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Summer Bainbridge - Seattle ferry wait times

We're planning an birthday party this summer for my dad. We've reserved a space on Bainbridge to have the party, but the guests will be staying in Seattle.

We're encouraging everyone to walk onto the ferry in Seattle and we're hired a minibus to shuttle people from the ferry to the event location.

Question is this: I'm sure some people will want to drive onto the ferry, so I'm trying to provide some guidance as to the wait time and how to best plan for that. The party is on a Saturday afternoon in July, so I know things can get pretty hairy. What should I recommend to people as to when they should arrive? Should they plan to wait a whole extra ferry? 1-2 hours? Any hints?
Thanks.

Mr John asked in Public Transportation about 1 year ago | Report

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2 Answers

  • Wa_usa_small
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    Yeah, I'd say they should plan on waiting a whole extra ferry. And then plan on that ferry being late.

    I've spent my whole life at the mercy of the Washington State Ferries and I've learned you just gotta chillax. Boats are late. Boats are full. Pack a football or a frisbee in the car. You're going to wait. And then you're going to wait some more.

    If there's going to be a minibus available, then there is no reason your guests should put themselves through the torment of playing Washington State Ferries roulette with a vehicle in the summer. Are we gonna make it onboard this one? are we? are we? are we? No, probably not.

    Walk onboard. Seriously. Save some cash, save the planet, save your sanity. Leave the car at Colman Dock.

    soundslikepuget answered in Public Transportation about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Dinolock_small
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    I'll yield to soundslikepuget here but I take the ferry to Bainbridge a few times every summer, usually in the early afternoon and returning on one of the last ones back to Seattle, and have never had to wait for a whole other ferry.

    You can always drive it but getting over the Tacoma Narrows bridge can be a nightmare if you go at the wrong time. Pick your poison, sitting on the I-5 exit headed towards the bridge in Tacoma, or sitting in the ferry parking lot at the waterfront.

    You could take a different ferry too if you don't mind a little driving. There are a few that land on Bainbridge. But they are smaller.

    protosaurus answered in Public Transportation about 1 year ago | Report
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