Washington State Ferries (WSF) is increasing service ahead of Thanksgiving, offering more than 10% additional daily sailings compared to previous years, according to the agency. The expanded schedule brings total service to over 420 daily sailings from Nov. 26, through Nov. 30. WSF anticipates roughly 300,000 passengers during this period and advises drivers to prepare for potential terminal queues.
WSF Deputy Secretary Steve Nevey stated in an official announcement, saying, "We’re thankful to be able to provide more service and reliability this Thanksgiving." He noted that the improvements "come from a lot of hard work across our organization, with support from the governor and Legislature," and acknowledged ferry employees who will be working throughout the holiday weekend, according to a statement from wsdot.wa.gov.
WSF advises travelers with vehicles to consult the WSDOT mobile app or the WSF website before heading to terminals. These platforms provide sailing schedules, live terminal conditions, rider alerts, real-time maps, and vehicle reservation options. Peak travel is expected westbound on Wednesday and Thursday, eastbound on Saturday and Sunday, with Friday also projected to see heavy traffic.
WSF has modified schedules to handle holiday traffic, with specific changes on the Edmonds/Kingston and Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes on Thanksgiving Day. Travelers are encouraged to check the updated schedules online and use WSDOT’s real-time travel map to plan for potential terminal traffic.
