Shaw Island is the smallest of the four San Juan Islands served by the Washington State Ferries, at just under 8 sq mi (21 km²). It has a year-round population about 200 people, though summertime weekends swell with other residents and the occasional tourist.

The Wilkes Expedition, in 1841, named the island after John Shaw, a United States Naval Officer.

There are two Catholic religious institutes of nuns on Shaw Island. Benedictine nuns established a monastery on 150 acres in the 1970s; while the Sisters of Mercy have owned an unofficial retreat on the island since the 1980s. Nuns of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist ran the island's only store and the ferry terminal for more than two decades until 2004 where they could be seen in full habit directing ferry traffic.

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Map of Shaw Island

Shoreline access is best at the Shaw County Park.

There are 11.5 mi (18.5 km) of asphalt and 2.37 mi (3.81 km) of gravel public roads on Shaw. The primary roads are three loops in the interior of the island, with branches to the ferry dock, Shaw Island County Park, Neck Point, and Broken Point.

Shaw Island has a county park, a historic general store, and a post office at the ferry landing.

• 48.572778-122.9619441 Little Red Schoolhouse (Shaw Island Elementary School), 44 Hoffman Cove Road. An operational historic one-room school (although a second room was later added), with classes for elementary and middle school students. It has been in continuous use since it was built in 1890 and is the longest-running school in the state of Washington. The building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. (updated Jun 2025)
• 48.57312-122.961142 Shaw Island Library and Historical Society (Corner of Blind Bay Rd/Neck Point Rd & Hoffman Cove Rd/Ben Nevis Loop), ☏ +1 360-468-4068, [email protected]. (updated Jun 2025)

• 48.58407-122.929241 Shaw Island General Store, 37 Blind Bay Rd (to the left as you get off the ferry), ☏ +1 360-468-2288. Oct-May: M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Jun-Sep: M-Sa 10AM-6PM. Only store on the island. They sell groceries, hot coffee, nails, toiletry items and anything in between to the residents and visitors on the island. They also operate the ferry ramp and sell the ferry tickets as well as fishing licenses for the state. (updated May 2015)

• 48.566535-122.9354771 Shaw Island County Park Campground, Squaw Bay Rd & Parkway Rd (south side of island at the shores of Indian Cove). Basic campground with 11 camping spots at the shores of Indian Cove. Only "accommodations" available as a campground as there are no hotels or hostels on the island. Reservations are recommended during the summer from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; otherwise, it is first-come, first served. (updated May 2015)