Riding King County Metro buses on Vashon Island

The bus network on Vashon is small and easy to read. King County Metro runs a handful of island routes, and their job is mainly to link the two ferry landings with the town of Vashon and the homes spread along the main road. You will not find the web of crossing lines you see in Seattle. You will find buses that, with some planning, get you most places a visitor wants to go.

Island buses share narrow two-lane roads with cars, farm vehicles and cyclists. Travel times can stretch near the ferry landings when a boat unloads, and road work can slow things down further. None of that is a problem if you leave yourself some slack.

How the routes fit the island

Following the ferries

The island's transit layout mirrors its ferry layout. At the north end, buses stop near the landing that receives boats from Fauntleroy in West Seattle and Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. The King County Water Taxi from downtown Seattle lands in the same area, so its riders can use the same stops.

At the south end, buses reach the Tahlequah landing, where Washington State Ferries connects Vashon with Point Defiance in Tacoma. Because buses run between the two ends, a foot passenger can cross the whole island by transit, arriving from the Seattle side and leaving toward Tacoma or the other way round.

Through the middle

Between the two landings, buses pass through the town of Vashon, the island's main center for shops, cafes and services. Stops sit near the main intersections, so it is easy to hop off, run errands or eat, then catch a later bus. Other stops along the route give access to side roads that lead toward Maury Island, parks and rural neighborhoods.

Route numbers

Metro renumbers and adjusts routes from time to time. Rather than memorizing numbers, think of them simply as the Metro routes on the island and let the official trip planner tell you which one to take on a given day.

Paying your fare

King County Metro uses ORCA, the regional fare card that works across many transit agencies around Puget Sound. You tap the card on the reader when you board, and it deducts the fare or checks your pass. ORCA can also carry transfer credit between participating services, which helps on trips that combine a ferry or water taxi with a bus.

Riders without a card have other choices. Metro has offered mobile ticketing, and cash has traditionally been accepted, but drivers cannot make change, so carry the exact amount. Reduced fares exist for some riders, including seniors and youth, and the eligibility rules change. Check the King County Metro website for current fares and payment options before you travel.

Planning around thin schedules

Weekdays

Weekdays see the most service, shaped around people commuting to and from the ferries. Around the morning and evening rush, buses tend to line up with boat arrivals. In the middle of the day, gaps between buses widen.

Evenings

Evening service ends far earlier than in the city. After the commute hours, trips become sparse. If you plan to stay in town for dinner, look up the last bus to your lodging or to the ferry before you sit down. Missing it can leave you with a long walk on dark roads with no sidewalks.

Weekends and holidays

Weekend and holiday service is lighter still. There are fewer trips overall and longer waits between them, and not every weekend boat has a bus timed to meet it. On those days it pays to plan each leg in advance.

Digital tools worth using

The King County Metro trip planner, available on the web and on phones, is the best single tool for the island. Enter where you are and where you want to go, and it returns current routes, transfers and timings for the day you choose.

Real-time tracking helps when the ferries run late. A delayed boat can push a bus departure back, and live arrival estimates let you decide whether to wait at the stop or change plans.

Service alerts are the third piece. Storms, road work and summer traffic can cause detours or skipped stops. Check alerts on the Metro website before you leave, or sign up for notifications about island routes.

Riding with bikes and bags

When you step off a ferry on foot, follow signs to the bus stop near the landing. Drivers usually allow time for foot passengers to come up from the boat, but buses leave once boarding is done, so do not linger.

Metro buses carry a bike rack on the front, with room for only a few bikes. Loading your bike for the first stretch can spare you the steep climb up from the water. Tell the driver before you step in front of the bus, then fold the rack down, set the wheels in the slots and secure the arm over the front tire. Space is first come, first served.

Keep luggage and strollers out of the aisle so others can move through. On rural stretches, stops can be little more than a sign by a field or junction, so watch for your stop and pull the cord early.

For the full picture, check Metro's trip planner together with the Washington State Ferries and King County Water Taxi schedules. Matching all three is what makes a car-free Vashon day work.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay the bus fare on Vashon?

Metro accepts the regional ORCA card and other payment options that change over time, including mobile tickets. If you plan to pay with cash, have the exact amount ready. Check King County Metro for the current fare options before you ride.

Do the buses meet the ferries?

Island routes are planned around the ferry landings at the north and south ends of Vashon, and stops sit close to both. Not every boat has a bus waiting, though, so check the Metro trip planner for the connection you need.

Can I bring my bike on the bus?

Metro buses carry bikes on a rack mounted on the front, with room for only a few. Space is first come, first served. Check King County Metro for current rules on electric and heavier bikes.

Do buses on Vashon run late in the evening?

Service thins out in the evening and on weekends. Look up the last trip back to your ferry landing before you head out for dinner or an evening event.