The WA State Ferries Are The Cheapest Way to Get on the Water in the PNW

Look, we all have friends who have a boat…and while it sounds great, we all know what boat stands for:

Break Out Another Thousand!

In lieu of buying your own boat (too expensive) or constantly bugging your friends with a boat to take you out (too annoying), why not take the Washington State Ferry?

Our favorite route is the Seattle ➝ Bainbridge Island Route. It couldn’t be simpler to ride the WA State Ferry, and it’s a total life hack if you want to get some time out on the water. Oh, and it’s CHEAP! Just look at these ticket prices below:

Ticket Prices

• Adults (19-64): $9.45
• Seniors (65+): $4.70
• Youth (0-18): FREE
• Bike Surcharge (19+): $1.00

But get this…you only pay on the way to Bainbridge Island! So for under ten bucks per person, you get an hour’s worth of sailing on the Puget Sound.

Time to channel your inner Derek Shepherd (we see you, Grey’s Anatomy fans!)

Here’s how it works:

Boarding the Ferry in Seattle

Once you’ve bought your ticket, you’ll scan it through a turnstile to board the ferry in Seattle. Seating is first-come, first-serve…and there’s so much space inside! First-time passengers might be surprised to learn that there’s even several cafes, coffee shops, and bathrooms inside as well.

We highly recommend going up to the sea deck at the front of the boat so you can get the best view and an even better breeze. Remember to bring a jacket…it gets chilly out there, even on hot summer days!

Disembarking at Bainbridge Island

When you arrive at Bainbridge Island, you’ll need to disembark…even if you plan to just ride the ferry right back to Seattle.

If you do plan to head back to Seattle, you’ll just need to head back into the walk-on passenger boarding area which is located to the right of the terminal.

If you plan to head to Bainbridge Island, just know that it’s a little bit of a walk to any restaurants/shops/breweries (starting from 10 minutes). If you really want to hack your trip, we highly recommend that you bring your bike so you can make a day of it and explore Bainbridge Island by bike.

There is also a bike rental shop called Bike Barn Rentals located right by the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal in case that is more appealing.

Boarding the Ferry in Bainbridge Island

Remember…you only pay on the way to Bainbridge Island, so no need to show your ticket when boarding the ferry!

The skyline view of Seattle as you approach is stunning – we highly recommend heading up to the sun deck to get the best view!

Disembarking the Ferry

And that’s it! Once the ferry has docked back in Seattle, you’re good to go! Walk-on guests are allowed off the ferry pretty much right away, and then your next big decision is what you should do to spend the rest of your day in Seattle! Check out some of our suggestions below: