Washington State Ferries (WSF), Kennewick vessel, Friday, August, 16, 2024, 9:30 am. We were on a road trip in a Class B RV (which is van-sized), and needed to travel from Port Townsend, WA to Coupeville, WA. In investigating our options on a mapping app, we found that we had two options -- to drive about 215 miles (4 hours, 45 minutes, plus toll) OR take a ferry (about 8 miles, 45 minutes plus wait time). With some apprehension about how it would work with our oversized and tall vehicle, we decided to take the ferry. We made a reservation online about two weeks before our planned trip, and many of the time slots for our preferred travel date were already taken but we were still able to get a slot at 9:30 am. The reservation "no show" fee was $10, charged only if the reservation is not used. We were pleased to find that there was a category to identify our vehicle as being "under 22' in length, and 7'6" to 13' tall." (There are also options to ride standby when vessel space is available). Washington State Ferries has loading down to a science. On our travel day, we were warmly greeted by the attendant at the entrance tollbooth. One senior (my husband) with vehicle under 22' was $15.30, while I was counted as an adult passenger for $4.10, for a total of $19.40 for two people and the RV. After paying, we were directed by staff to park in a specific lane (with other RVs) and allowed to disembark from our vehicle to grab a coffee or use the restrooms. The process of loading the ferry was highly organized. Every inch of space seemed to be used -- without unused space but also without there being vehicles that didn't fit. We were most impressed in seeing how easily an 18-wheeler semi also fit! After all of the vehicles were parked, the ferry left the dock and many passengers left their vehicles to move upstairs for the water views or to grab a snack. Disembarking in Coupeville was equally efficient. Overall, we had a great experience -- smooth sailing, efficient operations -- but also recognize that service disruptions may occur due to adverse weather conditions or emergency repairs. On this particular day, we were fortunate to have saved hundreds of miles and hours of driving, and nice smooth sailing. One small quibble. We found the WSF's website to be confusing for newcomers to ferry operations. . read more

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Not a fan of this one. When your service is so volatile that high winds can cancel most, if not all of the ferries in a single day, just build a bridge. Also, the guy standing on the curb near the entrance, who informed us of the cancellations, told us that there were no reservations available for any other crossings, even later in the evening. This proved to be completely false, as we booked a reservation five minutes afterward, and by mid afternoon, the winds had subsided enough that we were able to board and cross without any issue. Government incompetence at its finest! read more

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Took the Kennewick vessel. We decided to make reservations. I think this would be best. We got there an 1 hour early and parked. Our ferry was departing at 2 pm. We walked around and enjoyed views of the Olympic mountains and Cascade range. On a beautiful clear day you can see Mount Baker. If you decide to eat in town rather than the ferry. Check out Tommy Knockers Pastys. The process of loading is organized and fast. The ship was clean and plenty of seating. There is also a place where you can get food and coffee. The bathrooms were clean. It was smooth sailing to the island and fast. Travel time was about 30 min to get to Whidbey Island. Pretty cool experience. read more

Caught the ferry to and from Anacortes / Friday Harbor this last weekend. Pros: Fairly clean. Attempted to enforce the mask mandate. Funny announcer. It's impressive to watch the process of passenger boarding, car loading, docking and undocking, etc. Cons: Parking at the Anacortes terminal was $13 for the day + tickets for $14 each. Thankfully the ferry ticket is two-ways. The sun deck up top was closed. Unfortunately the ferry on the way back ran late, which was quite inconvenient for my drive home (ended up getting in at 1am instead of 10-11pm). You don't really have any options besides this ferry. read more

Showed up on another Sunday morning. Standby again. Still enjoy the ferry. While you are waiting, Port Townsend has a bunch of really good eateries near by to snag a bite to eat. Had a few beers in my cooler so sat in the sun and just enjoyed the wait. read more

