By Daniel Schrager / The Bellingham Herald
A trip aboard a Washington State Ferry just got more expensive.
Starting Tuesday, the price of all ferry tickets increased by roughly 4.25%. This is the second straight year that ferry tickets have gone up by that percentage, after an August 2023 decision by the Washington State Transportation Commission.
So how much will a ferry ride cost you now? It depends on the route. Here’s the full list of updated passenger-only fares.
The price of a standard round-trip ticket for the Edmonds-Kingston, Seattle-Bremerton and Seattle-Bainbridge Island routes will increase to $10.25, up from $9.85. Seniors and people with disabilities can buy a ticket for $5.10. The one-way price for a driver and a small car will jump to $14.65, and $18.65 for a standard-sized car.
A standard, round-trip ticket on the Fauntleroy-Southworth route will cost $8.00, up from $7.70 and seniors or people with disabilities can buy a ticket for $4.00. Bringing a small car will cost you $11.45 each way while a standard-sized car costs $14.50.
A standard one-way ticket on the Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry will cost $4.25, up from $4.10 and $2.10 for seniors and people with disabilities. It will cost $11.45 for a small car and $14.50 for a standard car.
The Fauntleroy-Vashon, Southworth-Vashon and Point Defiance-Tahlequah routes will jump from $6.50 to $6.75 for a standard, round-trip ticket and $3.35 for seniors and people with disabilities. You can bring a small car for $18.65 round-trip, or a standard car for $23.75.
The Mukilteo-Clinton line will cost $6.25 for a standard, round-trip ticket, up from $6.00, with seniors and people with disabilities able to ride for $3.10. Bringing a small car will cost you $8.85 each way, while a standard car will cost $11.20.
All ferries from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands will see an increase from $15.85 to $16.50 for a round-trip standard ticket. Seniors and people with disabilities can ride for $8.25. The price to bring a car along varies depending on the route, but it ranges from $33.60 to $47.80 round-trip for small cars, and $42.25 to $60.05 for a standard-sized car.
You can find the full list of updated fares on the WSTC website.
Despite the price increase, the total cost of your ferry commute could go down. The peak-season surcharge, which adds to the cost of bringing a vehicle onboard during the ferries’ busiest months, runs from May to September. Between October and the start of next May, the added fee won’t apply.
You can use the state Department of Transportation website to calculate the exact price of your trip. You can buy tickets there as well.
According to the WSTC, the price changes were adopted in response to the two-year transportation budget passed by the state Legislature in 2023. Since 57% of the ferries’ operation costs are covered by fares, the state needed to generate an additional $28.8 million from ferry ticket sales to account for the increased budget.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
