What is Jetty Island?

Jetty Island is a human-made island just offshore from the Everett Marina. It is about two miles long and a half mile wide and was created to serve as a “breakwater” for the marina. When you’re there, it’s really hard to imagine how this place was human made, but that just adds to the wonder of it all! You can read even more about the island here.

Where is Jetty Island?

Jetty Island is a very short distance offshore from the Everett Marina. You can clearly see it when you’re standing on the dock! The launch point for Jetty Island is about 30 minutes north of Seattle.

When is the best time to visit Jetty Island?

Jetty Island is a great summertime destination, with a beautiful, sandy beach and warm, shallow water perfect for swimming. It’s truly the nicest beach we’ve been to in Washington, and it’s the longest sandy beach in Puget Sound! 

If you want to take the ferry (more info on this below), you’ll need to visit between July 5 and Labor Day, which is the only time period during which it runs. If you have your own means of getting to the island (kayak, SUP, boat, etc.) — you could visit the island at any time. We have only kayaked to the island in the summer (so far!) when the water was very calm with no waves and no wind. In the fall, winter, or spring, you should check the conditions to ensure you will be able to make the short paddle safely. 

If you’re able, time your visit during low tide. The shallow water will stretch on for what feels like forever, and the beach will be at its most pristine with minimal seaweed and beautiful, clear water. 

If you’re looking for a solid beach day — head over in the late morning and make a full day of it. If you’re looking for a shorter, relaxing experience, consider making the paddle in the evening and enjoy the early sunset colors over the water. Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to make it back to the Everett Marina before dark.

How do I get to Jetty Island?

Ferry:

There are two ways to get to Jetty Island, and we’ve had great experiences with both! The first is to take the small 60-person passenger ferry during Jetty Island Days, which operates from July 5 through Labor Day. The ferry runs five days per week (Wednesday through Sunday) and costs $3-$5. You’ll want to make a reservation online here. You will book a time to depart the Everett Marina, and then once you arrive on Jetty Island, you will stop by a tent near the dock to select a return time. You can also book a free return ticket online, but we still needed to stop by the on-island tent to confirm our time. The ferry ride is less than five minutes long, but it’s fun while it lasts!  

Personal Watercraft:

If you want to visit outside of the ferry window or just want to be on your own schedule — then consider hopping in a kayak or SUP (stand-up paddle board) to make the short journey to the island. We have foldable Oru kayaks and made the journey without any issues at all. The water on a summer evening was very calm, and the paddle only took us about five minutes each way. If you don’t own a personal watercraft, you can look into renting one here. 

There are a number of docks and boat launches from which you can easily enter the water on the Everett side, and it will be very obvious where to head because you can see the island before you even start paddling. Once we arrived on shore at Jetty Island, we pulled our kayaks up into the grass where many other people had left their watercraft as well. We took the paddles with us to discourage any funny business, but we honestly weren’t worried with such a chill vibe and so few people on the island. 

Tip: If you’re visiting as the tide is rising — pull your kayak or SUP further up onto shore. When we came back, we were surprised to see how far the water had risen up past the rocky shoreline and our boats were sitting in about six inches of water. It was totally fine, but just something to be aware of.

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Jetty Island parking 

There is plenty of parking in the area. Your best bet is the Jetty Island Public Parking Lot, which is free for the first two hours. If you make a ferry reservation, you will have the option to prepay for additional parking for only $2. You can also easily pay for parking upon arrival, and there is clear signage posted with instructions and rates. It’s a very short walk from the parking lot to where you hop on the ferry or drop in a kayak. You could also pull right up to a boat launch if you have a larger kayak or boat to drop off.

What to expect on Jetty Island

Jetty Island is a small, simple island with no cars, no running water, and no amenities aside from one basic restroom (that may or may not have hand sanitizer provided). You will disembark the ferry near the restroom and then it’s a short 2-3 minute walk across the island to the beach. The walk is essentially flat, and you’re on a sandy path the entire way. Note that the path would be quite tricky for strollers or wheelchairs though. 

You won’t find any food, drinks, or other shops on the island — so be sure to bring everything you need! Please also plan to pack ALL of your trash ALL the way home. Also note that no pets are allowed on the ferry or on the island. 

The beach is sandy and the water is warm and shallow, especially at low tide. If visiting at high tide, you will find some seaweed, but nothing too bad! There is no shade on the beach, so pack an umbrella if you need it. But just remember that you’ll have to carry everything on the small ferry and for a short walk — so be mindful of what you pack (more on that below).

You can find more info about what to expect here, including a schedule of programmed events, such as yoga, nature walks, and more!

What to pack for a visit to Jetty Island

Essentials:

• Face covering (for the ferry) 
• Hand sanitizer
• Plenty of water
• Snacks or a packed lunch in a cooler
• Beach towel
• Swim suit
• Cover-up or change of clothes
• Beach blanket or chairs
• Sunscreen

Other things you may want:

• Small shade umbrella (something portable like this would be great)
• Beach toys for kids and/or easy-to-pack games
• Volleyball (there are nets on the island!) and/or a frisbee
• We really like wearing water shoes for adventures like this . . . great for walking and wearing into the water — they protect your feet and dry quickly! We both like these options from Keen (women | men)
• Cash for a donation– the island is cared for via ferry revenue and donations! We had such a nice visit, we would have gladly left a tip, but were caught off guard without cash on hand

Reminder: no pets are allowed on the ferry or the island. And be prepared to pack out all of your trash and belongings! 

So there you have it — everything you need to know to plan a perfect outing to Jetty Island. If you visit, we’d love to hear about your experience . . . tag us on Instagram or Facebook!