Wait Time

Walk-on passengers should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure time.
Updated: 11.23.2009, 8:27PM

Directions to Point Defiance Terminal
From I-5: Take exit 132 (Hwy 16). Proceed west on Hwy 16 approximately 3 miles and exit on the 6th Avenue exit (signed Vashon ferry). Turn left onto 6th Avenue at the stop light. Turn right at the next stop light onto Hwy 163 (Pearl Street). Proceed north, approximately 3.5 miles, to the stop sign at the entrance to Pt. Defiance Park. Stay in the right lane and bear to the right. Do not enter the park. Auto toll plaza one block on right. Ferry terminal located at end of street. Parking to the left of terminal.

Point Defiance Terminal Parking
Metropolitan Park Services handles adjacent parking.

Lost and Found
All lost & found items on this route are turned into the Point Defiance Terminal. You can reach the Lost & Found Department at 206-515-3439. Their hours of operation are 10:00am to 6:00pm Thursday thru Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Our Information Agents can also assist you with lost & found inquiries from 7:00am through 5:45pm daily at 206-464-6400 or 1-888-808-7977.

Directions to Point Defiance from SeaTac Airport

• Keep right on North Exit Dr. towards WA-99 / S. 170th St. / Freeway 518.
• Follow the road signs to the freeway. Drive north on WA-99 to enter eastbound on 518.
• You will need to get on I-5 South from 518, which you can find by following the road signs.
• Take I-5 south for approximately 18.7 miles to state route SR-525.
  
• From I-5 south, take exit 132, turn right onto the ramp towards WA-16/South 38th St./Gig Harbor, and stay on for 3.2 miles.
  
• Turn right(West) onto the ramp heading towards 6th Ave., then turn left onto 6th Ave.
  
• Turn right (North) onto North Pearl Street, and stay on for about 3 miles, North Pearl Street becomes SR-163 and ends at the ferry terminal.
• You will arrive at the terminal which is located at 5810 N. Pearl St.

Point Defiance Rideshare Information
Carpool/Vanpools must be ticketed and in line 10 minutes before scheduled sailing time to receive preferential loading. If you are late, you will be loaded on a space available basis at the end of the loading. For information or to register for our rideshare program check online at: Rideshare

Point Defiance Bicycle Information
When traveling on the ferries, bicyclists may bypass the line of vehicle traffic to get onto the ferry dock but must go through a tollbooth. Bicyclists should arrive 20 minutes prior to departure time to be loaded at the beginning of loading. If a bicyclist arrives after vehicle loading has begun, they will be loaded at the end of the load. Please follow the directions of our crew. Passes are available for a $20 yearly registration fee, For an annual bike permit and for general information on our bike pass program: Bike Pass

WSF Fare Discounts
There are several types of discounted fares for customers who commute daily to work, school or who just ride the ferry frequently. Fares can also be discounted based on age. On the Pt Defiance/Tahlequah route fares are collected going to the island. There are no tolls or fares sold or collected at Tahlequah. In fact, there is no staff at Tahlequah; WSF terminal employees arrive via the vessel that is landing at Tahlequah.

Multi-ride Products

Multi-ride tickets for passenger and or car/driver are available and reflect a 20% savings from the single ticket purchase. They are good for 90 days from the date of purchase and are non-refundable. Car and driver multi-ride products have 10 “round-trip” tickets at a cost of $121.60; the passenger multi-ride card is $35.60.

Monthly Passes

The best deal for the passenger commuter who travels on by ferry, with no transit connection, is the “ferry only” Monthly Pass. These are sold online between the 15th and 25th of the previous month at $57.00, which includes Fauntleroy/Vashon, Southworth/Vashon and Pt. Defiance/Tahlequah auto ferries. These passes are good for 31 rides for the calendar month of issue. If you ride at least 16 times in the month, the passenger pass is the best way to go providing the greatest discount.

The ferry only passes can be purchased on-line and at retail locations at: Monthly Passes

Puget Passes

These passes, which cover the cost of ferry and transit fares combined, are sold at the ferry terminal and through Metro Transit. They are good for a calendar month.

WSF Vashon Island & $2.00 Puget Pass is $129.00 For more information or to buy these passes online click on the Metro web site link: Metro Online

Disability and Age Based Fares

For passengers who have a disability or have reached the age of 65 years or more, the fare is discounted 50%. The passenger fare is $2.20 for the Fauntleroy/Vashon, Southworth/Vashon or Point Defiance/Tahlequah. There is a portion discounted on the car and driver fare also, not half of car but at least half off the person driving the car. Car and senior/disabled driver is $12.95, round trip, to Vashon Island.

For passengers who are between the ages of 6 and 18, the passenger fare is $3.60 from Pt Defiance to Tahlequah. This is a 20% savings from the full fare passenger rate. For the passengers in this age group who travel more than 16 times a month, the monthly pass is the way to go providing the greatest discount. If your child travels at least 10 times in a 90-day period, the passenger multi-ride ticket will provide a small discount.

Point Defiance Food Service Information
Currently there is no food service at the Point Defiance terminal or on the vessels on this route. Vending machines with snacks and drinks are available.

Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC)
Contact your local Ferry Advisory Committee FAC

Motorcycles at Point Defiance
Traffic permitting, bypass holding lanes using local access lanes and purchase fare at the dock booth. Motorcycles entering the upper toll booth area are instructed to exit out of the holding lanes and then proceed to lower dock across from passenger ticket booth. If vessel is off-loading, please wait to access holding area. Loading Orderbicycles, motorcycles, vehicles, late arriving motorcycles as space permits.

See Motorcycle Loading Procedures at other terminals.

Trucks at Point Defiance
Maximum placard vehicle gross weight allowed is 80,000 pounds.The height clearance for trucks is under 13' 4".

Please fill out our Oversized/Overweight Vehicle Travel Request Form by downloading a .pdf version of the form and fax it to us at (206) 515-3846. Please allow three business days for completion and approval. You can contact us at anytime for status updates at (206) 464-6400 (Seattle).

Trucks with a ground clearance of less than 14" may not be allowed to travel to/from Vashon Island during periods of extreme low tides. Vashon Low Tides