WSDOT - Ferries - Seattle Ferry Terminal (2024)

Directions and Transportation Connections

  • Driving
    From I-5 northbound (SeaTac Airport)
    • Take I-5 N
    • Take exit 164B for Edgar Martinez Drive South
    • Turn right onto Edgar Martinez Drive South
    • Turn right onto 1st Avenue South
    • Veer to the left onto South Dearborn Street
    • Turn right onto Alaskan Way to enter the two left turn lanes into Colman Dock from I-5 Southbound (Everett area)

    From I-5 southbound (Everett area)
    • Take I-5 South
    • Take exit 164 to I-90 East/Bellevue
    • Keep left, heading toward Bellevue/Portland
    • Keep right
    • Take exit for 4th Avenue South/Ferries
    • Take right onto ramp for Edgar Martinez Drive South
    • Take right onto Edgar Martinez Drive South
    • Take First Avenue South
    • Turn left onto South Dearborn Street
    • Turn right onto Alaskan Way to enter the two left turn lanes into Colman Dock

    Entering Colman Dock and the ferries in a vehicle
    • Enter terminal from two northbound lanes on Alaskan Way at Yesler Way. Please watch for signage to queue for Bainbridge Island or Bremerton.
    • Drivers will be directed to the toll booth for ticketing before loading onto the vessels.
    • There is significant congestion along the busy Seattle waterfront, especially with the Waterfront Seattle Project. Check traffic conditions and be prepared to add up to 30 minutes of additional travel time to reach Colman Dock.

    Leaving Colman Dock after disembarking a ferry in a vehicle
    • Depending on construction activities, vehicles may be able to use both the Marion Street and Yesler Way exits.
    • From the Yesler Way exit you can turn left, right or go straight to reach other local streets.
    • From the Marion Street exit you can turn left, go straight or turn right – with the exception of large trucks – which must exit by Yesler Way.

  • Walking
    Colman Dock Location: on Pier 52, at 801 Alaskan Way between Marion and Columbia Streets.
    Access to terminal building: Customers have several options to enter and exit the new passenger building:
    1. A temporary pedestrian bridge begins over Alaskan Way begins at First Avenue and Marion Street and continues to the new elevated pedestrian connector and ticketing. From the elevated level you can reach the passenger building.
    2. There are three stairways at the south, center and north areas of the new entry building along Alaskan Way. All of these stairs lead to the elevated pedestrian connector for ticketing and access to the terminal building.
    3. There are two elevators at Colman Dock:

    • One is at the entry building along Alaskan Way
    • The second is adjacent to the Passenger Only Ferry where the King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Fast Ferry terminal are located
    • Passenger Pick-Up/Drop Off: The temporary passenger pick-up/drop-off area is located on northbound Alaskan Way between Marion and Madison streets. To view a graphic of the pick-up drop-off area, visit the Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project page and select the “maps & drawings” tab.

    Tickets
    • To save time, you may purchase tickets in advance online
    • A staffed ticket booth and self-serve kiosks are located in the enclosed walkway that leads into the passenger building. There is an additional self-serve kiosk within the passenger building.
    • The staffed ticket booth is the only place to purchase tickets with cash.

    Tips for walk-on passengers
    • There are now over 350 seats available in the completed terminal building. Please arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled sailing. You’ll also find plenty of seating on the ferry, with accommodations of 1,500 to 2,500 passengers depending on the vessel.
    • The only time we approach full walk-on capacity is during major events such as a sports team playoff or series championship games.

    Leaving Colman Dock after disembarking a ferry as a walk-on passenger
    • There are several ways to travel upon leaving the ferries:

    1. Passengers can cross the elevated pedestrian connector to take stairs or elevators to Alaskan Way.
    2. Passengers can travel through the temporary walkway that travels over Alaskan Way to reach Marion Street.
    3. Passengers can also travel across the pedestrian bridge that connects to the passenger only ferry that leads to Alaskan Way and Yesler Way. Both stairs and elevators are available to reach ground level.

  • Bicycles
    Getting to Colman Dock and onto the ferries
    • There are designated holding lanes for bicycles going to either Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. Please watch for signs or speak with staff to ensure that you queue in the correct holding lane.
    • Bremerton cyclists will enter at the regular vehicle toll booths and queue for slip 1—same as previously.
    • Bainbridge cyclists will enter via two options depending on time of day:

    1. There is a dedicated bike entrance with turnstile and covered waiting area that leads to slip 3. This dedicated lane is accessed from Alaskan Way to the north of the Marion Street ext. The bike tollbooth will be open from 3 pm to 7 pm weekdays. There will be an attendant to scan Orca cards or tickets during these hours.
    2. Bainbridge bikes will be able to enter from the regular toll booth and ride across the trestle lanes to enter the bike holding lane on the north end of the trestle.

    • For your safety, it is critical that bicycle riders follow all signs and stay in designated holding lanes and bicycle pathways when traveling to and from the ferry. We appreciate your cooperation and patience.
    • Bicycles receive priority access to all sailings, and pay the round-trip passenger fare on the Seattle-side at Colman Dock only.
    • For general bicycle route information, you can check out the city of Seattle’s bicycle routes map.

