Friday Harbor · Inn
Friday Harbor House
A harbor-view inn with fireplaces, steps from the ferry landing.
Official details for Friday Harbor HouseWashington · Couples · Two nights
San Juan Islands
Orcas, lavender and island harbors.
The San Juan Islands sit in the Salish Sea between Seattle and Vancouver Island, and flying in beats the ferry line by hours. Land at Friday Harbor, walk from the airport into town, stay at a harbor-view inn or at Roche Harbor’s historic resort, look for orcas from Lime Kiln Point, visit the lavender farm and English and American Camps, and eat seafood with a view of the ferries coming in. Floatplanes can land right in the harbor.
Island getawayWhale watchingSeaplane base
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KFHR
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~2148 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~14 hr 34 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Walk, bike, moped or rental car
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land a short walk from town.
KFHR, Friday Harbor, is a non-towered Port of Friday Harbor airport at 113 feet with a 3,402-foot runway, about a 10-minute walk from the harbor and town.
The FBO
Friday Harbor Airport (Port of Friday Harbor)
360-378-4724Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor, WA
Busy with floatplanes and commuters; turn on landing lights near the field. Bring your own tie-down ropes. Noise abatement: avoid takeoffs between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Customs apron on the east side of the terminal ramp. (FAA chart supplement remarks.) No live fuel price is shown.
Pacific Northwest weather: low ceilings, drizzle and mountain obscuration much of the year from October to May; clear, dry summers with morning marine stratus on the coast; icing in winter clouds; and the Cascades between the coast and the interior. About 2150 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.
Seaplane access
Friday Harbor (W33), public-use seaplane base
360-378-4724Friday Harbor, WA · Port of Friday Harbor 360-378-4724
Water lanes: 03W/21W 10,000 × 2,000 ft; 12W/30W 6,000 × 1,000 ft.
All takeoffs should be performed north of Brown Island. A general-aviation overnight fee applies. Customs notification service is available. (FAA chart supplement remarks.)
Expect ferries, boats and commercial floatplanes in the harbor.
Water landing rules, conditions and docking change; call the base and check the chart supplement before you go.
02 / Where to stay
Harbor views.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Summer books months ahead.
Roche Harbor · Historic resort
Roche Harbor Resort
The 1886 Hotel de Haro, cottages and a marina at the island’s north end.
Official details for Roche Harbor ResortOrcas Island · Resort
Rosario Resort
A historic mansion resort on Orcas Island.
Official details for Rosario Resort03 / Where to eat
Island seafood.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Saturday dinner · Harbor views
McMillin’s Dining Room at Roche Harbor
Steaks and seafood above the marina, with the evening colors ceremony at sunset.
Official details for McMillin’s Dining Room at Roche HarborLocal guide
More restaurants
Restaurants in Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor.
Visit San Juan Islands for More restaurants04 / Things to do
Whales, lavender and history.
Orcas are most often seen May to September.
Lime Kiln Point State Park
The “whale watch park,” with a lighthouse above the strait.
Washington State Parks05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
July
Lavender season
Fields in bloom on San Juan Island.
Pelindaba for Lavender seasonMay–September
Whale season
Orca and humpback sightings.
The Whale Museum for Whale seasonSummer
Island season
Long days and calm water.
Visit San Juan Islands for Island seasonConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample island weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KFHR or W33 mid-morning.
- Midday
Walk into town and the Whale Museum.
- Afternoon
Lime Kiln Point for whales, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at KFHR or W33, subject to weather and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Walk into Friday Harbor and the Whale Museum.
- Evening
Dinner with a harbor view.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
Lime Kiln Point for whales.
- Afternoon
English Camp and Roche Harbor.
- Evening
Dinner at McMillin’s at Roche Harbor.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
The lavender farm.
- Before leaving
Return the car and allow time at the airport.
- Fly home
Pacific Northwest ceilings can drop quickly; leave with a margin.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
English Camp.
- Afternoon
Roche Harbor.
- Evening
Dinner at McMillin's.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging and a car or bikes.
Very long flight
About 2,150 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.
Field
Bring tie-downs; busy with floatplanes.
Best seasons
June to September.
Reviewed · Destination 203
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.