How Washington State Ferry Reservations Work (And What Locals Know)

The first time I took the Anacortes ferry to San Juan Island as an adult, I started to panic when the boat stopped at Orcas Island first. Nobody told me the ferry makes multiple stops, and I was convinced I’d gotten on the wrong boat. I hadn’t. That’s just how Washington State ferries work, and it’s one of dozens of things visitors don’t know going in.

I’ve taken Washington State ferries well over 100 times by now. I’ve seen a pod of orcas from the deck on a spring morning crossing from Edmonds to Kingston. I’ve waited several hours on Orcas Island for a standby space to open up. I once sat in the middle of the water on the Whidbey Island to Mukilteo crossing for close to an hour while a medical emergency was handled at the dock. Thankfully, the ferry had a full cafeteria, which helped considerably.

Every summer, thousands of visitors get confused by Washington State ferry reservations. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Do You Need a Reservation for the Washington State Ferry?

This is where most of the confusion is, especially for visitors.

Only two routes in the entire Washington State Ferries system require vehicle reservations:

• Anacortes to San Juan Islands – This covers all westbound sailings from Anacortes to Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Vehicle reservations are required from June 14 through September 19. Outside of summer, the route runs first-come, first-served, but reservations are available and strongly recommended year-round, especially on weekends and holidays.
• Port Townsend to Coupeville – This shorter crossing between the Olympic Peninsula and Whidbey Island also requires reservations during summer.

Every other route in the system, including Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Vashon, is first-come, first-served with no reservation needed. If you’re taking the Bainbridge ferry from downtown Seattle, show up and get in line.

If you love driving, check out some of the best scenic drives in Washington.

How to Book Washington State Ferry Reservations

Go to wsdot.wa.gov and click on Reservations. You’ll need to book each direction separately. Your westbound crossing from Anacortes and your eastbound return are two separate reservations. First-timers often forget this and end up stuck on the island longer than planned.

A few things that trip people up – reservations are free, but your ticket is separate. You book the reservation to hold your spot, then purchase your actual ticket separately. Don’t assume booking the reservation means you’re paid up.

Also, reservations are released in tiers. The main summer batch opens in mid-April, typically at 10 am. After that, additional spots open two weeks and two days before each sailing date at 7 am. If you missed the main release, check back at those intervals.

Lopez and Shaw only require a westbound reservation. You need to reserve your space heading out to those islands, but the return is first-come, first-served. For Orcas and Friday Harbor, you’ll need to reserve both directions.

Heading to the Olympic Peninsula? I have articles to help you plan your trip, whether you’re doing an Olympic Peninsula road trip or just a one day trip to Olympic National Park.

Can You Ride the Washington State Ferry Without a Reservation?

Yes, and it’s one of the best ways to bypass forgetting to get a reservation for the San Juan Islands. Walk-on passengers and cyclists never need a reservation on any route, including during peak summer. If you park your car at the Anacortes terminal and walk on, you’ll get on every sailing, no matter how busy it is.

This makes a car-free day trip to Friday Harbor or Orcas Island completely reservation-free and significantly cheaper since you’re not paying the vehicle fare. If you’re visiting for just a day, this is the easiest way to do it.

That said, it’s worth thinking through your plans before you walk on, because the two islands are very different experiences without a car.

On San Juan Island, the ferry drops you right in the heart of downtown Friday Harbor. You can walk to restaurants, shops, the whale museum, and plenty of accommodations from the dock. It’s one of the most walkable ferry destinations in the state and a great option for a car-free day trip or an overnight stay. You’ll find tons of things to do on San Juan Island (and it’s the base for many whale-watching tours).

Before you book your trip, check out my full guide on where to stay in the San Juan Islands for lodging recommendations across San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez.

On Orcas Island, it’s a different story. The ferry terminal is at the southern tip of the island, and Eastsound, which is the main town with most of the restaurants and shops, is about a 15-minute drive away on a hilly road with no sidewalks. Walking isn’t really a safe or practical option.

