Vashon Island ferry routes explained

Vashon sits in the middle of Puget Sound with no bridge to anywhere. That single fact shapes every trip to the island, and it is the reason first-time visitors spend more time reading ferry pages than road maps.

The system is not complicated once you see its outline. Two Washington State Ferries routes carry cars, bikes and foot passengers to opposite ends of the island. A third boat, the King County Water Taxi, carries people only. Which one you use depends mostly on where you start and whether a car is coming with you.

The north end: Fauntleroy, Vashon and Southworth

The busiest way onto the island leaves from the Fauntleroy terminal in West Seattle and lands at the north end of Vashon. Washington State Ferries runs this as a shared route that also serves Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. Boats move between the three docks, so a given sailing might go straight to Vashon or call at Southworth along the way.

In practice, the line at Fauntleroy holds traffic for two destinations. Terminal staff sort cars by where they are headed, and signs at the toll booths make the split clear. Read them carefully, because the wrong lane can mean an unplanned trip to the other side of the Sound.

Foot passengers have it easier. You walk through the terminal building, board on the passenger ramp and leave the boat at the north end dock. From there the road climbs away from the water, and King County Metro buses stop near the landing.

Coming from Kitsap works the same way in reverse. Southworth sends boats toward Vashon and Fauntleroy, so people living on that side of the Sound can reach the island without going through Seattle at all.

The south end: Point Defiance and Tahlequah

At the other end of the island, a separate Washington State Ferries route links the Tahlequah terminal with Point Defiance in Tacoma. It is a simple back and forth crossing with no third stop, and it suits anyone driving up from Pierce County or from farther south.

The Point Defiance terminal sits beside a large city park in north Tacoma. Tahlequah, by contrast, is a quiet landing surrounded by trees, with a small holding area and a road that rises steeply from the dock. If you plan to stay near the south end of Vashon or want to avoid Seattle traffic, this route often makes more sense than the northern one.

A useful habit for visitors with a car: come in one way and leave the other. Arriving at Tahlequah and departing from the north end lets you drive the length of the island once instead of doubling back.

Passenger only: the King County Water Taxi

The King County Water Taxi is a passenger vessel that links the downtown Seattle waterfront with the north end of Vashon. It takes people and bicycles. It does not take cars or anything else that needs a car deck.

For someone already downtown, it can be the most direct route to the island, since it skips the trip across West Seattle to Fauntleroy. Service days and seasons have changed over the years, so check the King County Water Taxi schedule before you plan around it. Do not assume it runs on the day you need it.

Because the water taxi lands at the north end, its riders arrive in the same area as foot passengers from the Fauntleroy boat and can use the same Metro bus stops.

How boarding works for each kind of traveler

With a car

Drivers join a staging line, pay at the toll booth and wait in a lane until crew wave them aboard. The Vashon routes have generally run first come, first served rather than on reservations, so arriving early is the main tool you have. Washington State Ferries posts the current rules on reservations and fares, and those are the ones to follow.

Fare collection on these routes has its own quirks, and the details are set by WSDOT. Read the current fare page instead of relying on what a friend paid last year.

On foot or by bike

Walk-on passengers buy a ticket at the terminal and wait in the passenger area. Cyclists usually wait in a separate spot near the front of the vehicle lanes and roll aboard when crew signal them. On the car ferries, bikes go down onto the car deck and are secured to a rail. On the water taxi, crew point you to the bike rack on board.

Foot passengers rarely face the long waits that drivers do. That alone makes walking on attractive for a day trip.

Getting around after you land

Vashon is larger than many visitors expect, and the two ferry landings sit at opposite ends. A main highway runs north to south through the middle of the island, and a narrow land connection on the east side joins Vashon to Maury.

King County Metro runs bus routes on the island that link the ferry landings with the town of Vashon and other stops. Route numbers and timetables change, so plan with the Metro trip planner rather than an old printed map. Cyclists should know that the roads from both landings climb hard right away. A low gear helps.

Check before you go

Every route described here shifts with the seasons, maintenance work, weather and holidays. The current word always comes from the operators.

Washington State Ferries, run by WSDOT, covers car ferry schedules, fares, terminal conditions and alerts.

King County Water Taxi covers passenger-only sailings and the days it runs.

King County Metro covers island bus routes and the trip planner.

A quick look at those pages on the morning you travel will save more time than any shortcut in this guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive to Vashon Island over a bridge?

No. There is no bridge between Vashon or Maury and the mainland, so every car, bike and foot passenger arrives by boat. Maury is joined to Vashon by a narrow land connection, so once you are on Vashon you can drive or ride to Maury.

Which ferry should I take from Seattle?

Drivers coming from Seattle usually use the Washington State Ferries route from Fauntleroy in West Seattle to the north end of Vashon. Foot passengers starting downtown can also look at the King County Water Taxi, which carries people and bikes but no cars.

Is there a ferry from Tacoma to Vashon?

Yes. Washington State Ferries runs a route between Point Defiance in Tacoma and the Tahlequah terminal at the south end of Vashon. It is often the easier choice if you are coming from the south.

Where do I find current sailing times and fares?

Washington State Ferries, part of WSDOT, publishes schedules, fares and service alerts for the car ferries. King County Water Taxi publishes its own schedule and service days. Both change by season, so check them close to your travel date.