Seattle ferries
Seattle ferries: routes, next sailings and the ride to the dock
Washington State Ferries runs the green-and-white boats across Puget Sound. From downtown Seattle, boats leave Colman Dock (Pier 52) for Bainbridge Island, about 35 minutes, and Bremerton, about an hour. Other routes leave from Fauntleroy in West Seattle (Vashon and Southworth), Edmonds (Kingston), Mukilteo (Whidbey Island) and Anacortes (the San Juan Islands). Walking on never needs a reservation. Cars board first come, first served, except on the San Juans and Port Townsend routes, which take car reservations.
Seatac is an independent travel guide, not affiliated with the Port of Seattle or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
- Downtown terminal
- Colman Dock, Pier 52
- Walk-on
- No reservation needed
- Car reservations
- San Juans, Port Townsend
- Sea-Tac to Anacortes
- About 85 miles
Which ferry for where you're going
| Going to | Ferry | Leaves from |
|---|---|---|
| Bainbridge Island, a walk-on day trip | Seattle – Bainbridge, about 35 min | Colman Dock, downtown Seattle |
| Olympic National Park and Port Angeles | Seattle – Bainbridge, or Edmonds – Kingston | Colman Dock, or Edmonds north of Seattle |
| Bremerton and the Kitsap Peninsula | Seattle – Bremerton, about 1 h | Colman Dock, downtown Seattle |
| Vashon Island | Fauntleroy – Vashon, about 20 min | Fauntleroy, West Seattle |
| Whidbey Island (Langley, Coupeville) | Mukilteo – Clinton, about 20 min | Mukilteo, north of Seattle |
| The San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez) | Anacortes – San Juan Islands, 1 to 2 h | Anacortes, about 85 miles north of Sea-Tac |
| Port Townsend from Whidbey Island | Coupeville – Port Townsend, about 35 min | Coupeville, on Whidbey Island |
Bainbridge Island, a walk-on day trip
Seattle – Bainbridge, about 35 min
Colman Dock, downtown Seattle
Olympic National Park and Port Angeles
Seattle – Bainbridge, or Edmonds – Kingston
Colman Dock, or Edmonds north of Seattle
Bremerton and the Kitsap Peninsula
Seattle – Bremerton, about 1 h
Colman Dock, downtown Seattle
Vashon Island
Fauntleroy – Vashon, about 20 min
Fauntleroy, West Seattle
Whidbey Island (Langley, Coupeville)
Mukilteo – Clinton, about 20 min
Mukilteo, north of Seattle
The San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez)
Anacortes – San Juan Islands, 1 to 2 h
Anacortes, about 85 miles north of Sea-Tac
Port Townsend from Whidbey Island
Coupeville – Port Townsend, about 35 min
Coupeville, on Whidbey Island
Crossing times are typical. Schedules change by season; check the live sailings above or the full schedule.
The details
Pick the terminal by where you're going, then decide walk-on or car. On foot, just turn up 15 minutes before the boat. With a car, check the drive-up count and alerts above before you leave, and book ahead for the San Juans and Port Townsend in summer.
Walking on
Walk-on passengers never need a reservation and rarely miss the boat they turn up for. On most routes you pay only on the way out from the mainland side and ride back free. Buy at the terminal or online, and arrive about 15 minutes before the sailing. It's the easy way to see Bainbridge or Vashon for the day.
Taking a car
Cars line up at the tollbooth in the order they arrive, and on summer weekends and at commute hours the line can be longer than one boat. The drive-up count above shows the spaces left on the next sailings. The Anacortes – San Juans and Port Townsend – Coupeville routes take vehicle reservations: book early for summer, and arrive 45 to 60 minutes before your sailing.
Getting to the terminal
From Sea-Tac, Colman Dock is the closest terminal, on the downtown waterfront. Light rail runs from the airport to Pioneer Square station, about a 10-minute walk away, or we drive you to the door with your bags. For the San Juans, our ride goes all the way to the Anacortes terminal.
If this happens, do this
The drive-up count says the car deck is full
Cars without a reservation will wait for a later boat, sometimes more than one.
Walk on instead, or plan on the sailing after next.
There's an alert on your route
WSF posts delays, cancellations and boat swaps by route. Tides and wind cancel Port Townsend – Coupeville sailings most often.
Read the alert and the next sailings before you leave, and leave extra time.
You fly out of SEA the same day
A late or full boat on the way back can cost an hour or more, and Anacortes is a long drive from the airport.
Leave the islands early, or come back the day before you fly.
Before you go
- 1Check the next sailings and any alert for your route
- 2Walk on if you can: no reservation and no car line
- 3Driving to the San Juans or Port Townsend: reserve a car spot
- 4Leave slack before a flight out of SEA
- 5Book our ride to the terminal with your sailing time in mind
Common mistakes
- Driving on at a summer weekend peak without checking the drive-up count
- Turning up with a car for the San Juans in summer without a reservation
- Planning a same-day flight after an island trip
- Forgetting that the Anacortes terminal is about 85 miles north of the airport
Check the flight, then book the ride
Add your flight number when you book a private ride to or from SEA, and the pickup is planned around your flight.
Official information
Last checked November 6, 2026. Airport services and hours can change, so confirm details for your travel day.