Washington State Ferries - This is what Stand By looks like. - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Washington State knows what they are doing with their ferries and it alleviates a ton of stress for an out-of-towner like myself. If you are visiting from out of state, do your research, and you won't be sorry. Be aware that reservations are absolutely necessary if you are traveling during peak tourist season, as we did, in July for the Lavender Festival in Sequim. If you don't make reservations, you may have to wait several hours before you can even catch one back to Coupeville. Go to the Washington Ferries website - WSDOT and create a free account, then make your reservations well ahead of time. They offer text messaging service to remind you of your sail date and it doesn't get any better than that! The website will also alert you on which days they cannot sail due to low tides, so plan accordingly. Prices are very reasonable and if you are driving a rental car around, its a lot of fun to island-hop. For an adult driver of a standard car and a child passenger, the one way cost was about $22.00. read more

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Though archaic in many respects, the Washington Ferry System is actually fairly well run. The Ferries typically run on time and today was no exception. Since we were only meeting friends for supper in Port Townsend, we came over on the 4:15pm Keystone Ferry and are now returning on the 8:30pm Ferry. Couldn't check-in Yelp because Yelp requires at least for hours to pass before one can check-in again at the same business. read more

Took a trip to the San Juan islands by way of ferry system. I suggest booking a reservation online if you are taking a vehicle, limited spaces. Smaller ferry, takes about 30 minutes to get to Coupeville. Plenty of seating, clean bathrooms. Great photo ops can be had! read more

Washington State Ferries - Leaving Port Townsend - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

I took the ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend and back again at the beginning of November. Firstly, I recommend that you make a reservation if you plan on driving on. I didn't and made it onto the ferry both times, but I did arrive very early to join the line-up. I noticed a few cars that didn't make it and had to wait for the next ferry, an hour and a half later. It's not a big ferry - only space for 64 vehicles. In Coupeville, if you have a car but would like to be a walk-on passenger to not worry about a car while exploring Port Townsend, there is plenty of parking on the side of the road and in a parking area not far from the ferry terminal. It was a very smooth crossing and I love the puzzles on tables dotted around the passenger deck, for anyone to build. read more

Washington State Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

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Make a reservation. We are from out of town and learned a valuable lesson and that was to make a reservation. Turn your mirrors in. Cars are packed on tight. Viewing deck was awesome, clean bathrooms , good coffee and snacks. read more

This process was so cool. As someone who's never traveled by car ferry, this was an enjoyable experience that I can honestly say I wished lasted longer. (Probably not if I commuted it everyday though) It was hard to get to the ferry in Seattle because of the construction, but once on, the show ran smoothly. We departed from Seattle and were at our destination in no time. Since it was our first time, we headed upstairs after we parked to grab a drink. You can get alcohol, but have to stay in the food court area. We wanted to venture, so we just got something to carry around. The prices were fair and if I did this journey often, I'd my a frequent customer. The line was really long, so if you do want food I'd suggest heading there immediately after you park. When the ferry docked, they gave you a couple reminders to get to your car. We saw a couple delay a line of cars, but the attendants ushered the people behind them around the stalled vehicle and it was fine. I don't think it took any longer, so I wouldn't worry about other drivers getting lost, or being slow. read more

A small but clean ferry, however reservations are a must even on weekdays if you're planning to travel with a car! It's not first come first serve! Remember to bring your own food and drinks because the cafeteria wasn't open during the mornings or early evenings when I rode this ferry. read more

