Best times to travel on ferries

Find the best time to travel by selecting your route.

Vehicle reservations are available and recommended on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes.

Spring 2026 (March 22 to June 13)

Summer 2026 (June 14 to Sept. 19)

Note: These guides are for vehicle traffic only. In almost all cases there is room for walk-on passengers and bicyclists. Vehicle traffic levels represent sailings from the busier portion of the season and may vary during slower times or for special events and holidays.

Source: Washington State Ferries' best times to travel guides are a generalized forecast of expected vehicular travel patterns. They are based on vehicle ridership (ticket sales) from a past year, which is adjusted to reflect the capacity of planned vessel assignments.

Slow down – lives are on the line.

Drive the posted speeds, they’re there for your safety.

Phone down, eyes up.

Pay attention – both to workers directing you and to surrounding traffic.

Stay calm

Expect delays, leave early or take an alternate route if possible; no appointment is worth risking someone’s life.