First-Time Visitor Guide
Honest expectations, the short packing list, and what nobody told you the first time.
Honest expectations, before you board.
Anderson Island is a real working community of about 1,400 year-round residents. People come here to slow down, walk a beach, or visit family on the island. It is not a tourist destination in the brochure sense - no hotels, no boutique shopping district, no themed weekends.
If that sounds like exactly the kind of place you've been looking for, you'll have a great trip. If you were expecting Friday Harbor, you'll be disappointed. The guide below is meant to set the right expectations before you board the ferry.
What to bring.
There is no place to buy anything on the island. Whatever you need for the day - or the weekend - comes over with you on the ferry.
- A full tank of gas. Top off in Steilacoom.
- Cash. Plan to have it before you board.
- Snacks, drinks, or a packed lunch. For the day or for the trail.
- Groceries. If you're staying overnight, bring the food you'll need.
- Layers and a windbreaker. Coastal weather shifts fast, even in summer.
- Sturdy shoes. Real trails, not boardwalks.
- Sunscreen and bug spray. Both, in summer. The mosquitoes near the lakes are committed.
- Your charger. Cell service has dead spots that drain battery.
- Whatever a kid needs. No last-minute diapers, juice boxes, or band-aids - bring it from home.
- Trash bags. Pack out what you pack in.
Day trip or overnight?
Day trips and stays are different exercises. A day trip works around the ferry schedule and assumes you'll bring everything you need. An overnight stay lets you slow down, but it also means thinking ahead about food and groceries since the store is closed.
What you should know.
The small things that catch first-time visitors off guard.
There is no fuel on the island. The General Store and its gas station are indefinitely closed. Fill up in Steilacoom before you board.
The only ATM on the island is inside the Lakeshore Restaurant. It's not always accessible - bring cash with you to be safe.
Generally fine in most areas. A few dead zones around the parks and shoreline. Don't count on a signal everywhere.
At the ferry terminal and at the parks. There's nothing in between - plan accordingly if you're walking far.
The General Store, hardware store, deli, and Post Office are all closed. Bring what you need. Mail to island residents now arrives via cluster mailboxes.
The Riviera Lakeshore Restaurant is the only food option. Open to the public, but check hours before you count on it for a meal.
Quietly, this is a point of pride. The roads are narrow, deer cross often, and most people drive slowly. You should too.
There's a Pierce County transfer station on the island with limited hours. As a visitor, plan to take your trash back with you - public bins are scarce.
Dogs are welcome on the ferry and on most trails on leash. There are no veterinary services on the island.
This is the kind of place where the wifi might be slow.
Anderson Island isn't trying to impress you. There's no scenic overlook with a gift shop, no harbor lined with cafés, no themed weekends. What's here is quiet roads, real shoreline, three lakes that haven't been developed around, deer in your yard if you're lucky enough to have a yard, and a small group of people who chose this on purpose.
If that sounds restful, you'll love it. If you came expecting more, you'll spend the whole day looking for it. We're telling you up front so you can pick the trip that fits.
More on getting here.
Ferry Schedule & Info
Sailing times, fares, rider alerts, and what to know about boarding. The page to bookmark before your first trip - and every trip after.
Read MoreSteilacoom Side
Getting to the terminal from Seattle or Tacoma. Where to park, what the wait looks like, and where to spend an hour if you have one.
Read MoreBy Boat or Kayak
The ferry isn't the only way over. Marina realities, private moorage, paddling routes, and what to know about the South Sound's tides and currents before you launch.
Read More