Visiting Vashon and Maury Islands in summer

Summer is when Vashon fills up. Dry weather and long evenings bring day trippers, weekend guests and returning families to the island and to Maury next door. Since there is no bridge, all of them come by water, and the docks are where you feel it first.

None of this needs to spoil a trip. Visitors who plan around peak ferry times, travel light where they can and book lodging early tend to find the island as relaxed as its reputation.

Ferries in high season

Car lines on summer weekends

Car space on the ferries is fixed, and on the Vashon routes it is generally handed out in the order cars arrive. On sunny weekends the lines at all three mainland terminals grow long: Fauntleroy in West Seattle, Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula and Point Defiance in Tacoma.

The pattern is fairly steady. Lines toward the island build from Friday afternoon into Saturday morning. Lines back to the mainland peak on Sunday afternoon and evening. At those times, waiting through more than one sailing is common.

Traveling outside the peaks helps most. Early mornings and later evenings on weekdays are usually calmer. If you do join a long line, keep water, snacks and sun protection in the car, because holding lanes offer little shade. Washington State Ferries, part of WSDOT, posts terminal cameras and alerts on its website and app, so you can see the line before you leave home.

Leaving the car behind

Walking or cycling aboard skips the car line entirely. Foot passengers are rarely turned away on these routes, which makes walking on the dependable choice for a summer day trip.

From downtown Seattle, the King County Water Taxi carries passengers to the north end of Vashon on the days it runs. Check its current schedule, since service days vary. Washington State Ferries carries foot passengers and cyclists on every Vashon route.

On the island, King County Metro buses connect the north landing, the town of Vashon and the south landing at Tahlequah. Weekend and holiday service is thinner than on weekdays, so plan your connections with the Metro trip planner.

Beaches and shoreline

Low tide days

Vashon and Maury have plenty of public shoreline, from sand and gravel beaches to rocky points with long views across the water. Summer low tides expose wide stretches of beach that are good for walking and beachcombing, and seals and seabirds are common sights.

Shoreline parks on both islands range from open beaches to small, sheltered bays with picnic areas. Many sit at the bottom of steep roads or bluffs, so plan for the walk or ride back up.

Watch the tide. A rising tide can cover a narrow beach quickly, leaving little room at the foot of a bluff. Check a tide table before you set out along the shore, and leave yourself a way back.

Forest trails

When the sun is strong on the water, wooded trails inland offer shade. The islands hold a mix of conifer forest, wetlands and ravines on public land, with footpaths that wind through the trees and in some places drop down to the shore. A few of these trails are shared with runners and horseback riders.

Pack out your trash, keep dogs on a leash where rules require it and stay on marked paths to protect the soil and plants.

Community events

Summer is the island's social season. Long-running community events celebrate Vashon's farming roots and bring residents and visitors together in town with music, food, crafts and parades. During the biggest weekends, some streets close to cars and town parking gets scarce.

Events like these also lengthen ferry lines. Dates move from year to year, so check local community calendars before you plan a trip around one, or avoid those weekends if you want a quiet visit.

Smaller gatherings fill the rest of the season, including markets with local produce and crafts, gallery events, outdoor music and community theater. Parking near the town center fills fast at these times. Walking, riding a bike or taking the bus into town spares you the hunt for a space.

Riding a bike in summer

A bike is a fine way to see the countryside, but summer traffic adds to the island's usual challenges. Roads from both ferry landings climb steeply. Many rural roads are narrow, winding and lined with trees, with little shoulder.

Use front and rear lights even in daylight, wear visible clothing and give yourself room on blind curves and hilltops. Bikes travel easily on the state ferries and the water taxi, where crew show you where to secure them.

Booking a place to stay

Overnight options on Vashon and Maury are limited. There are no large hotels or resorts, just small inns, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, cabins and a few campsites.

Demand peaks across the summer months. Last-minute weekend stays rarely work out, since many places book far ahead. If you want to spend a night on the island in summer, reserve early. If your plans firm up late, stay on the mainland in Seattle, Tacoma or Kitsap and visit Vashon as a day trip by ferry.

Frequently asked questions

When are summer ferry lines longest?

Island-bound lines tend to build on Friday afternoons and weekend mornings, and the return lines on Sunday afternoons. Sunny weekends are busiest. Check Washington State Ferries terminal cameras and alerts before you leave.

Can I visit Vashon in summer without a car?

Yes. Walking or cycling onto the ferry avoids the car line. On the island, King County Metro buses link the ferry landings and town, and the King County Water Taxi carries foot passengers from downtown Seattle on the days it runs.

Are there summer festivals on Vashon?

The island has long-running summer community events, and they draw big crowds and longer ferry lines. Dates change from year to year, so check local community calendars before you plan around one.

How early should I book a place to stay?

Book well ahead for summer weekends. The island has no large hotels, and its small inns, rentals and campsites fill up early in the season.