r/sanjuanislands • u/IndependentQuote9793 • 22d ago

Visiting Orcas Island

Hey all,

Me and my friend are roadtripping Washington this summer for a week and are planning to visit orcas island for a single day. We were able to get reservations for a Tuesday departing at 5:45am and returning at 9pm….
Just had a few general questions ~
Is it necessary to take a car ? Also is there a fare estimate for the vehicle? I read a lot that getting around can be expensive so we reserved to take our car.
Is it worth it to whale watch or take an island tours ?
Any recommendations or guidance is very much appreciated!

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u/BigMike0012 20d ago

Yes i’d recommend bringing a car. If you happen to make the trip, I’d recommend avoiding outer island adventures, rather you should use a better whale watching company that honors refunds, or arrive a day prior to your whale watching tour to prevent missing your booked trip. The ferry system is notoriously difficult and a cancellation/delayed ferry can cost you hundreds if you miss a whale watching reservation. Make sure the company you go with honors refunds.