Washington State Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

I have a sentimental attachment to ferries; I've been riding them all my life. And I appreciate them for how they connect our scattered communities otherwise separated by islands and inlets. Ferry Crews work hard under sometimes frustrating conditions and their Captains are skilled pilots. That said, this is a review of the Port Townsend to Coupeville Route and its new ferries: the Chetzemoka and Salish (Dec 2011 update: Chetzemoka has been taken off this run leaving Salish alone during the winter). Having ridden ferries all my life, I feel that my experiences give me good backing as I write this review. Backstory: Chetzemoka is Washington State Ferries' (WSF) replacement ferry for the Port Townsend to Coupeville route. It's the first of their new "Kwa-di Tabil" class of 64-car ferries. The previous ferries, built in 1927, were showing serious signs of deterioration--corrosion of their steel holes. Needless to say, there was a strong push by local communities to have replacements made. Symmetry: I strongly believe symmetry is important on ferries, first for safety and then for ease-of-use. Chetzemoka and Salish are not symmetrical. In terms of safety, having that symmetry is hugely important. On most other WSF boats there are four identical stairwells in the four quarters of the ship. No matter where you are on the ship, the ways down (or up) are consistent and obvious. In an emergency, this would be invaluable. On the PT to Coupeville boats, the four stairwells are not identical. There are two different types: one that descends in a line straight down to deck, and another "return" stairwell where you must stop on each floor. Essentially, you spiral downward to deck. I think these boats would benefit from a coloring/numbering system for their stairwells. On other ships in the fleet have this systems to aid in recalling where you came from. This is really helpful for first-time users and tourists. I am disappointed by these boats' a-symmetry. You literally have to search for your way off the boat. Even ferry crews have conveyed their frustration about the interior layout. Design: I have spoken with many passengers and ferry workers who all scratch their heads when asked "why did they choose this design?" The plans for this ferry were, according to the folks I've spoken with, based on a ferry design from Martha's Vineyard (http://www.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/ferries.cfm#islandhome). I can see the resemblance. I am of the opinion that this design doesn't make sense for our route based on weather and ridership. Admiralty Inlet is often cited as the most volatile run in the whole WSF fleet. Indeed, the inlet is where the great power of the Pacific Ocean squeezes into Puget Sound. Why then would they choose a ferry with three levels of solid steel and windows? I am not a naval architect, but it seems the ferry has high windage - that is, because of it's solid three story height it is significantly impacted by the winds that howl through Admiralty Inlet. Other ferries in the fleet have giant open windows on the car deck which I would guess alleviate some of this force. Then there is ridership. In the summer, both Coupeville and Port Townsend are slammed by tourists. It makes sense then to have bigger ferries. Yet, there is an entire Mezzanine deck dedicated to cyclists which seems unsubstantiated. Not even in the largest tourist throngs bring enough cyclists to warrant and entire deck. Maybe in Martha's Vineyard, but not here. I wish they had adopted a ferry similar to that which runs from Mukilteo to Clinton. It has two stories for cars and one for riders. But perhaps those ferries are just a bit too large for Keystone's relatively shallow harbor. Service: Even with my observation about windage, I have to say that I am pleased with how infrequently the ferry has been cancelled. The ferries sometimes heel considerably (and I think have a permanent list), but have powered through. There have been a few unsettling rides, but no cancellations that have effected me. Another consideration about service are tidal restrictions--a part of life in the NW. WSF posts them well in advance on their boats and their website. I really appreciate that advanced notice. There is a cafe on the ferries which disappoints me. I am a commuter and get on the ferry before the cafe opens and return to the ferry after it has closed. Therefore, I cannot speak to the quality of food or service provided there. Last, but definitively the reason this review gets its 3 star rating, is the Crew. The ferry workers are good people. They work hard, take care of the passengers, and often wear a smile. To make light of the situation, these ferries are what we have. They work fine for the run and have great people operating them. I only wish WSF had taken more input from their riders and crews before settling on the design. read more

You have to make a reservation for this ferry to Coupeville so keep that in mind before you get to the terminal. The terminal has restrooms w/ baby changing tables and Wave kiosks. So, if you have to go to the bathroom before you get on the ferry or get a soda or something, this terminal has options. Although you can just get the same items on the ferry. There was no delay on the day I went. I like being able to reserve a spot and just pay half of the fee as a deposit online. It kind of guarantees a spot on the ferry. You just pay the rest when you get to the terminal. Everything is handicap accessible. There are elevators and it's very very clean. The trip lasted about 20-30 minutes I think. I will admit that I had to get out of my car and go walk around and sit in the chairs on deck because it was just something unnatural about the movement of the ferry that made me for the first time kinda woozy as if the beginning stages of seasickness. I really do find ferries amazing. It's so cool that they can get all these people and cars on a floating transporter (semis, U-hauls, luzury cars, bicyclists, pedestrians). I'm glad Washington has such a great transportation system, or at least has options other than using your car all the time. read more

