Eastsound

Eastsound is the largest population center on Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. This community is the commercial hub of the largest of the San Juan Islands.

Understand

view of the harbor from Eastsound's historic Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Orcas Island is shaped like a horseshoe: the East Sound is the long inlet at the center, and Eastsound is the community at the end of the inlet, at the top of the arch.

History

Steamboats of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet used to dock at East Sound. One such vessel was the Sioux, a steel steamship built in 1910 and running out of Bellingham under the ownership of the Black Ball Line.

Get in

By car

From the Orcas Village ferry terminal, take Orcas Road about 8 mi (13 km) north into town.

By shuttle

By seaplane

By boat

Get around

  • Orcas Island Rental Car (Car delivered at time and location you specify.), โ˜ +1 360 376-7433, . Used but clean cars, mini-vans and convertibles. Delivered to you anywhere on Orcas Island. When you are done with the car, just lock the keys in it and leave; they come pick it up. Available year-round. 4-door midsize car $64.95, mini-van $84.95, convertible $104.95. 

By bike

Perhaps the most pleasant way to get around the island, especially if you aren't in a hurry, is by bicycle. You can bring your own bike on the ferry, or rent one at various outlets around the island.

See

Historic Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

The Moran Mansion at the Rosario Resort
  • ๐ŸŒ The Outlook Inn, 171 Main St, โ˜ +1 360-376-2200, . This Inn is a perfect location for a relaxing retreat. The location places it in the middle of the island. All of your outdoor sights and sounds are easily accessible. Best of all, the setting is idyllic. 
  • ๐ŸŒ Rosario Village Resort (Moran Mansion), 1400 Rosario Rd, โ˜ +1 360 376-2222, toll-free: +1-800-562-8820. Perhaps the most famous resort in the San Juan Islands, this grand hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has its own restaurants, spa, marina and sea plane launch. Built by the well known Seattle ship builder Thomas Moran in 1905, the Moran Mansionโ€”surrounded at that time by 7,800 acres (32 km2) of landโ€”that is now the centerpiece of Rosario Resort. 

Campgrounds

  • Moran State Park. There are 4 campgrounds with 130 tent sites that can be reserved through the Washington State Park website. There are also a few RV spots. The Midway and Southend campgrounds have sites on the shore of Cascade Lake. (updated Jun 2025)

Connect

Go next

This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.