Looking for the best packing list for visiting the San Juan Islands this summer, everything you need and nothing you don’t?! I worked in the San Juan Islands as a sea kayaking guide summer of 2023 and this is your ultimate guide to packing for a San Juan Islands adventure!

Why this blog? Hi there! I’m Maddy and I’ve been working as a wilderness guide and outdoor writer since 2018. I’ve spent almost two full summers exploring the San Juan Islands both as a guide and expedition paddler, and I’m happy to show you around and share insider tips!

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What to pack for the San Juan Islands Washington:

Weather in the San Juan Islands is often sunny with highs in the 70s in the summer, but cooler near the ocean. Shorts and activewear are appropriate to wear almost everywhere, but there are also plenty of nicer restaurants and venues throughout the island that call for more formal clothing.

Clothes to pack for a San Juan Islands Trip:

• Quick dry shots: I like the Goodwin Shorts with a built-in belt, or these UPF quick dry shorts.
• Sun shirt: Grab a UPF sun hoodie for a trip to the San Juan Islands! The San Juan Islands are very sunny, and if you’re on the water you may get sunburned from the reflection off the water as well.
• Hiking day pack/travel bag: The Perimeter 35L from Granite Gear is my go to weekend hiking bag. I can usually pack an entire weekend in this bag both for car camping, backpacking, or travelling to a hotel, and I’ll use it as my day bag on the trail as well.
• Hiking boots: I love my Oboz Bridger Mids for longer more rugged hikes and a good pair of trail runners for shorter hikes or hikes with stream crossings because they dry very quickly.
• hiking sandals
• Something fancy to wear out! The San Juan Islands have lots of fine dining options.
• A swimsuit: There is so much great swimming in the islands!
• A wetsuit if you want to snorkel or for extended swimming
• A raincoat. I love the Moss Raincoat from Helly Hansen; It’s affordable, cute, and super durable.

Weather in the San Juan Islands:

In the summer, weather in the San Juan Islands is fairly stable. In general, you can expect temperatures from 55-75 degrees F (warmer inland and during the day, cooler at night and by the water) and sun. 

The San Juans are in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, meaning that it rains relatively rarely, especially in the summer. In places, you can find cactus’ growing by the sea!

While rain is uncommon, it does happen in the San Juans! Check the official forecast before heading out without a raincoat. 

What to Pack for Kayaking in the San Juan Islands:

Headed out on a day trip to kayak in the San Juan Islands? You’re going to have a blast! Washington’s San Juan Islands over some of the best kayaking in the US for wildlife. 

While guiding day trips here, I paddled with humpback whales, orcas, and harbor porpoises. Realistically, I would say roughly 20% of tours at Lime Kiln State Park had whale sightings, usually from a distance. 

Here’s what to pack for your sea kayaking day trip in the San Juan Islands:

• Sunscreen! Don’t forget to account for the glare off the water when thinking about applying sunscreen
• A UPF sun hoody.
• Long, lightweight pants. Many people recommend shorts for kayaking; I strongly recommend wearing long pants to protect your legs. Some outfitters use fiberglass boats and you can get fiberglass burn while kayaking if your skin is bare. In addition, long pants will protect your legs in the event of a capsize and rescue, keeping you cut free and comfortable. 
• Old running shoes: many people also recommend sandals like Keens or Tevas for kayaking; in the San Juan Islands, beaches are rocky and your sandals are likely to fill with rocks as you walk. It happens every time, and it hurts. Instead, bring a pair of old running shoes and commit to getting them wet! Your feet will be much happier for it. 
• A water bottle: Bring a nalgene, not a metal water bottle. A metal water bottle will sink even if empty rather than float.
• Binoculars for whale watching! NOCS Field Issue are my favorites! Note that binoculars are a little harder to use from a kayak, especially when it’s not totally calm out on the water. 
• An emergency fleece in a dry bag (most outfitters will provide a dry bag for your use). This is for when you get cold or in case you fall in the water to have something dry to put on after

What to pack for a whale watching tour in the San Juan Islands:

• Binoculars: You’ll definitely want a pair of binoculars for watching wildlife on the ferry over. I’ve owned a few different pairs while sea kayak guiding in the San Juans, and the best pair I’ve had are the NOCS Field Issue, they are absolutely worth the money. Many while watching tours provide binoculars to borrow, but having your own is definitely worth it.
• A insulating layer or puffy jacket. I like my down zip up because it packs down to nothing and layers easily. The temperatures will be much colder on a boat than on land!
• Your camera! You’ll for sure want it
• Extra layers for warmth. It doesn’t hurt to pack an extra layer or two for when temperatures drop out on the water
• A raincoat. I love the Moss Raincoat from Helly Hansen; It’s affordable, cute, and super durable. Whale watching tours can be wet!

