Ferry Question - Mukilteo to Whidbey

[Eric Peterson]

Hi,

 

I’ll be in Seattle this weekend and probably riding from Seattle to Whidbey and back.

I’ve done this before but don’t exactly remember the protocol at the ferry.

Is the ferry free in one direction?

If there is a backup, can I scoot past the cars?

How do I buy my ticket – do I have to wait in line with cars, or is there some other way to purchase a ticket?

Oh, I’ll be riding during daylight hours, to Whidbey on Saturday, back on Sunday.

 

Thanks,

Eric Peterson

Naperville, IL

[Jimmy Livengood]

There's a passenger ticketing booth right down by the ferry ramp on the left. If it's open and selling tickets, buy yours there and wait down there with the walk-on passengers. If that is closed, buy your ticket at the car booth (if there's a lineup you can scoot past and the first car in line will generally let you cut in and buy your ticket).

Passenger ticket booth is open M-F 10:10am-7:30pm, S-S 8:30am-6pm.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/TerminalDetail.aspx?terminalid=14#farediscounts

There is no charge for the return trip, just roll all the way up to the walk-on waiting area in Clinton.

Where are you going on Whidbey? 

Jimmy

Seattle

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From: peterso...@gmail.com
To: seattl...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [SIR] Ferry Question - Mukilteo to Whidbey
Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 23:16:51 -0500

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[DaveW]

Done it many times.  You can buy your ticket in Mukilteo at the sidewalk side of the booth, you don't have to wait in line behind cars for your ticket as that booth serves cars on one side and walk-on/cyclists on the other side.   Then you can head down to the terminal and wait at the gate with other cyclists or walkers.  They take cash, credit or wave to go passes, no checks.  If you arrive before traffic is loading you get on first.  You don't have to wait in line with cars, but you will pay a little surcharge for the bike.  There is no passenger fee from Clinton (Whidbey Island) to Mukilteo - when I've done it I ride right up to the terminal gate and wait for the friendly ferry attendants to let you pass.  I think that about covers it, have a great ride and enjoy the hills.

[Bill Gobie]

You can buy ferry tickets online now. You will get an email containing
a barcode, which you print and present at the ticket booth. Saves time
and fussing with money or credit card. Nonrefundable.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/wave2go/

Bill

On 5/21/13, Eric Peterson <peterso...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I'll be in Seattle this weekend and probably riding from Seattle to Whidbey
> and back.
>
> I've done this before but don't exactly remember the protocol at the ferry.
>
> Is the ferry free in one direction?
>
> If there is a backup, can I scoot past the cars?
>

> How do I buy my ticket - do I have to wait in line with cars, or is there

> some other way to purchase a ticket?
>
> Oh, I'll be riding during daylight hours, to Whidbey on Saturday, back on
> Sunday.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Eric Peterson
>
> Naperville, IL
>

[Thomas Martin]

I primarily only ride ferries doing our rides so I am usually a bike passenger.  For those who are less knowledgeable, like I, be aware that you sometimes need a reservation or have to wait a long time in a long line to get on the Kingston->Edmunds ferry.

After spending many hours at the finish control of the last 600 K that ended in Kingston, I had the unpleasant surprise of having to drive, from our control very close to the ferry line, out of town to the end of a very long line to get on the ferry to return home.  I decided to forgo that line and use my non bike gps to find my way to the Bainbridge ferry dock so I didn't lose much time.

Can anyone with more ferry riding expertise give the 600K volunteers advice on how to navigate the long ferry lines and reservation system for the Kingston->Edmunds ferry?

Tom

[Eric Peterson]

As always, excellent information from SIR - thanks everyone!

Yes hills, they are hard to find here in the Chicago area.

I'll be headed toward the vicinity of Greenbank.

We are flying my Mom out to the Seattle area to celebrate her 85th birthday.

Eric

[Bill Gobie]

Reservations are only available on a few routes. Kingston-Edmonds and the Seattle routes are first-come-first-served. See:

https://business.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/reservations/

Long lines are typical when returning on nice summer Sundays. Expect the ferries to be off schedule because of the heavy traffic.

If you don't need a car while supporting the ride, I would park in Edmonds and walk onto the ferry.

You can check wait times here and decide whether it is worth driving to another terminal, or all the way to the Narrows Bridge:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/Terminals.aspx

Bill

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