Friday Harbor is on San Juan Island, Washington, about 90 miles by road from Seattle.  The following are ways to reach Friday Harbor from Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport or from Vancouver Island, B.C.: 

(1) By plane.  Ground transportation can be arranged from Sea-Tac to any of the small airline terminals listed below.  Flights arrive either at the Friday Harbor Airport or at the sea plane docks at the Friday Harbor marina. The Friday Harbor Laboratories are then a short (1 or 2 mi) taxi ride from the airport or town (see phone numbers below) -- you can often get a ride from someone just by asking. 

Northwest Seaplanes (1-800-690-0086) flies from Lake Washington Terminal in Renton or Boeing Field to Friday Harbor Airport or by seaplane into the harbor. Kenmore Air (1-800-543-9595) flies from Lake Union in Seattle to the sea plane dock in Friday Harbor.  

(2)  By shuttle.  The Sea-Tac Anacortes "Airporter Shuttle" provides van service from Sea-Tac Airport to the Anacortes ferry terminal. The cost of the shuttle is approximately $30 one way; call 1-800-448-8443 for reservations.

(3)  By car.  If driving from Seattle, head north on I-5 to the Anacortes ferry terminal. The drive from Seattle to Anacortes is about 90 miles and takes about 2 hours to drive without traffic; add a half-hour or more if rush hour! Take exit number 230, the Burlington/Anacortes exit, off I-5, and go west on route 20, following signs to the ferry terminal.  (See the Road Map link below). 

(4) Taxi service.  Bob's Taxi Service 360-378-6777 or San Juan Taxi, 360-378-3550.

At Anacortes or Sidney, B.C. as a walk-on passenger you may board the ferry for a pleasant 1.5-2 hr trip. The Friday Harbor Laboratories are then a short (1.5 mi) walk or taxi ride from the Friday Harbor ferry terminal.  If taking a car to Friday Harbor from Anacortes, be sure to arrive at the ferry terminal well in advance of a scheduled sailing, particularly on weekends.  The Washington State Ferry toll-free number within Washington state is: 1-800-84-FERRY and out of state is: 206-464-6400. From Sidney, B.C., you may make a reservation online 48 hours in advance or by phone (206-464-6400, U.S. and 250-381-1551, Canada). The Washington State Ferry schedule can also be found on the internet at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.  There are webcams for the ferry lines at both Anacortes (Lane 4 is for Friday Harbor) and Friday Harbor.

When you have arrived in Friday Harbor, use the following directions to reach the Labs

Follow the ferry traffic into town on Spring Street (the main street through the town of Friday Harbor). Drive two blocks and turn right onto Second Street.  Drive about four blocks, continuing  past the high school, and then turn right at the second stop sign onto Tucker Avenue (also marked as the road to "Roche Harbor").  Follow Tucker about four blocks, downhill and up again. At the top of the hill the road forks.  Take University Road, the right branch marked by a green and white sign. Take the right fork 0.3 miles into campus.  The first right turn takes you into the parking lot for Fernald Lab. Once on campus you can use this FHL campus map.   Your reservation material, including a marked map, will be found inside Fernald on the bulletin board outside the office.

Friday Harbor is a port of entry with customs and immigration offices.  The Friday Harbor Airport (FRD) can even issue boarding passes to Europe and Asia on some airlines, allowing you to check luggage through to your final destination.

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