Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is a town of 2,728 people in San Juan County, Washington, founded in 1845.
Why visit Friday Harbor
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 31 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Biological Hill, Palace Theatre, The Whale Museum and Whale Museum.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 73°F; February lows average 36°F.
Weather in Friday Harbor
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,613 at the 2020 census. Located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and is the county seat of San Juan County.
From the Wikipedia article Friday Harbor, Washington (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks10
Whale Museum
Museum
62 1st Street, Friday Harbor
Mo-Su 10:00-16:00; Dec 24,Dec 31 10:00-14:00; Dec 25,Jan 01 off;...
Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center
Monument and historic site
185 First Street South, Friday Harbor
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes31
Friday Harbor Ice Cream Company
Ice cream
1 Spring Street, Friday Harbor
Mo-Su 11:00-21:30
19 more on the map.
History
In 1845 the Hudson's Bay Company laid claim to San Juan Island. In 1850 they built a salmon curing station. A few years later they started a sheep farm.
The town's name originates from Joseph Poalie Friday, a native Hawaiian. Friday worked at the Puget Sound Agricultural Company's Fort Cowlitz, from 1841 to 1859–60 and later moved north to San Juan Island, raising and herding sheep around the harbor.
After the peaceful settlement obtained following the Pig War, the San Juan Islands became a separate county in 1873. Friday Harbor was named the county seat. Friday Harbor was officially incorporated on February 10, 1909. It remains the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands.
Sailing ships, and later, the steamships of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet, visited the harbor on a regular basis hauling passengers, mail and freight. Freight from the island would include apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, peas, cream, eggs, chickens, grain, salmon, and lime. All were produced on or around San Juan Island. The Great Depression, World War II, the pea weevil, and competition from Eastern Washington growers brought about the decline of traditional island industries, diminishing Friday Harbor's export trade. The 1970s brought new industries – tourism, retirement, real estate, and construction. Today, Friday Harbor is again busy and prosperous.
From the History section of Friday Harbor, Washington on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay11
San Juan County Fairgrounds Camping
Campground · 0.6 mi
846 Argyle Avenue, Friday Harbor
Churches and places of worship4
St. David Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 0.4 mi
780 Park Street, Friday Harbor
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter Day Saints · 0.6 mi
Shopping15
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare2
Map of Friday Harbor
105 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 37°F | 2.7 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 36°F | 1.5 in |
| Mar | 53°F | 38°F | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 41°F | 1.0 in |
| May | 64°F | 44°F | 1.1 in |
| Jun | 68°F | 48°F | 0.8 in |
| Jul | 72°F | 50°F | 0.5 in |
| Aug | 73°F | 50°F | 0.7 in |
| Sep | 68°F | 48°F | 1.0 in |
| Oct | 58°F | 44°F | 2.3 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 40°F | 3.0 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 37°F | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Friday Harbor Ap (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Juan County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-01-05: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-04-23: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2007-02-14: Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2006-05-17: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Anacortes 18 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Oak Harbor 24 mi southeast, about 39 min by car
- Coupeville 27 mi southeast, about 43 min by car
- Bellingham 29 mi northeast, about 47 min by car
- Ferndale 29 mi northeast, about 47 min by car
- Birch Bay 30 mi northeast, about 48 min by car
- Port Townsend 30 mi south, about 49 min by car
- Burlington 32 mi east, about 51 min by car
- Mount Vernon 33 mi east, about 54 min by car
- Port Angeles 35 mi southwest, about 56 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aerial Friday Harbor Washington August 2009, Jelson25, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.