they are your best bet. Travel with a couple friends and split the cost! If you’re planning on staying on the mainland, Bellingham is your cheapest option because it has a larger selection of hotels. It is about a 40 minute drive from Bellingham to Anacortes, where the ferry dock is located. Anacortes has hotels, but it will be a little pricier.
- Renting a car for a couple days out of the Bellingham airport will set you back $30-40 a day. My personal opinion is that money is well spent. You can Uber to and from your destinations, but I think for what you will want to see and do, you need to spend the money and get a car.
- Park your car at the ferry terminal and walk onto the ferry. Walking onto the ferry will cost you about $13.50 per person. Driving on will cost about $38.75 for the car and driver and then each additional passenger will be another $13.50. If you’re heading to Friday Harbor, (which I recommend) you won’t need a car to wander through town. So unless you have specific things you want to see on the other side of the island, save the money and walk on and off.
- You pay to get on the ferry once, then you can island hop all you want! Pay attention to the ferry schedule so you don’t miss the last one back to the mainland in the evening. You can find the latest ferry schedule HERE.
- Do your homework about the islands. I always tell people if you are going to the San Juan Islands for the first time, head to Friday Harbor first. You’ll get a nice long ferry ride to enjoy and appreciate the views and Friday Harbor is a beautiful, quaint town with fun shopping and great restaurants right off the dock. After you’ve seen it, branch out and see what the other islands have to offer. There’s whale watching, kayaking, so much biking, hiking and camping. There are lighthouses and beaches. You will be entertained for days on end and still won’t get tired of it.
Start looking for cheap flights. Stay for only two nights, if that’s all you can spare! It will be worth your time. And you will be looking for ways to make it back sooner rather than later. 🙂
