By car, the drive from Seattle to the Anacortes ferry terminal takes about 2 hours. Take I-5  north to the Highway 20 exit just north of Mt. Vernon. Take Highway 20 west, following the signs through Anacortes to the San Juan Islands Ferry Terminal. In the summer, the ferries are crowded. Plan to be at the terminal a minimum of 2 hours prior to the scheduled sailing in order to avoid lengthy delays. You can call the Washington State Ferries at (800)843-3779 or visit their website at  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/  for current schedules and advice on when to arrive for your planned sailing.