Anacortes–San Juan Islands ferry

The Anacortes–San Juan Islands ferry routes are operated by Washington State Ferries. The routes serve Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, and Vancouver Island.^[1]

The routes go from Anacortes, on Fidalgo Island, across Rosario Strait, and through Thatcher Pass. In the fall and winter, the water becomes can be very rough in the Rosario Strait, often resulting in canceled runs.

The route is served by between three and five vessels. Year-round three vessels are used for domestic travel to the islands, with one of those vessels equipped for international travel between Anacortes and Sidney, BC (Vancouver Island) during the spring, summer and fall. A fourth vessel for inter-island travel between the islands is added during the spring, summer and fall schedules. During the busy summer tourism season, a fifth vessel is added to the route for domestic travel to the islands.^[2]

As of December 2021, the main year-round vessels on the Anacortes–San Juan Islands routes are:

• MV Chelan (only vessel that can serve Sidney, BC)
• MV Samish
• MV Yakima

As of December 2021, the MV Tillikum is used as the inter-island vessel during the spring, summer and fall schedules.

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