San Juan Islands

Permit Information

Permit rules span several land managers, so the rules change by which spot you pick. Washington State Parks (Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island, Moran State Park and Mount Constitution on Orcas Island) require a Special Activities Permit for ceremonies: a $45 application fee plus additional fees per the State Parks fee schedule, a $1,000,000 liability and $1,000,000 personal injury certificate of insurance naming State Parks, applied at least 60 days ahead. The San Juan Island National Historic…

Before You Go

The San Juans are reached only by boat, so getting there is part of planning the day. Washington State Ferries run every San Juan sailing from the Anacortes terminal, about 90 minutes north of Seattle, to four islands: Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan (Friday Harbor). Vehicle reservations are required on the Anacortes route in the busy season, roughly mid June through mid September, and they fill fast, so couples should reserve a sailing early when they pick a date. Inventory is released in three waves, about two months out, two weeks out, and two days before sailing, so check back if a date looks full. Reservations are free and cover vehicles only. You can also walk on as a foot passenger with no reservation and arrange a local photographer or rental on island, which is the low stress option many couples choose. If you would rather skip the ferry entirely, Kenmore Air flies seaplanes from Seattle's Lake Union to Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Orcas, and Lopez in about 45 minutes, docking right at the marina.

Seasonal Planning

Late June through September is the warm, dry, sunny window, with long days, peak orca activity, and lavender in bloom, and it is also when ferries and lodging fill, so book months ahead. September and late May into June are quieter shoulder windows with easier bookings. The islands sit in the Olympic rain shadow, around 247 days of sunshine a year, far drier than Seattle, though morning marine fog is the summer tradeoff.

Planning Your Day at San Juan Islands

One-Spot Day

The San Juans are really three islands a couple chooses between, because each takes its own ferry and they do not connect to each other. Most couples pick one island and stay. San Juan Island (Friday Harbor) is the largest and most walkable, home to Lime Kiln Point and its whale watching lighthouse plus the wide driftwood sweep of South Beach. Orcas Island (Eastsound) is the forest and summit choice, with Mount Constitution looking out over the whole archipelago and quiet madrona coves at Obstruction Pass. Lopez Island is the flat, slow, pastoral one, best for an intimate beach ceremony at a sheltered cove like Watmough Bay. Pick your island first, the spot follows, then book the ferry to match.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

A two spot day means a ferry day, and the islands do not connect by bridge, so plan your splits within one island. On San Juan Island, Lime Kiln Point and American Camp are about 30 to 40 minutes apart, so a morning prairie and driftwood ceremony at South Beach and a sunset lighthouse ceremony at Lime Kiln is a realistic single day from Friday Harbor. On Orcas Island, Mount Constitution and Cascade Lake sit inside Moran State Park, 5 to 10 minutes apart, so a summit ceremony and a still water lakeside portrait set pair easily. Crossing between islands means another ferry sailing and a reservation, so most couples pick one island and stay there. Remember the State Parks permit covers a specific location, so two state park spots means two permits.

A Note on Light

The islands sit in the Olympic rain shadow, which keeps them sunny and dry, around 247 days of sunshine a year, far less rain than Seattle. The tradeoff is marine fog off the cold Salish Sea, which can roll in on summer and early fall mornings and sometimes lingers past sunrise, so a flexible start from mid morning to golden hour hedges against it burning off late. West facing spots like Lime Kiln Point and Cattle Point take direct sunset light over Haro Strait. Summit and lake spots on Orcas hold morning clarity before afternoon haze builds. July often sees only about a 6 percent chance of significant rain, with daytime temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s.

Ceremony Spots at San Juan Islands

• Lime Kiln Point, San Juan Island — Whale watching lighthouse ceremony and west facing sunset portraits over Haro Strait
• American Camp and South Beach, San Juan Island — Wide driftwood beach ceremony and windswept prairie portraits at golden hour
• Mount Constitution, Orcas Island — Panoramic summit ceremony and portraits above the whole archipelago
• Obstruction Pass State Park, Orcas Island — Secluded pebble cove ceremony under madrona trees, reached on foot or by kayak
• Watmough Bay, Lopez Island — Sheltered gravel beach ceremony framed by towering cliffs

Plan Your Washington Elopement

Elope in Washington: location guide, permits, marriage license, and planning tools

Other Elopement Locations in Washington

• Olympic National Park: National Park · Year round (varies by area)
• Mount Rainier National Park: National Park · July through September
• North Cascades National Park: National Park · Mid July through September
• Columbia River Gorge National Recreation Area: National Recreation Area · Spring Fall (waterfalls peak in spring)
• Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest: National Forest · Summer Fall
• Deception Pass State Park: State Park · Year round
• Palouse Falls State Park: State Park · Spring Summer
• Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest: National Forest · Summer Fall