Ticket information

Tickets are your fare for your ride, either as a walk-on passenger or in a vehicle. They are valid for 90 days, except for free youth tickets, which are valid for two hours.

Walk on or in-vehicle passengers

Tickets for passengers are for roundtrip travel, except for our Port Townsend/Coupeville route and international sailings to and from Sidney, British Columbia. There is an additional fee for adult passengers coming aboard with a bicycle.

We offer reduced passenger fares for the following groups when purchasing tickets in person with proof of eligibility:

Children and youth under the age of 19 travel free. At terminals where a ticket is needed for walk-on travel, the youth must be present at the ticket booth to receive a free youth ticket, which is valid for two hours and needed to pass the turnstile. Teenagers behind the wheel of a motor vehicle must pay the adult vehicle and driver fare (see next section). 

Vehicles including driver

Most tickets for vehicles including the driver are one way, except for the following routes, which are roundtrip:

  • Anacortes/San Juan Islands
  • Fauntleroy/Vashon
  • Southworth/Vashon
  • Point Defiance/Tahlequah

Vehicle fares vary based on a vehicle’s length, height and width, and are separated into these categories:

  • Motorcycles: Includes vehicles under 8 feet long.
  • Small vehicles: Under 14 feet long, including three-wheeled vehicles more than 8 feet long and motorcycles towing a trailer. View list of common vehicles under 14 feet (PDF 642KB).
  • Standard vehicle: Under 22 feet long, includes most non-commercial vehicles including many trucks.
  • Vehicle length-based fare: 22 feet and longer, increasing with vehicle length and height, including anything being towed (tickets not available online).

Check your owner's manual for your vehicle length. You cannot redeem your ticket if it is for the wrong length vehicle. Vehicles over 7 feet 6 inches in height are considered over height. Vehicles more than 8 feet 6 inches wide are considered too wide to travel without special arrangements.

Commercial and oversized vehicles

You cannot buy your tickets online. You will pay your fare at the tollbooth or with an attendant when you arrive at the terminal. Visit our commercial and oversized vehicles page for information on how to arrange travel for these vehicles.

International sailings

You cannot buy your tickets online. Vehicle and walk-on fares are paid when you arrive for your sailing.

Ticket lookup

If you need to look up usage history on a purchased single or multi-use ticket, go to Wave2Go.

Peak season surcharge

During our busiest months, a peak season surcharge is added for vehicles and drivers paying full fare (excludes multi-ride cards and monthly passenger passes) from May 1 through Sept. 30.

Frequent commuters

Visit our passes page to review a variety of passes we offer.

Payment

We accept the following forms of payment at the terminal:

  • VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards
  • Cash (excludes self-serve kiosks)
  • ORCA card
  • Traveler’s checks (excludes self-serve kiosks)
  • Business account charge cards

We accept the following forms of payment online:

  • VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards
  • Business account charge cards

Slow down on ice and snow.

It's easier to skid or lose control traveling at higher speeds. Give yourself more time to stop.

Carry chains, practice installing them.

Winter conditions could mean chains are required on your route. Practice putting them on your vehicle ahead of time.

Pack your winter car kit.

Carry extra supplies like warm clothing, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables and other emergency items.