Washington state ferries are expected to carry nearly 400,000 passengers between Thursday and September 1, marking the busiest summer since 2019. Saturday, August 30, is projected to be the peak travel day, continuing a trend of Saturdays since 2019 with passenger counts exceeding 90,000, which has occurred seven times this year, as reported by WSDOT.
Steve Nevey, head of WSF, acknowledged the rise in traffic, expressing gratitude towards Gov. Bob Ferguson for reinstating key sailings which have led to the bustling activity. "Thanks to support from Gov. Bob Ferguson, we have restored critical sailings systemwide and saw our busiest summer in years," in a statement obtained by WSDOT. He encouraged potential riders to get ahead of the curve by planning their trips in advance, especially considering the anticipated congestion over the holiday stretch.
For a smoother ferry boarding experience, it is recommended to use digital resources. The Washington State Ferries (WSF) suggests checking the WSDOT mobile app or the WSF website for sailing schedules, terminal conditions, rider alerts, and possible vehicle reservations. Due to increased activity, drivers should expect busy travel times, especially westbound from Thursday through Saturday and eastbound from Saturday to September 1. Travelers who can consider off-peak sailings or opting for walk-on or bike-on options to reduce wait times.
Changes to regular schedules are expected on Labor Day, with certain routes such as Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Edmonds/Kingston operating on holiday timetables, which are clearly indicated online. Drivers traveling on state highways to ferry terminals are advised to monitor potential traffic backups using the WSDOT travel map or app to manage typical holiday delays.
WSF is the largest ferry system in the United States, transporting tens of millions of passengers annually across the scenic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
