Ride a Washington State Ferry

The Washington State Ferry system is the largest ferry system in the US and the third largest in the world. It's no wonder with all the water we have around here!

The Washington ferries system links the Seattle area on the east side of Puget Sound to towns on the Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Peninsula and to British Columbia in Canada.

If you have never ridden on a ferry, I would recommend riding one at least once during your visit. It's a pleasant way to travel and the scenery is spectacular! It's a unique experience for those who are from places where there is no ferry system. The picture above was taken from the front of the Bainbridge ferry.

It's not real cheap to ride the ferry, but depending on where you are headed it can save you a lot of hours behind the wheel and is a much more fun way to travel than sitting in traffic. Most Seattle ferries can handle vehicles - you drive your car right onto the ferry.

Places via Washington State Ferries where you will need a car:

• Port Townsend - a picturesque seaport with with many Victorian homes and quaint shops
• Port Angeles - a charming town sitting at the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula - it's the gateway to the Olympic National Park - tidepools, sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and a temperate rain forest
• Whidbey Island
• Poulsbo
• Port Orchard

If you are driving onto the ferry, be aware that wait times vary depending on the season of the year and the time of day. On holidays, such as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, you may have to wait up to 2 hours or more just to board the ferry. Summer is also busier than winter. There are a lot of commuters who use the ferries to commute to work and back, so rush hour in the morning and evening will also be busier. Allow extra time to get where you are going and make sure you have a good book to read and snacks to occupy you while you wait!

If you want to explore one of the small towns right by the ferry terminal, you can leave your car behind and walk onto the ferry which is cheaper. Once on the other side, you can explore the town by foot. The ferries also allow bicycles.

Places via the ferry you can visit on foot:

• Kingston
• Bainbridge
• Orcas
• Friday Harbor - Get a local's recommendations about the beaches, trails, restaurants, and hotels of the San Juan Islands Washington, and get the best tips on where to watch for whales.

Once on the ferry, you can get out of your car and go upstairs. There are plenty of seats, some with tables and some without. Much of it is enclosed so even on cold, rainy days it's a pleasant ride.

Make sure you go outside at least once so you get the view without the window glass! At the front of the boat it will be windy so you might want to bring a jacket. Watch for the seagulls that cruise alongside hoping for a handout of popcorn!

Available on most Washington State Ferries:

• snack bar - drinks, sandwiches, fruit, clam chowder, etc
• vending machines
• restrooms
• brochures and maps
• wi-fi (fees apply)

Seattle Ferry Schedule and Terminals

• Main Terminal - located right downtown on the waterfront at Pier 52. Ferries leaving this terminal will take you to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton.
• Edmonds Ferry Terminal - about 14 miles north of downtown in Edmonds. This ferry goes to Kingston. This is the one we always take to get to Port Townsend.
• Mukilteo Ferry Terminal - about 30 miles north of downtown in Mukilteo. This goes to Clinton on Whidbey Island.
• Anacortes Ferry Terminal - about 85 miles north of Seattle. This ferry goes to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands and to Sidney, B.C.

Seattle ferry schedules change from season to season and so do the wait times. You'll want to check the complete Seattle ferry schedule when planning your trip.