Anacortes, WA

Ferry traffic is part of Anacortes’s daily operating rhythm, not merely a visitor attraction. The Washington State Ferries terminal on Fidalgo Island links the city with Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan islands, while a separate Skagit County ferry crosses Guemes Channel to Guemes Island. The city occupies land where Samish and Swinomish people lived for thousands of years. Amos Bowman established the settlement in 1879 and adapted its name from that of his wife, Anne Curtis Bowman, while promoting the site as a hoped-for railroad terminus. That railroad boom collapsed, but canneries and lumber mills sustained the town before refineries, marinas, and boatbuilding became prominent. Anacortes recorded 17,637 residents in the 2020 census. Current routines extend well beyond waiting for a boat. Vehicle reservations are recommended on the Anacortes–San Juan Islands route, particularly during summer traffic, so departure times and ferry-space planning shape trips for island residents and visitors alike.

Inside the city, more than 2,950 acres of Anacortes Community Forest Lands protect forests, wetlands, lakes, and meadows threaded by over 50 miles of multiuse trails. Washington Park adds 220 acres on Rosario Strait, a 68-site campground, boat launch, beach, picnic space, and a 2.3-mile loop road; 37-acre Cap Sante Park provides a close-in climb above the marina and downtown. The 2026 community calendar shows how those outdoor settings connect with a working town center. The Anacortes Farmers Market meets at the Depot on Saturdays from May through October, the Port schedules free summer concerts at Seafarers’ Memorial Park, and the Anacortes Arts Festival closes several blocks of Commercial Avenue for art, food, and performances.