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I love riding the ferry. We haul our huge rv (30 ft) on and enjoy the ride. From Coupville to Port Townsend it costs us $90 and we are 64 feet long including our truck. I like being able to talk to a live person to help schedule our trip. Great experience read more

Washington State Ferries - There the trailer. $90 bucks for the ride and we are 64 feet long total. - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

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Okay never thought I'd write a review of a ferry but, aside from its practical use, I would have wanted to know: there's actually a decent selection of good and healthy food and snacks on board. And, at a number of the tables, there's this: random jigsaw puzzles. Adorable. read more

Washington State Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Beautiful day ..sun is out... finishing up a beautiful day in Port Townsend. Taking the Kennewick ferry back to Keystone. One of the first cars on the ferry. The gentleman was very kind helping our car load. Unfortunately, our car was pinned up against the wall and we couldn't open the door.. We moved up a few inches and all hell broke loose. The ferry worker started yelling at us and was causing a big commotion. As soon as we told him we couldn't get out of the car, he shut up and walked away.. Rude much... read more

Okay... I struggle with the ferry system. In this part of Washington, it is a necessary form of public transportation, but yes at times I get frustrated at cost and lack of amenities, etc. I do love the experience in general, so I hope they never do away with the unnecessary routes. This particular ferry is smaller than others one you may have been on. You WILL feel the boat moving in the waves. If you have a weak stomach, take dramamine! This boat moves! Every time I've been on board, the food court has been closed...bummer since I love to get a $9 draft beer. Another tip, in the summer... or holiday times, get reservations on wadot.gov You will have horrendous wait times if not!! read more

Ferries save time for commuting and they offer an inexpensive route on the Puget Sound for tourists. read more

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It used to be that reservations were free, but apparently now a deposit is required. Reservations aren't..... necessary, but highly recommended in the summer. During the rest of the year, I have had no trouble getting on in my RV or car. Normally they have the Chetzamokah on this run, but this time, I rode the Salish. The Salish has food service. Food service is very basic.... some cookies, sandwiches, a bit pricey. Spectacular views from the top. Update: 03/31/2014 If you are staying in an RV in nearby Point Hudson Marina, you would make a left turn to get into the ferry dock. At this time, the left turn is closed off. I asked the Washington State Ferry Employee in the station why this was. I was told "too much traffic jams." So, if you come from Point Hudson Marina, you would need to drive past, make a U-turn and come back for a right turn. Bit of a pain. read more

These ferry workers in Port Townsend seem to be the biggest a-holes in Washington, an insult to the state. They are miserable and appear drunk, cannot help explain to visitors trying to pay, helping to keep their employment how this reservation, and waiting lines work. I understand you may hate your life and job, so change it! You are an embarrassment to this area. read more

Washington State Ferries - Ferries Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

My complaint is towards the service attendants at the Port Townsend ferry terminal on 2 separate occasions I got charged the NO SHOW FEE the next day!! Even when I'm there almost an hr early It's a hassle having to call and dispute this when you have to wait in Que to speak to someone. Make sure to keep your receipts!!! So glad I do! read more

I am military and was working in Bremerton for the day. Got a call from my wife that one of our sons was in the hospital and going to be transferred to Seattle Children's by ambulance. I needed to get home for our other children. Had a reservation already set for 6:45 pm. Got there a few hours before my reservation and explained the situation to the Port Townsend ferry crew. They didn't even hesitate. Their friendly and caring staff put me on the next ferry and gave me head of the line. I was able to make it back to Oak Harbor for my kids. Thank you so much!!! read more

Wow! That was a great and easy ride. We made reservations the night before and just pulled right in. They ask you get there 30 mins before time. The ferry is clean and has nice restrooms . We had coffee and saw some beautiful scenery ! Really enjoyed it! read more