    Leaving Colman Dock after disembarking a ferry on a bicycle
    • Disembark ferry in three separate groups, depending on preference: at the beginning, middle or end of the vehicle offloading process.
    • All bicycles will be directed to either the Yesler Way or Marion Street exits depending on construction activities.
    • You can access the Waterfront Seattle bike path from either of the Colman Dock exits.
    • Please do not cut across the holding lanes or exit through the toll plaza.

Security

WSF has implemented a U.S. Coast Guard approved security plan, for more information please visit our Safety and Security page.

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Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC)

  • Contact the Ferry Advisory Committee chair representing your community with suggestions or concerns about ferry service.

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Tourist Information

Parking
Customers planning to park and walk on the ferry can find parking information for Seattle's Pioneer Square and waterfront neighborhoods here: Downtown Seattle Parking.

Motorcycles
While motorcycles are not, by Washington Administrative Code (WAC 468-300-700), a preferential loading category of users, they are often loaded prior to automobiles for operational and staging purposes. Arrival at the dock after vehicle load has commenced requires motorcycles to wait until all cars have been loaded for the next motorcycle loading opportunity. Motorcycles should proceed, while on the dock, at no more than 10 mph. Use caution when car decks are wet. The following information details specific staging for this terminal:

  • Motorcycle Fare Purchase/Redemption: Purchase tickets at the auto tollbooths, at the passenger booth, at the kiosk inside the terminal waiting room, or online in advance.
  • Motorcycle Entry/Staging: Use booth #4 (right lane), if pre-ticketed, during commuter hours. May turn right into the toll plaza from southbound Alaskan Way or left from northbound Alaskan Way.
    -Bremerton staging in lane #4.
    -Bainbridge staging in lane #38.
  • Motorcycle Loading: Loading order: Bicycles, motorcycles, vehicles, late arriving motorcycles as space permits.
  • Trucks

  • WSF requires trucks with a gross vehicle weight of over 80,000 lbs and/or over 8’6” wide to have “travel approval” before crossing any of our routes. Vessels on this route have a limited height clearance and trucks may be loaded out of sequence.
  • Trucks that have a gross vehicle weight of over 80,000 lbs but are hauling less than 80,000 lbs will need to provide a weight slip.
  • Please fill out our Oversized/Overweight Vehicle Travel form and email it to wsfinfo@wsdot.wa.gov. Please allow three business days for completion and approval. You can contact us at anytime for status updates at (206)464-6400.
  • Train
    Amtrak is located at 3rd and King St., 303 S. Jackson StreetSeattle, WA 98104(206) 382-4125 or 1-800-USA-RAIL Amtrak.

    The train station is approximately 7 blocks from the ferry terminal and is within walking distance. Taxis are readily available in front of the ferry terminal or across the street.

    Please check at (206) 553-3000, TTY users call (206) 684-1739, online at Trip Planner. For the scheduled departure times of regular bus service at bus stops, call Bus Time (automated schedule information) at (206) 287-8463.

    HOV
    When traveling to Pier 52, carpool/vanpool drivers may turn right onto the ferry terminal during peak commute hours when other vehicles cannot. Carpool/Vanpools must be ticketed and in line 10 minutes before scheduled sailing time to receive preferential loading. If you are late, you will be loaded on a space available basis at the end of the loading. For information or to register for our rideshare program see ourcarpools and vanpools page.

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    Terminal Features and Amenities

    • Overhead Passenger Loading: Yes
    • Elevator: Yes
    • Waiting Room: Yes
    • Food Service: Yes. Vessel Galley Hours Sea/Brem: 6:15am - 8:15pm Daily

      >Galley Hours (Vessel #1 Sea/BI)/b>

    • 4:45am - 7:30 pm Mon-Friday
    • 7:45am - 8:00pm Sat. and Sunday
    • Espresso Stand - M/V Tacoma Only as staffing allows
    • Galley Hours (Vessel #2 Sea/BI)

    • 5:20am - 8 pm Mon-Fri
    • 7:45am - 9:00 pm Saturday
    • 8:55am - 9:00 pm Sunday
    • Espresso Stand - M/V Tacoma Only as staffing allows
    • 2:15 pm- 10 pm Thursday and Friday
    • 3:00p.m.-10:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
    • Restrooms: Yes

    ADA Information

    Fare Discounts

    We offer seniors (65+), persons with disabilities and passengers with a Medicare card, or other eligibility verification, travel at half the regular passenger fare rate. We offer special rates for youth ages 6 to 18. Children ages 5 and under travel free. For more information check Fares.

    Multi-ride cards are good for 90 days from the date of purchase and are non-refundable.

    Fare Purchase/Redemption
    Purchase and redeem tickets at the auto tollbooths. Tickets may be purchased at the passenger booth, or at the kiosk inside the terminal waiting room, or online in advance.

    Pre-purchasing Wave2Go tickets does not guarantee a space on the vessel.

    Construction

    Please visit Seattle Ferry Terminal Construction Project to learn the latest and see maps of the construction area.

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    Lost and Found

    Lost and found items are turned in to the Seattle ferry terminal. Our Information Agents can also assist you with lost and found inquiries from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm (daily) at (206) 515-3439 or 1-888-808-7977.

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    Additional Info

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    WSDOT - Ferries - Seattle Ferry Terminal (2024)

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