Looking for the best places to see whales in the San Juan Islands? Check out this detailed guide to spotting whales in the San Juans!

How to get to the San Juan Islands:

To visit the San Juan Islands, you’ll need to book passage on the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes. Check the schedule or reserve a spot here. Reservations are recommended on the ferry, but to be totally honest I’ve had decent luck on standby without reservations (I only travel during the weekdays).

Bring a car across to San Juan Island and Friday Harbor, then hop on the inter-island ferry to visit the other major islands like Orcas and Lopez. Alternately, walk on to the ferry for cheaper and hop on a sea kayaking day trip– most outfitters pickup within easy walking distance from the ferry. While Friday Harbor is the most popular ferry destination, you can also take a ferry directly from Anacortes to Orcas and Lopez islands as well.

The ferry costs $70 round trip to get to Friday Harbor, and you only pay on the way out.

Where to camp in the San Juan Islands:

Camping in the San Juan Islands falls into two main categories: kayak/boat-in campsites and drive-in campsites. 

Here is a non-exhaustive list of places you can car camp in the San Juan Islands:

• SAN JUAN ISLAND: San Juan Island County Park, ocean front, world class whale watching location. Book in advance. 
• LOPEZ ISLAND: Spencer Spit State Park, ocean front sites are marine trail site (human powered only), but plenty of sites up the ridge. Really beautiful area, great swimming.
• LOPEZ ISLAND: Odlin County Park, 10 ocean front sites, 31 sites total, reserve online in advance
• ORCAS ISLAND: West Beach Resort, campsites with showers, glamping sites, cabins, wood-fire pizza and bar on ocean. Very fun spot 10/10 recommend
• ORCAS ISLAND: Moran State Park, best campsites are up on Mountain Lake, reserve well in advance. Glamping available with LEANTO. Some bike/hike-in only sites available
• ORCAS ISLAND: Obstruction Pass State Park, several hike-in campsites (short hike), usually open, one Cascadia Marine Trail site (paddle-in only)
• SHAW ISLAND: Shaw County Park, Need to take ferry to one of three main islands, then hop on inter-island ferry

Which is the best San Juan Island to visit:

All of the San Juan Islands are beautiful to visit, but each of the three main islands accessible by ferry has it’s own personality. 

Visiting San Juan Island:

San Juan Island is a great island to visit without a car, since you can access all of the town of Friday Harbor easily from the ferry terminal on foot. Many tours, including kayak tours, will pick you up in town, meaning you can do most of the best things on the island without bringing over a car. The trade off of course, is that San Juan is the most crowded of the islands. 

San Juan Island is also home to Lime Kiln State Park, one of the best places for land-based whale watching perhaps in the world. You will, however, need a car to best access Lime Kiln State Park. 

While Lime Kiln State Park is best known for land-based whale watching, American Camp on San Juan Islands is also a great place to see wildlife. Can you see the dorsal fin in the photo on the left above?

Visiting Lopez Island:

Lopez Island is a great island to bike or bike pack (stay at the beautiful Spencer Spit State Park). One of the prettiest of the San Juans, Lopez is mostly flat and especially idyllic with pretty farms and a small town and a number of small beaches and county parks to check out. Lopez is probably the quietest of the three islands. 

On Orcas Island, be sure to check out the Watmough Bay hike. In addition to hiking and beaches, be sure to check out Isabel’s Espresso. While Lopez Island is often overlooked, you can’t miss biking the island and catching a sunset at Spencer Spit (pictured above).

Visiting Orcas Island:

Orcas Island is my personal favorite island, and probably has the most to do with relatively little crowds compared to San Juan. Orcas has some world class hiking trails both in Moran State Park and at Turtleback Mountain. The food is great, the art scene is fun, there are really fun rental cabins and glamping options, and you could easily spend a week or more exploring here. 

For an ideal, one-week trip in the San Juans (not sea kayaking) I would recommend starting with 2-days on San Juan Island, doing 3-days on Orcas Island, and ending with 2-days on Lopez Island. There is an inter island ferry to connect you between islands that takes cars. 

For more on visiting the San Juan Islands…

Looking for all the most-detailed guides to visiting the San Juan Islands? I’m here to help! These guides are all written by me, someone who has worked as an in-person tour guide in the San Juans and designed to help set you up for the perfect trip with insider tips:

• Check out all of the best things to do in the San Juan Islands
• Looking for the best places to sea kayak? Here are all my favorite sea kayaking spots in the San Juans!
• Do you love to hit the trail? Check out all the best day hiking in the San Juan Islands
• Planning a road trip through Washington and looking to hit the San Juans? Start here for the perfect 7-day Washington Road Trip!

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