The Edmonds-Kingston ferry is one of the quickest ways to travel across the Puget Sound to the Olympic Peninsula from the Seattle area. Known as an alternative to the Bainbridge ferry, the Kingston ferry is a great option for those who live on the northern end of Seattle.
Here are the details you need to know:
Trip Duration:
The ferry ride between Edmonds and Kingston takes approximately 30 minutes each way. If you plan to drive onto the ferry, be sure to arrive well in advance of your departure time. Cars sometimes begin to line up a boat or two in advance, so check the wait time before hand.
Walk-on passengers can arrive and board just prior to departure as there are always open seats available.
Boats generally depart once every hour over the course of the day, but schedules can vary based on time of year and the number of boats in operation. Be sure to check the official schedule when planning your trip. The full Kingston ferry schedule can be found here.
Fares:
Fares vary depending on whether you are walking or driving onto the ferry. If you decide to drive, there are also different price brackets based on your vehicle size.
Walk-on passenger:
Passenger fares are collected only when leaving Edmonds. There is no passenger fare when departing from Kingston.
- Adult – $9.25
- Senior – $4.60
- Youth – $4.60
- Bicycle surcharge – $1
Vehicle:
Vehicle fees are charged in both Edmonds and Kingston. Prices listed below are one-way only and should be doubled for a round-trip fare.
Note: These prices cover the vehicle and the driver only. Additional passengers must each pay the walk-on rate when leaving Edmonds. Additional passengers departing from Kingston are free of charge.
- Vehicle under 14 ft (&Driver) – $13.20
- Vehicle under 22 ft (&Driver) – $16.80
- Vehicle under 14 ft (& Senior/Disability Driver) – $10.85
- Vehicle under 22 ft (& Senior/Disability Driver) – $14.45
- Motorcycle (&Driver) – $7.30
- Motorcycle (&Driver) – $4.95
Where to buy tickets:
If you are driving onto the ferry, tickets can be purchased at the toll booths near the entrance to the ferry line (pictured below). The attendant at the booth will charge you for your car, and any additional passengers in the car.
Walk on passengers can purchase tickets in person at a kiosk halfway up the passenger ramp. There are also automated ticketing machines if you would rather self-ticket.
Reminder: Walk-on passengers will only need to purchase tickets once on the Edmonds side. Drive-on passengers must also purchase a return ticket on the Kingston side.
Deboarding:
When nearing your destination, it will be announced over the intercom on the ferry. Passengers with cars will be instructed to return to their vehicles, while walk-on passengers will slowly gather towards the front of the boat.
Once the ferry reaches the dock, walk-on passengers will be allowed to deboard almost immediately. Cars unload more slowly, and it can take up to 15 minutes to get off the boat depending on where your car was in the line. Generally, the cars in the center will exit first, followed by the cars on the sides.
