Washington State Ferries
4.3(432)google
3.8(306)yelp
FerryWater ActivityScenic LookoutCoastTransit Heritage
Overview
Washington State Ferries (WSF) is a public ferry system in the U.S. state of Washington that carries passengers and vehicles. A division of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), it operates 8 routes serving 20 terminals within Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. The routes are designated as part of the state highway system and also comprise a major public transit network in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Practical Info
Best Time(Note: Specialized dedicated profile for this world-famous marine transit network). May to October is prime to cruise across Puget Sound and spot wild migrating Orca pods. Securing a twilight vehicle reservation between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM is elite (requires advance online booking). Standing on the open-air passenger sun-deck to watch the sun sink behind the mountain chains is iconic.
Getting ThereThe primary gateway ferry terminal servicing Orcas Island is located at 2100 Ferry Way in Anacortes. Drive north from Seattle via I-5 N to Exit 230, merge onto WA-20 W westward for 15 miles into Anacortes, and follow ferry signs straight to the coastal terminal. Autos must line up inside designated lane grids with pre-booked passes to drive straight into the vessel's hull.
Travel Tips
- Foot passengers can bypass lines by tapping local transit ORCA cards directly at the gate; motorized vehicles must pass staging checks 45-60 minutes before sailing or risk automated spot cancellation.
- You must completely deactivate all built-in anti-theft vehicle alarms once parked on deck; heavy vessel engine vibrations routinely trigger car sirens, resulting in immediate maritime fines.
- Outer steel viewing decks run highly hazardous slick films during sea squalls; keep physical hands secured on safety guardrails at all times, and note that smoking or vaping is completely outlawed.
Reviews
Positive
- The massive white-and-green two-story auto ferries are grand; decks offer a 360-degree sweep of the skyline, Mount Rainier, and blue waters—truly authentic.
- The ferry interior infrastructure is complete; massive passenger cabins feature powerful climate control, restrooms are plentiful and clean, and lifts support strollers seamlessly.
- Crossing the sound offers rich maritime adventure fun, with occasional wild dolphin encounters; crew and ticketing staff display highly polite, efficient manners.
- As part of the official state public transit web, walk-on passenger tickets without vehicles are remarkably cheap, giving its value a top score.
Heads up
- (Note: bared down by severe aging vessel breakdowns and crew shortage crises recently, routes face frequent unannounced delays or sudden cancellations, lacking reliability.)
- Driving vehicles onto the ferries demands expensive secondary ticket spending, and summer weekend peaks force car queues to back up for miles, hitting driving transit ease hard.
- Holiday or sunset sailings bring saturated redlines inside passenger lounges; channels fill with people, making it hard to secure a spot at the deck railing.
- The internal food kiosks feature sparse, mediocre fast food choices with sharp monopoly premiums, and columns of directional maps miss multi-language versions.