If you’re planning to walk on to Orcas, you’ll want to either arrange a rental car or bike at the terminal or arrange a pickup with your hotel if they offer it. Some of the resorts on Orcas will pick you up if you ask ahead of time. Once you’re there, you’ll love all the things to do on Orcas Island.

What Order Does the Ferry Stop at the San Juan Islands?

The standard stop order going from Anacortes is Lopez Island first, then Shaw Island, then Orcas Island, and finally Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. But here’s the thing: not every sailing makes all four stops. Some sailings skip one or two islands entirely, and a few go directly to Friday Harbor. The stops depend entirely on the specific sailing you’re on, which is why checking your exact sailing on the WSDOT’s website before you board is important. Don’t just assume your boat stops where you need it to.

If you’re going to Friday Harbor and your sailing stops at Orcas first, don’t panic. That’s exactly what happened to me the first time I made this trip alone as an adult. I was convinced I’d gotten on the wrong ferry. I hadn’t. Just check your sailing, know your stop, and enjoy the ride.

How to Get on the Ferry Without a Reservation

Sometimes reservations sell out, and you still need to get to the islands.

Here’s what locals do:

• Show up early and join the standby line. Cancellations regularly free up spaces, and the ferry takes on standby vehicles when room allows. Getting to the terminal early gives you the best shot.
• Check the terminal cameras before you leave home. They’re publicly viewable on the ferry’s website, and you can see exactly how long the standby line is in real time.
• Walk on instead. Even in peak summer, walk-on passengers get on every sailing.
• Go early in the morning. The first departures from Anacortes are significantly less competitive than midday and afternoon sailings.

What Are the Washington State Ferries Actually Like?

Better than you’d expect, and I say that as someone who has spent a lot of time on them. Each vessel is a little different, but most have a cafe onboard with coffee, snacks, and hot food. They even sell beer and wine, which I can confirm is very useful information when you’re sitting in the middle of Puget Sound waiting out a delay, or you’ve got a few hours to pass on a Friday afternoon sailing to San Juan Island.

Inside, there are hundreds of seats, from booths by the windows to solo seats in the middle. Many ferries have huge topographical maps on the walls showing the Puget Sound region, which is one of my favorite things about them. It’s a great way to figure out exactly what you’re looking at out the window, and my kids will spend a solid 20 minutes studying them every single time.

A few ferries also have communal puzzles that passengers pick up from wherever the last person left off. We take the Edmonds to Kingston ferry regularly as a family (we love doing a day trip to Poulsbo), and my kids make a beeline for those puzzles before we’ve even left the dock.

The top deck is almost always worth the walk up, weather permitting. This is where you get the best views and your best chance of spotting wildlife. On a spring morning crossing from Edmonds to Kingston, I watched a full pod of orcas surface right alongside the boat. It’s one of those moments that reminds you how lucky we are to live here. Bonus: it’s a great place for little kids to burn off their energy.

Washington State Ferry Routes at a Glance

Just to sum it up, routes requiring summer vehicle reservations (June 14 to September 19):

• Anacortes to San Juan Islands
• Port Townsend to Coupeville

No reservation needed:

• Seattle to Bainbridge Island
• Seattle to Bremerton
• Edmonds to Kingston
• Mukilteo to Clinton (Whidbey Island)
• Fauntleroy to Vashon
• Fauntleroy to Southworth
• Southworth to Vashon
• Point Defiance to Tahlequah

Washington State ferry reservations seem complicated until someone explains them clearly, and then they’re actually pretty simple. Book early, remember that your ticket is separate from your reservation, and check your specific sailing before you board.

Whether you’re planning a trip to the San Juan Islands, Orcas Island, a day trip to Anacortes, or even just a quick crossing from Edmonds to Kingston, the ferry is one of the best parts of traveling in the Pacific Northwest. Book at wsdot.wa.gov and then start planning the fun part, whether it’s for a weekend away or a Seattle day trip.

Where to Stay Near the Washington State Ferry Terminals

If you’re catching an early morning sailing or just want to make a weekend of it, staying near the terminal the night before is one of the best ways to take the stress out of ferry travel. Here are some good options near the two reservation routes: