Students should plan to check in at FHL between 2 and 6 pm on Arrival Day (the day before classes begin; see Dates & Schedules).

How to Get to the Island

FHL is located on San Juan island, off the coast of Washington State, 75 miles NW of Seattle. To get here, you’ll need to take a plane or boat (or car on a boat).  Depending on where you are coming from and how much you want to pay, there are several options for getting here; for all those options, see How to Get to FHL. The Washington State Ferry system transports people and vehicles to and from the San Juan Islands several times a day, and is the least expensive way to get to Friday Harbor; this page provides details on using the ferry.

The ferry between Anacortes and Friday Harbor runs about every three hours. Check the ferry schedule for times, entering the date you’ll be traveling, and selecting Departing Terminal “Anacortes” and Arriving Terminal “Friday Harbor”.

RESERVATIONS FOR VEHICLE: PLAN AHEAD

Make reservations well in advance if you’re taking a car (no reservation necessary if you’re walking on). If the ferries appear full when you get onto the reservations site, you can try again when more spaces become available, which will be exactly two weeks and two days before the day of travel. Note that the spaces will open at 7:00 am sharp on those days, and you will want to log in by 7:00 in order to grab a reservation (they can go fast).

If you are traveling with a vehicle on the ferry, you should get to the ferry terminal at least 45 minutes before your scheduled departure.  The ferry ride itself is usually 1-2 hours long, depending on how many islands the ferry stops at along the way.  It’s common for the ferries to run late (even by hours), but that’s just part of island life!

How to Get to FHL from the Town of Friday Harbor

The ferry arrives in the town of Friday Harbor, about 1.5 miles (a 20-30 minute walk or 6 minute drive) from FHL. Once you’ve arrived to the island, you can drive, walk, or get a ride to FHL. For mobile directions, enter the address: 620 University Road, Friday Harbor (directions are also at bottom of this page).

We offer rides to FHL for students walking off particular afternoon ferries. Those coming by any other ferry, by the Victoria Clipper, or by plane must find their own way to FHL; if you don’t have a car, you can walk (~1/2 hour) or call Friday Harbor Taxi: 360-298-4434 (cost ~$10).

Someone from FHL will drive a van into town to pick up students walking off one or two of the afternoon ferries. **While FHL is under COVID-19 regulations, we will only pick up luggage; students must walk or take a taxi to FHL.

FERRIES FOR WHICH FHL WILL DO PICKUPS

If you are planning to get a ride on an FHL van, be sure to walk directly to the pick-up location upon arrival.  When you walk off the ferry, you will be directed toward a walkway along the left of the car ramp. At the end of the walkway, turn immediately right and cross the car ramp.  Walk past the red ice cream shop on your right and proceed to the traffic circle; in that circle, look for a white van.

When You Get to FHL

Check in at the Dining Hall any time after 2 pm. There you’ll find a table near the front door on which we’ve posted room assignments and other information for arriving students.  Put a check mark next to your name on the sheet, and note the key code you will need to enter the dorm buildings as well as a flyer about the schedule for that evening and the next morning.  As long as you arrive by 6 pm, someone will be there to provide you with a room key and answer questions.  If you arrive later, you will have to get your key the next day (your room or hut will be unlocked).

Dorm rooms and huts will be unlocked when you arrive.  If you arrive between 2:00 and 6:00 pm, someone will be in the Dining Hall to give you a room key.  If you arrive later, you can get a key on the next day (meanwhile, be careful not to lock yourself out of your room)!

Move into your room (any time after 2:00 pm).  The dorm buildings are a short walk away from the Dining Hall, across the road and up a footpath heading away from the water.

If you have a car, you can drive further into campus, turning left up a hill to the parking lot behind the “Commons” building, near the dorms.  You can park your car in that lot or anywhere you find a designated parking spot on campus.  A parking permit is not required.  DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASS.

Above: Dorm Building C

The first meal served to students on campus will be that evening at 6:00 pm.  The rest of the evening is free for students to get settled, unpack and meet one another; there are no planned activities after dinner.

The next morning, breakfast will be served between 7:45 and 8:15 am and classes will meet at 8:30 am, in the room noted on the handout you receive upon arrival.

 On that first day, you and your classmates will be guided through tours of important FHL facilities and will meet briefly with FHL Student Services. You should then make any remaining payments and, if you are an international student with an I-20 Form from UW, show us the I-20 and your passport.

Directions for driving or walking to FHL: from the ferry landing, follow the cars turning right off the ferry, then immediately left onto Spring Street (the main street in town). Go two blocks, then turn right on Second St. Go about four blocks and at the second stop sign, turn right onto Tucker Ave.  Follow Tucker for 0.3 mile to the fork at the top of the hill.  Take the right fork onto University Rd, proceeding another 0.3 mi to enter campus.