Friday Harbor is the hub of the San Juan Islands — the only incorporated town in San Juan County and a designated US Port of Entry. The Port of Friday Harbor's marina puts you steps from the ferry terminal, the Whale Museum, and a walkable downtown full of restaurants and shops.
Friday Harbor Marina is approached from San Juan Channel to the east and southeast. The harbor entrance lies between two floating concrete breakwater sections - a 1,285-foot dogleg northern section and a 330-foot straight southern section - making the opening clearly visible from the channel. Navigation aids are excellent and the approach presents no significant charted hazards. Hail the marina on VHF 66A using one watt of power as you come into sight of the marina; a harbormaster or summer radio operator will assign your slip. During peak season (July and August) a slip assignment team actively manages the docks and the radio is monitored continuously. Larger vessels (over 100 feet) typically tie alongside the southern breakwater piers. Depths at the docks run approximately 6-10 feet at mean low water.
The marina offers approximately 500 slips capable of accommodating vessels from 20 feet up to 300 feet LOA. Shore power includes 30A 120V (included in base moorage), 50A 240V, and 100A 240V (upgrades available). Pump-out service is available in multiple forms: stationary units, a portable unit, and a pump-out boat. The Shell Fuel Pier (360-378-3114) provides gasoline and diesel with multiple service points. Shoreside amenities include 24/7 coin-operated showers, laundromat, restrooms, free Wi-Fi, ice, propane, and oil disposal. The Port of Friday Harbor holds a Clean Marina Leadership Stewardship designation. A dinghy dock is located at the end of A-dock. The Port's double-lane paved launch ramp is at Jackson Beach, approximately one mile south.
Friday Harbor is a designated US Port of Entry with a dedicated customs dock on the north end of Breakwater B (300 feet of tie-up space). The US Customs and Border Protection field office is at 100 First Street S. In-person clearance hours run 8am-8pm from mid-May to mid-September, and 8am-5pm the remainder of the year. Upon arrival at the customs dock, contact the office by phone; the captain only disembarks while all passengers remain aboard until cleared. The CBP ROAM app is available for remote clearance: pre-register at least 24 hours before crossing, then initiate your arrival report once in US waters. Nexus and I-68 cardholders may report arrival by calling 1-800-562-5943.
Friday Harbor's compact downtown is fully walkable from the docks. The Whale Museum at 62 First Street N. is the marina's landmark cultural attraction - a long-running Southern Resident orca research and education center complete with a full orca skeleton and interactive exhibits. Dining options cluster along the waterfront and up Spring Street: Downriggers offers seafood with harbor views; Kings Market on Spring Street covers grocery provisioning. The farmers market runs Saturdays. Whale watching and sea kayak tour operators are headquartered at Spring Street Landing on the waterfront. Lime Kiln Point State Park, a 12-mile drive west on Westside Road, offers some of the best land-based orca viewing in the world, overlooking Haro Strait where the Southern Resident pods hunt May through September. Washington State Ferries run regularly from the adjacent terminal to Anacortes (about 70 minutes direct).
Reservations are strongly recommended from May through September and are essentially mandatory over Fourth of July weekend, when the marina enforces a three-night minimum stay. Book online at least 24 hours in advance through the Port's reservation portal or by emailing [email protected]; a $10 non-refundable reservation fee applies. Check-in is at 1:00pm and check-out at noon. Free anchorage is available in the cove immediately north of the marina basin (depths 6-30 feet, good holding) with easy dinghy access to the marina dock for provisioning runs.
Fuel and shore power available at Friday Harbor Marina.
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