Anacortes

Race day off Skyline Marina in Anacortes

Anacortes is a city in the Northwest Washington region in Washington, with the ferry terminal to the San Juan Islands.

Understand

The City of Anacortes occupies roughly half of Fidalgo Island, separated from the mainland by the Swinomish Channel. The city comprises 15 square miles, approximately half of which is public park and recreational lands and waters. The city has 12 miles of shoreline and 67 miles of public trails. Its population was 18,000 in 2021. The city is home to thousands of boats.

Get in

By car

From Interstate 5 (I-5) north or south, take the exit for Highway 20 in Burlington and head westbound. This runs turns into Commercial Drive, and runs through the heart of town, and on to the Washington State Ferries terminal.

By ferry

• 1 Washington State Ferries, 2100 Ferry Terminal Rd, ☏ +1 206-464-6400, toll-free: +1-800-843-3779. Offers ferries from Lopez Island, Orcas Island, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, and Shaw Island to Anacortes. A 60-minute advance arrival is recommended for vehicle traffic. Vehicle reservations are also recommended. If traveling on weekends and summer afternoons, be prepared for long waits for the ferries, a 90-minute advance arrival is advised. Passengers should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to sailing. (updated Mar 2023)

	Note: The Sidney (BC)-Anacortes ferry service has been suspended and will not resume until at least 2030.
	(Information last updated 01 Mar 2023)

By private boat

The city serves as a "home port" for boaters exploring local waters or on their way to Alaska. In fact, Anacortes has been named on many "best boating" destination lists over the years.

If arriving from Canada, Anacortes is an official U.S. port-of-entry and can process boaters through customs. Touch land at a customs dock before any other stops, fines for not doing so can be up to $5000. You will need a passport for everyone on board, your boat's license number, and User Fee Decal number. Customs enforces USDA guidelines for what foods are acceptable to bring into the country. These guidelines are constantly changing so it is best to check in with them before arriving. Boaters are responsible for knowing the prohibited foods and can be fined for not declaring them.

By plane

• 2 Anacortes airport (OTS  ^IATA) (between the town and the ferry terminal). Offers scheduled and charter service in small propeller airplanes, serving the San Juan Islands. It also welcomes general aviation. (updated Nov 2019)

The nearest airport with flights from out of state locations is in Bellingham (BLI ^IATA) and the nearest major international airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA ^IATA).

By bus

• BellAir Airporter, (regular bus stop) Anacortes Ferry Terminal @ 2100 Ferry Terminal Rd, ☏ +1-866-235-5247. Connects Seattle Tacoma International Airport to the Anacortes-San Juan Ferry Terminal via Seattle, Stanwood and Burlington. Passengers transfer in Burlington to go towards Anacortes. Appointment required for pick-up at a Shell Station on 1312 Commercial Ave, Cape Sante Marina at 1019 Q Ave, Anacortes Marina at 2415 'T' Ave, or Swinomish Market at 12515 Christianson Rd as these are not regular stops. 

Get around

By public transit

The transportation hub (bus station) in Anacortes is the 3 March's Park & Ride (P&R) on 8147 S March's Point Road, at the south shore of Fidalgo Bay, south of town. It is served by:

• Skagit Transit, ☏ +1 360-757-4433, custserv@skagittransit.org. Operates bus service within Skagit County including within and between Anacortes, Burlington, La Conner, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley. The buses do not run at night. Also offers connecting service from other counties, including route 80X traveling south from Bellingham and route 90X traveling north from Everett. Routes 80X and 90X stop in Burlington and Mount Vernon. (updated Sep 2022)
  • Bus route 40x connects March's Point Park & ride to Mount Vernon on WA-Hwy 20 and 536.
  • Bus route 409 circulates within Anacortes between the Guemes Ferry Terminal and 32nd Ave at Storvik Park. This route does not go to March's P&R. For public transit travel beyond Anacortes, riders must transfer at March's Point Park and Ride on WA-Hwy 20.
  • Bus route 410 travels between the Washington States Ferries' Anacortes Ferry Terminal and March's Point Park and Ride through Anacortes.
  • Bus route 513 connects March's Point Park & ride to Chuckanut Park & Ride in Burlington on WA-Hwy 20, Higgins Airport Way, and Peterson.
  • Bus route 615 connects March's Point Park & ride to Mount Vernon through La Conner via a different route than 40x.

• Island Transit, ☏ +1 360-678-7771. Scheduled bus services on Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Service on Whidbey Island includes to Clinton, Coupeville, Freeland, Greenbank, Langley, Oak Harbor with off island connections to Anacortes. Service on Camano Island includes off island connections to Everett and Mount Vernon. Free. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Bus route 411W connects Whidbey Island to March's Point P&R, near Anacortes, via Deception Pass.

See

In town

The flavor and character of Anacortes has been largely maintained in the city's Old Town, which is north of 12th St.

On Commercial Avenue, just east of old town, is a roughly ten-block stretch of boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. This area is very walkable and makes a great excursion for shoppers.

