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Major city · United States

Anderson Island

Go for one night, two at most: a car ferry from Steilacoom, 170 acres of wetland trails, a farm museum and no hotels. Skip if you want nightlife or a beach resort.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep (driest trails); May and Oct are quieter and often wet
avoid Nov–Mar (trails muddy, many rentals closed, short daylight)
Airports
SEA · OLM
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Anderson Island is the southernmost island in Puget Sound, reached by a Pierce County ferry from Steilacoom in about 20 minutes. It is a rural residential island: two lakes, wooded trails, a restored 1896 farm, a nine-hole golf course and a handful of places to eat. There are no hotels, so you sleep in a bed and breakfast or a rented house, and you need a car or a bike to see anything. It suits a quiet one- or two-night break from Tacoma or Olympia, not a sightseeing checklist.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Anderson Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and a pastry at the island café$6–12
  • Sit-down mealDinner main at the lakeshore restaurant$18–32
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or soup$10–16
  • BeerDraught beer$6–9
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–35
  • Budget bedRented house (up to 6), a night, per roomUS$250
  • Mid-range bedBed and breakfast room, a night, per roomUS$190
  • High-end bedBed and breakfast room, a night, per roomUS$300

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$120 · High US$200

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Pierce County ferry from SteilacoomAndy's Wildlife Park wetlandsJohn O. Johnson FarmLake Josephine and Riviera Community Club
Airports
SEA Seattle–Tacoma International (About 1 h 15 min by car to the Steilacoom ferry landing; no direct bus to the dock.) · OLM Olympia Regional (Small field, limited service; about 45 min by car to Steilacoom.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Anderson Island: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

18 rd

Feb

9°C

2°C

15 rd

Mar

12°C

3°C

17 rd

Apr

15°C

5°C

14 rd

May

19°C

8°C

11 rd

Jun

22°C

10°C

9 rd

Jul

25°C

12°C

5 rd

Aug

25°C

12°C

5 rd

Sep

22°C

10°C

8 rd

Oct

16°C

7°C

14 rd

Nov

11°C

4°C

18 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Drive or cycle. Eckenstam Johnson Road runs north–south and most sights sit off it; the island has many small meandering roads and no bus service. Bring a car on the ferry if you can, or plan on a bike — distances are short but the roads are narrow and shoulderless in places.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Steilacoom

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Pierce County ferry from the Yoman Road landing, about 20 min

The mainland side of the crossing: historic houses, a small waterfront and the ferry dock.

Tacomago

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Ferry to Steilacoom, then drive about 25 min north on I-5

Museums and waterfront; a full day, not a half.

Olympia, Washingtongo

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Ferry to Steilacoom, then drive about 40 min south on I-5

State capital, farmers market and waterfront.

Ketron Island

caution

Door to door: About 20 min

Pierce County ferry, limited runs only

Few sailings and almost no facilities: check the timetable before you plan around it.

Eagle Island State Park

caution

Door to door: Varies

Boat only; mooring buoys on the west and east sides

Ten-acre marine park with trails and camping, no ferry service.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Lake Josephine / Riviera area

Most bed and breakfasts and rental houses, plus the golf course and the lakeshore restaurant.

Eckenstam Johnson Road corridor

The island's main north–south road: café, general store and the trailheads are along it.

Near the ferry landing (Yoman Road)

Shortest walk off the boat; fewest beds, so book early.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Bed and breakfast room1 × 1 night × US$190US$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120US$240
Pierce County ferry, car and driver, each way1 × US$30 · checkUS$30
Pierce County ferry, walk-on passenger, each way2 × US$6 · checkUS$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$51
Trip total≈ US$282 per person per day, bed includedUS$563

No hotels on the island; many B&Bs close in winter.

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Ferry fares and your own car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a pastry at the island café$6–12
Deli sandwich or soup$10–16
Dinner main at the lakeshore restaurant$18–32
Draught beer$6–9
Nine-hole green fee at the community clubcheck; some amenities are members-only$25–45
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–35

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are wet, unlit rural roads, winter flooding on the trails and the lack of a hospital. Call 911 and the volunteer fire department handles transport off the island.
  • The ferry runs roughly hourly, about 05:00–22:30, and vehicles need a reservation in summer: check the Pierce County ferry page before you book a bed.
  • No hotels on the island — bed and breakfasts and rental houses only, and many close in winter.
  • Cell coverage is patchy and there is no hospital: the volunteer fire department runs the ambulance, and serious cases go off-island by ferry, fireboat or helicopter.
  • Trails at Andy's Wildlife Park flood in winter; the loop is a summer walk.
  • Restaurant hours are short and change with the season: check before you count on dinner.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Anderson Island Fire/Rescue (Pierce County Fire District 27), office hours
+1 253-884-4040
Pierce County ferry information
+1 253-588-1950

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Anderson IslandAnderson Island

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Anderson Island Fire/Rescue+1 253-884-4040
  • Pierce County ferry+1 253-588-1950

Embassy

No consulates on the island. Nearest consulates-general are in Seattle; embassies are in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Steilacoom → Anderson Island, walk-on: about $6 each way, about 20 min (check)
  • Steilacoom → Anderson Island, car and driver: about $30 each way; reserve in summer (check)
  • Steilacoom → Tacoma by car: about 25 min via I-5

Say or show

  • Where is the ferry landing? — Where is the ferry landing?
  • One adult, round trip, please — One adult, round trip, please
  • Do you take cards? — Do you take cards?
  • Is there a table for two? — Is there a table for two?
  • How do I get back to Steilacoom? — How do I get back to Steilacoom?

Print this card before you go: coverage is patchy and the ferry timetable is the one thing you must not miss.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Anderson Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep (driest trails); May and Oct are quieter and often wet · avoid Nov–Mar (trails muddy, many rentals closed, short daylight) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-to-bed contract: last sailing field-checked, vehicle reservation rule, walk-on fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: ferry landing, Eckenstam Johnson Road, Lake Josephine and Riviera, Andy's trailheads.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Andy's Wildlife Park, Andy's Marine Park, John O. Johnson Farm, Eagle Island) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources