The Shannon Point Marine Center is located in Anacortes, Washington, USA, approximately 40 miles from the Western Washington University campus in Bellingham, Washington. The facility is located on the mainlandand is readily accessible by car (driving directions). Depending on traffic, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive to Shannon Point from Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, British Columbia. Proof-of-citizenship is required to cross the US-Canadian border and it is strongly advised that international travelers carry a passport to facilitiate border crossings.

The Marine Center is located within walking distance of the Washington State Ferry terminal in Anacortes. From Anacortes, the ferries serve Lopez Island, Shaw Island, and San Juan Island (home of the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Marine Laboratory) yearround. Seasonal service is available to Sidney, British Columbia.

San Juan Airlines has service between Anacortes (74S) and the San Juan Islands from the airports of Eastsound (ORS) on Orcas Island, Friday Harbor (FHR) on San Juan Island, Lopez on Lopex Island, and Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. Pick-ups and dropoffs to and from other airports in the San Juan Island are available. San Juan Airlines also offers charter service throughout Western Washington and British Columbia.

Service to the major international airports in Seattle, Washington (SEA) and Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR) is available through many air carriers. There is also a smaller regional airport (BLI) in Bellingham, Washington near the Western Washington University campus that is served by regional air carrier service from Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

The Bellair Shuttle offers transportation between the Seattle-Tacoma airport and Anacortes. Additional information about ground transportation to and from the Seattle-Tacoma airport is available through their web site. There is also train and bus service between the city of Seattle and Mount Vernon (about 20 miles from SPMC), and local bus service service within Skagit County.