Visitors and natives alike enjoy using Washington state ferries to travel to and from the islands, or across Puget Sound. The ferries can accommodate passengers with cars, bicycles or on foot. Drivers can stay in their vehicle or spend the trip in the passenger areas.
Washington State Ferry Terminal Locations
Ferry terminals in the Seattle area can be found at Pier 52 on the downtown waterfront, or further north in the town of Edmonds. Take advantage of this low-key and scenic mode of travel to visit many different places in Puget Sound.
Ferry terminals in the greater Seattle area include:
- Downtown Seattle – at Pier 52 on the downtown waterfront
- Edmonds – North Seattle
- Fauntleroy – West Seattle
- Mukilteo – North Seattle
- Pt. Challenge – in Tacoma
Other terminals on the Washington State ferry system are at:
- Anacortes
- Bainbridge Island
- Bremerton
- Friday Harbor (San Juan Island)
- Kingston
- Lopez Island
- Orcas Island
- Port Townsend
- Shaw Island
- Southworth (Kitsap Peninsula)
- Tahlequah (South Vashon Island)
- Victoria, BC (Sidney, BC)
- Vashon Island
- Whidbey Island (Coupeville and Clinton)
Waiting to board a Washington state ferry
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before scheduled loading times. During some moments and on some routes, the waits can be two hours or more to board the vehicle, especially on summer weekends. It is always advisable to check the conditions on the day of your trip. These official Washington State Ferry resources will help you plan your specific trip.
- Timeouts
Find out the typical wait time at each ferry terminal - Ferry cameras
Get live, real-time views of ferry terminals and waiting lines - Service bulletins and unexpected service interruptions
Learn about current mechanical, construction, or other issues that could cancel or limit service on certain routes. Another way to get the current status of the ferries is to subscribe to the WSDOT Ferries Twitter feed or email alerts. - Bookings
Advanced reservations can be made for some especially busy routes.
Washington State Ferries Fares and Tickets
Ferry rates vary considerably depending on the size of your vehicle and the distance your route travels. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at a toll booth or kiosk in the terminal. Frequent flyers can use their Wave2Go or ORCA cards. Check the WSDOT Ferries website for up-to-date fare information for your particular needs.
Personal checks will not be accepted. You can buy ferry tickets with the following:
- cash
- credit card – VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Cards
- Debit
- traveler’s check
Ferry Day Trips for Visitors
Washington State Ferries are used by business and recreational travelers to reach an island or cross the Puget Sound. To get from here to there. But sometimes, you want to travel by ferry just to experience the ferry and enjoy the scenery. In this case, a fun and relaxing option is to choose one of these frequent routes and travel as a passenger, leaving your car behind. These routes take you to small oceanfront communities where you can walk and explore shops, restaurants, and natural areas, before your return trip.
- Seattle to Bainbridge Island
There is quite a bit to explore within walking distance of the ferry dock. You will have to walk a few blocks from the residential area to reach the beautiful area of the marina and the shops, galleries and restaurants of the center. For a full day, take your car to explore more of Bainbridge Island and the nearby Kitsap Peninsula, or take a guided tour with Kitsap Tours. This route also allows you to enjoy great views of downtown Seattle from the ferry. - Edmonds to Kingston
While there is less to see and do in the Kingston Ferry Pier area than there is on Bainbridge Island, the actual ferry ride is a bit longer and you will see more of Puget Sound.
The size of Washington state ferries
The 23 ships on the Washington State Ferry system come in a variety of sizes. The largest ferries are over 400 feet long and can accommodate up to 200 cars and 2,500 passengers. The smallest ferry in the fleet, the Hiyu, is 160 feet long and can handle up to 34 cars and 200 passengers.