Well do not come to early for your reservation we were 40 minutes early and told by the grumpy ass ticket taker to leave and come back when the boat is gone they were loading, so we left took a right out to get a coffee in town grabbed our coffee got to the light to go back to the booth and some asshole at the intersection from Windermere yelled at us for turning left and flipped my mom the middle finger on Mother's Day!! Wow kinda excited to go back to Whidbey!! read more

We booked our Washington State vacation unaware that the U.S. Open was playing at Chambers Bay so instead of going south into the mess, we drove North and picked up the Coupeville/Port Townsend Ferry then drove to Brainbridge Island, picking that ferry up and taking that to Seattle. It was fun, the views were great and you can bring your dogs in the car. Taking a point off for not having a convenient reservation system as you need to print it out before coming and online only and if you're a tourist that doesn't work. Luckily it wasn't that busy and we only had to wait one ferry before boarding read more

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I've used the Washington State ferry system for more years than I want to count and today was the first time a one star review resulted. When we came to the ticket office we told them I was handicapped. When we loaded they looked at the handicap placard and stopped us then waved us on. Then they parked a big ass truck next to us and I couldn't get out. I feel completely trapped. I don't know what else to say. read more

This was my first time riding this ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island. It was a cold, chilly day but it was a very pleasant trip. The views were beautiful! There was no delays and it wasn't crowded at all, a plus! I highly suggest getting out of the car and walking outside to one of the decks; if it's windy and chilly.. sit by the window to get a view of the water and the beautiful views! I would also like to point out that the restroom was well lit and clean! Overall it was a great experience, it was my son's first time riding on a ferry and he loved it! read more

Always, I mean always make a reservation online prior to attempting to use the ferry. If not, don't complain about the wait. Once on board it is a quick trip across. Never had a bad experience with the crew, the ferry or the people at the gate. Very professional and courteous. Just wish there was a high speed ferry from here to Olympia or Tacoma. I hate going anywhere near Seattle. News flash Seattle, your traffic doesn't suck because everyone wants to visit. It sucks because you only have one highway to use for the entire North West to go from Canada to the rest of the West Coast. Those people are trying to get by you, not visit you. Build a bypass of your over priced shitty city and make everyone happy. read more

My first ride on a ferry down here and I am very impressed. Great mode of transportation. Fast!

Just arrived to Whidbey Island and the crew onboard the Salish are extremely welcoming. Thank you for a pleasant ride to Port Townsend.

3.5-stars. Always a pleasant experience (reservations, that is); however, larger ferries and full-year dining would be much appreciated. Otherwise, expect a scenic, albeit often bumpy ride. read more

Love using the Ferries between different Islands in the sound. The cost is more affordable then driving all the extra miles also being on the water always makes for a wonderful trip. Over my my last vacation I used the Port Townsend ferry to Whidbey Island to visit Oak Habor and Deception Pass had a Wonderful Time. When I can I will always use the Ferry System. read more

Very satisfied with all ferries we took throughout the area. We made reservations for the ferries that took them, and made sure we arrived accordingly to make the first come ferries. All were on time, efficient and clean. We enjoyed all the crossings. Most views really good. read more

Got to the port Townsend ferry a full hour early, missed the next boat, and had to wait another hour and forty five minutes for the next boat. Almost three hours of waiting. Terrible service - avoid at all costs read more

The ferry itself was ok... a bit rusty and older than the BC ferry we took to Victoria. Food quality was on par with what you'd find at a grade school cafeteria but very expensive like food at a ballpark. Our biggest complaint is the parking. You can either park your vehicle with enough room for the driver to get out OR the passenger. One of you is going to have to crawl out through the other door. On the plus side, the views are pretty and the crew seemed happy to help. Overall... better than driving, but we'll be taking a different ferry next time... probably a BC boat. read more

took the coupeville ferry today. great smooth ride, puzzles throughout ferry. efficient ferry.staff.