Anacortes travel guide

Anacortes, in northwest Washington State, is the mainland gateway to the San Juan Islands. The city has an active harbor and is home to thousands of boats.

It is the only city on Fidalgo Island, which is separated from the mainland by the narrow Swinomish Channel. The island also includes the north section of Deception Pass State Park, and the Swinomish Indian Reservation.

Understand

Race day off Skyline Marina (Photo: gordon hunter from Nanaimo, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0)

The city of Anacortes comprises 15 square miles, approximately half of which is public park and recreational lands and waters. Its population was 18,000 in 2021.

History

The area was originally inhabited by the Samish and Swinomish peoples.

Spanish explorer and cartographer Salvador Fidalgo explored the area in 1790 with the fleet of Francisco de Eliza. Much later, Charles Wilkes discovered that it was an island rather than part of the mainland. (Before dredging began, the Swinomish Channel was narrow and shallow enough in places to wade across). He named it Perry Island in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, the American commander who won the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. When Henry Kellett reorganized the official British Admiralty charts in 1847, he removed Wilkes' name Perry and bestowed the name Fidalgo to honor the Spanish explorer. The highest point on the island retains Wilkes' original name, Mount Erie.

American-European settlement began in 1850s due to the Fraser River Gold Rush. The name "Anacortes" is an adaptation of the name of Anne Curtis Bowman, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. Amos Bowman established the town in the 1880s with aspirations that it would become a terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Instead, Anacortes became an important fishing and lumber center.

Local information

• City of Anacortes website

Get in

By car

(Photo: Fredddie , originally by PHenry , et al, Public domain)

State Route 20 (WA-20) is the main highway to Fidalgo Island. On the south edge of Anacortes, a roundabout for State Route 20 Spur leads to Commercial Ave, which runs through the heart of town and on to the Washington State Ferries terminal.

(Photo: Ltljltlj, Public domain)

From Interstate 5 (I-5), take the exit for WA-20 in Burlington and head westbound.

• From Whidbey Island, take WA-20 north over the Deception Pass Bridge.

Fidalgo Island is also attached to the mainland via the iconic Rainbow Bridge in La Conner.

By ferry

Washington State Ferries (WSF) operates the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route, serving Lopez Island, Orcas Island, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island and Shaw Island:

• Anacortes Ferry Terminal, 2100 Ferry Terminal Rd (3 mi (4.8 km) W of downtown, via WA-20), ☏ +1 206-464-6400, toll-free: +1-800-843-3779.

Reservations are strongly recommended for vehicles, especially for summer weekends, when the wait for loading cars can be notoriously long. Walk-on passengers should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to sailing. Vehicle traffic with reservations should arrive about 60 minutes prior to sailing. Vehicles without reservations should prepare to wait several hours during peak afternoon and weekend sailing.

There is a cafe inside the passenger waiting room, and a couple of cafes and restaurants within walking distance of the vehicle waiting area. Long-term parking is available, a way to save some money and hassle if you don't need a car on the islands.

The Sidney (BC)-Anacortes ferry service has been suspended and will not resume until at least 2030.

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

• 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.

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

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, Burlington and Bellingham. 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, and Swinomish Market at 12515 Christianson Rd as these are not regular stops. Click here for a list of stops.

Get around

By public transit

The transportation hub (bus station) in Anacortes is the

• 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.
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.

Bus route 411W connects Whidbey Island to March's Point P&R, near Anacortes, via Deception Pass.

See

The area north of 12th Street is known as Old Town, where the flavor and character of Anacortes has been maintained over time. Along Commercial Avenue, starting northwards from 12th Street, is a ten-block walkable main street lined with boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. The north end of the avenue leads to the Port of Anacortes, a working industrial harbor.

• Anacortes Museum, 1305 8th St, ☏ +1 360-293-1915. Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 1-4PM. Located within an old Carnegie Library. Has exhibits featuring the local area. Free.
• Anacortes Maritime Heritage Center, 703 R Ave, ☏ +1 360-299-4130. Jun-Aug: Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 11AM-4PM; remainder of year Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 10AM-4PM. Museum with maritime-related exhibits. Free.
• 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: Tue-Sun; Apr-May and Sep-Oct: Sat Sun; Nov-Mar closed for season. A National Landmark sternwheel steamboat that now sits on land. $5.

Do

The city has 12 miles of shoreline and 67 miles of public trails.

Boating

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

• 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.

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

• 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.

Once you have your craft, go a few miles south to Deception Pass State Park and its surrounding islands for a wide range of drop-ins amongst forested coastlines, or north to the nearest of the San Juan Islands.

Hiking

• Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL). Over 50 miles of public multi-use trails, maintained by the city. The system connects to a number of lakes stocked with fish, and numerous hills with scenic lookouts. Mt. Erie, the highest point in the park, is popular for its hiking trails, rock climbing, and viewpoints overlooking the Salish Sea.

Gambling

• Swinomish Casino & Lodge, 12885 Casino Dr, toll-free: +1-888-288-8883, info@swinomishcasino.com.

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

• Calico Cupboard, 901 Commercial Ave (between 9th and 10th), ☏ +1 360-293-7315, info@calicocupboardcafe.com. Mon–Fri 7:30AM–3PM, Sat Sun 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 and taverns, many of which offer live music nightly.

• Bastion Brewing Company, ​12529 Christianson Rd, ☏ +1 360-399-1614.

Sleep

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

• 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.
• Majestic Inn & Spa, 419 Commercial Ave, toll-free: +1-877-370-0100. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM.

Go next

• Deception Pass State Park, over 4,100 acres (17 km2) of forest, campsites, trails, and scenic vistas of the San Juan Islands, Victoria, Mount Baker, and Fidalgo Island.
• 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.

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