Orcas

Washington State Ferries operates the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route:

• 🌍 Orcas Island Terminal, 8368 Orcas Rd (in Orcas Village), ☏ +1 206-464-6400, toll-free: +1-888-808-7977. The island's sole ferry terminal. 

The ferry also makes stops at:

• Anacortes Terminal on the mainland, about 1½ hours north of Seattle. This is the only easy way to take a car to the islands. Anacortes Terminal is connected by public bus to Mount Vernon and the rest of mainland, and by private shuttle directly to Seattle and SeaTac Airport.
• Lopez Island, at its northern tip, about 4 mi (6.4 km) from Lopez Village
• Shaw Island, near its northeast corner
• San Juan Island, at Friday Harbor

The ferry schedule is complicated. There's a sailing about once an hour in the summer, a little less often in the winter. One vessel makes several interisland loops, while the other vessels run from Anacortes to one or more islands and back.

Reservations are recommended for the San Juan Islands ferry, especially for summer weekends, when the wait for loading cars can be notoriously long. It is not unusual to wait in line for many hours, and missing the last ferry can mean a desperate search for accommodations to spend an unplanned night on the islands.

• Kenmore Air, toll-free: +1-866-435-9524, fax: +1 425-485-4774, reservations@KenmoreAir.com. Kenmore Air seaplanes make several flights daily from downtown Seattle's Lake Union to seven locations in the San Juan Islands including Orcas Island. Kenmore Air Express also offers daily land plane service between Seattle's Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI ^IATA) and Friday Harbor Airport (FRD ^IATA). Complimentary shuttle transfers are available to/from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA ^IATA) for passengers on either Kenmore Air service. A quick and spectacular, though not cheap, way to arrive. $75-139. 

Orcas Island is large enough that most travelers will want a car for exploring. You can bring your car on the ferry, but there are also a few local options for renting.

• Orcas Island Rental Car (Car delivered at time and location you specify.), ☏ +1 360 376-7433, email@orcasislandrentalcar.com. 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. 
• M & W Car Rentals (Orcas Ferry Landing), ☏ +1 360-376-5157. May 15 - Oct 15 only. This Orcas Island branch of a Friday Harbor-based business usually has just one size of car available (though a van may be available on request) and only during peak season. $59.95/day. 

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, including in Eastsound.

• Orcas Island Taxi, Eastsound, ☏ +1 360 376-TAXI (8294), toll-free: +1-800-942-1926, dan@orcastaxi.com. 24 hours per day. Example fare: Eastsound to Ferry dock $27.00. 5.50 drop + $2.50 per mile.