• 1 Anacortes Museum, 1305 8th St, ☏ +1 360-293-1915. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM. Located within an old Carnegie Library. Has exhibits featuring the local area. Free. (updated Jun 2023)
• 2 Anacortes Maritime Heritage Center, 703 R Ave, ☏ +1 360-299-4130. Jun-Aug: Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-4PM; remainder of year Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Museum with maritime-related exhibits. Free. (updated Jun 2023)
• 3 W.T. Preston, 703 R Ave (adjacent to the Anacortes Maritime Heritage Center), ☏ +1 360-299-4130. On days that it is open, same hours as Anacortes Maritime Heritage Center. Jun-Aug: Tu-Su; Apr-May and Sep-Oct: Sa Su; Nov-Mar closed for season. A National Landmark sternwheel steamboat that now sits on land. $5. (updated Jun 2023)

Fidalgo Island

Beautiful Fidalgo Island is covered in northwest forest, with a number of freshwater lakes, parks, and beaches.

• 4 Deception Pass State Park, 41229 State Route 20 (located south of Anacortes along Highway 20), ☏ +1 360-675-3767. Has over 4,100 acres (17 km2) of forest, campsites, trails, and scenic vistas of the San Juan Islands, Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), Mount Baker, and Fidalgo Island. (updated Jun 2023)
• 5 Hope Island Marine State Park. near Camano Island, this 200-acre marine park in Skagit Bay. The park offers several campsites, attractive beaches and a trail across the island. The island is forested with occasional meadows and rock outcroppings. The island is a natural area preserve to protect a rare Puget Sound ecosystem and accessible only both boat. 1.5 miles southeast of Hoypus Point, about two miles east then southeast on Cornet Bay boat launch. (updated Jun 2023)
• 6 Skagit Island Marine State Park. A 24-acre marine camping park in Skagit Bay near Camano Island and is accessible only by boat. The island is forested with occasional meadows, rock outcroppings, attractive beaches and a land trail and has 2 mooring buoys. (updated Jun 2023)

Do

Boating

Many boaters use Anacortes as "home port" for additional journeys throughout the sound.

• 1 Cap Sante Marina. A full service marina operated by the Port of Anacortes. The marina is within easy walking distance of old town, for easy re-provisioning. A number of boat chartering companies operate out of the Boat Haven, offering half-day whale watching, fishing and transport services, or the rental of boats on a weekly (or longer) basis. (updated Oct 2024)

There are a number of kayaking companies offering equipment and/or tours.

• 2 Anacortes Kayak Tours, 2009 Skyline Way (drive past the San Juan Island ferry terminal, onto Sunset Drive; take a left onto Skyline Way and proceed to the Skyline Marina building; destination is on the left), ☏ +1 360-588-1117, toll-free: +1-800-992-1801, info@anacorteskayaktours.com. Offers guided sea kayak trips departing from Anacortes, Deception Pass State Park, San Juan Island, and Orcas Island. (updated Feb 2017)

Hiking

There are over 67 miles of public trails, maintained by the city. The system connects to a number of freshwater lakes, stocked with fish, and a number of other scenic points. Bag lunches are available from local restaurants and delis.

• 3 Mt. Erie. A popular hill for hiking and rock climbing, with ocean views. (updated Oct 2024)

Gambling

• 4 Swinomish Casino & Lodge, 12885 Casino Dr. (updated Oct 2024)

Buy

Check out the antiques, book stores, crafts, and art galleries. The city is home to the oldest marine hardware store west of the Mississippi.

Eat

Anacortes offers a variety of restaurants.

• 1 Calico Cupboard, 901 Commercial Ave (between 9th and 10th), ☏ +1 360-293-7315, info@calicocupboardcafe.com. M–F 7:30AM–3PM, Sa Su 7:30AM–4PM. A cafe with hearty breakfasts (omelettes, pancakes, hashes) and lunch (soups, salads, sandwiches) as well as baked goods. Outdoor seating area is pleasant on sunny days. Also has branches in Mount Vernon and La Conner. 

Drink

Anacortes offers a variety of drinking establishments, from upscale restaurants to wonderful pubs & taverns, many of which offer live music nightly.

• 1 Bastion Brewing Company, ​12529 Christianson Rd, ☏ +1 360-399-1614. (updated May 2021)

Sleep

Anacortes offers a full spectrum of lodging, with accommodations ranging from high-end European-style hotels to economy rooms.

• 1 Swinomish Casino and Lodge, 12885 Casino Dr, ☏ +1 360-293-2691 (casino), +1 360-588-3800 (lodge), toll-free: +1-888-288-8883, info@swinomishcasino.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Feb 2020)
• 2 Majestic Inn & Spa, 419 Commercial Ave, toll-free: +1-877-370-0100. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated May 2021)

Go next

• San Juan Islands, famous for abundant eagles and orca whales
• La Conner, home of the Tulip Festival
• Whidbey Island, the longest island in Puget Sound

Anacortes is on the North Cascade Loop itinerary.

Routes through Anacortes

Port Townsend ← Oak Harbor ←

S  E

→ Burlington → North Cascades N.P.