The summer season, which unofficially begins this weekend on Memorial Day, traditionally becomes the busiest time for the Washington State Ferries (WSF). This year, on top of the usual flow of passengers for whom ferries are a vital transportation artery connecting numerous islands and peninsulas to the mainland — where major cities including Seattle are located — there will be an influx of visitors for the FIFA Men’s World Cup, which Seattle will host in 2026. Matches will be played at Lumen Field in the city center, and it’s expected that streams of fans from various countries will make active use of ferries both to see the sights, including the islands, and to travel to game venues. This will add extra strain to a ferry system already operating with disruptions due to vessel and staffing shortages. It is already forecast that up to 350,000 people will use the ferries by Monday.
For many residents, especially on Bainbridge Island and the Olympic Peninsula, ferries are the only practical way to get to work, medical facilities, and stores. Alternatives include long drives across bridges, such as the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to the south or the Hood Canal Bridge to the north, which significantly increase travel time, as well as using private boats or water taxis — for example, King County’s water taxi from downtown Seattle to West Seattle. However, those options do not cover all routes and often require extra time or money.
As always, WSF urges passengers to sign up for alerts and warns of long lines and increased wait times. Congestion will depend on direction: through Saturday, those heading west — to the islands — should expect the longer waits, while from Saturday through Monday those leaving the islands eastbound will face heavier delays. The agency recommends traveling on foot or by bicycle (these guarantee boarding and do not require reservations), and advises motorists to reserve a spot in advance if possible and to choose early morning or late evening sailings.
Most routes will operate on their normal schedules, but Memorial Day will see schedule changes on the Anacortes — San Juan Islands, Edmonds — Kingston, Point Defiance — Tahlequah and Port Townsend — Coupeville routes. The triangular route from Fauntleroy — Vashon — Southworth will switch to its holiday schedule, and the Seattle — Bainbridge run will operate on a Saturday schedule. The “triangular route” is a unique line connecting three points: Fauntleroy (a Seattle neighborhood) through Vashon Island to Southworth (Kitsap Peninsula). Unlike standard shuttle routes (back-and-forth between two docks), this route runs a more complex pattern: the ferry stops at all three docks in one trip. A separate holiday schedule is necessary because run times, intervals and loading differ significantly from other lines. Holiday periods require a special timetable to avoid passenger confusion, especially when large numbers are traveling to Vashon Island for recreation. This summer WSF will deploy 18 ferries (one held in reserve), the same as last year.
In early 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson directed the agency to return to the pre-pandemic fleet size of 18 vessels, which allowed annual ridership to increase to 20.1 million passengers — one million more than the previous year and the first time since 2019 that ridership topped 20 million. However, the plan faced a test: due to breakdowns and scheduled maintenance in January, six of the 21 ferries were out of service at the same time. WSF officials said that was not critical in winter, and construction of three new vessels under contract with Eastern Shipbuilding in Florida will begin this summer. Details are on wsdot.com/ferries.
Based on: WA state ferries: What to expect Memorial Day weekend