Traveling through Washington’s Maritime Kingdom often means riding aboard a ferry. Most of the major routes are operated by Washington State Ferries and function as part of the state highway system, connecting riders across Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, the Olympic Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands. But Washington also has several county, tribal, and privately operated ferries, each with its own routes and procedures. This guide will help motorcycle riders understand the system, find current schedules, and know what to expect when it’s time to board.

Washington State Ferries are an important part of traveling through Washington’s Maritime Kingdom. The ferry system connects communities and highways across Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, and for a motorcycle rider, boarding a ferry is often simply another part of the road.

Motorcycle Boarding on a Washington State Ferry

Motorcycles are handled differently from automobiles at most Washington State Ferry terminals. Do not automatically join the automobile waiting line.

In normal operation, motorcycles proceed past the waiting vehicle traffic toward the tollbooth, where the rider pays the appropriate fare and is then directed to a separate motorcycle staging area near the front of the terminal. Motorcycles are generally staged separately from automobiles and are normally among the first vehicles loaded when the ferry arrives.

If you are unfamiliar with a terminal, watch for motorcycle signs and directions from ferry personnel. If you're unsure where motorcycles should go, ask a ferry employee before joining a long vehicle line. Waiting with the cars may mean spending a considerable amount of time in a line you never needed to be in.

Once boarding begins, follow the crew's directions onto the vessel and to the motorcycle parking area. Ferry ramps and steel decks can be slippery when wet, so use extra care when entering and leaving the vessel.

GMRW Rider Note: Terminal layouts and procedures can vary, and operations may change during heavy traffic, special events or unusual circumstances. Follow the directions of Washington State Ferries personnel when they differ from the normal motorcycle procedure described above.

The Usual Motorcycle Routine

ARRIVE → PROCEED TOWARD TOLLBOOTH → PAY FARE → MOTORCYCLE STAGING → BOARD WHEN DIRECTED → ENJOY THE RIDE

For most riders, that's really all there is to it. Once you've done it a couple of times, riding Washington State Ferries becomes one of the easiest—and most uniquely Washington—parts of exploring the Maritime Kingdom.

Just across the Guemes Channel from Anacortes lies Guemes Island, reached by a small vehicle ferry operated by Skagit County, not Washington State Ferries. The ferry departs from the county terminal at 500 I Avenue in Anacortes, and the crossing takes only about eight minutes. Motorcycles are specifically accommodated by the ferry and have their own motorcycle-and-rider fare.

Why Ride Guemes Island?

Guemes isn't a destination for piling up highway miles. That's part of its appeal. It's a small, quiet island where the ferry crossing itself becomes part of the ride—a quick escape from Anacortes into a much slower corner of Washington's Maritime Kingdom.

Once ashore, riders can explore the island's rural roads, shoreline and small communities. Guemes Mountain is one of the island's better-known destinations, and the island also has public beach access and preserves for riders who want to park the motorcycle and explore on foot. It's the kind of place that works well as a short side trip while riding the Anacortes area rather than an all-day motorcycle route.

The Guemes ferry operates on its own schedule and fare system, separate from Washington State Ferries. Skagit County also posts ferry alerts and service information, which is worth checking before heading to the terminal. The ferry does not accept cash or checks; current accepted payment methods include credit/debit cards and Apple Pay.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

Just west of Bellingham, Lummi Island is connected to the mainland by the Whatcom Chief, a small vehicle ferry operated by Whatcom County Public Works, not Washington State Ferries. The ferry crosses Hale Passage between Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island, with a normal crossing taking only about five minutes. The system operates year-round and provides the island's primary transportation connection to the mainland.

The Whatcom Chief is first-come, first-served and does not accept reservations. Fares are round-trip and are collected on the trip from Gooseberry Point to Lummi Island. The ferry does not accept cash, so riders should check the current payment and fare information before arriving.

Why Ride Lummi Island?

Like Guemes, Lummi Island isn't about piling up miles. The ferry and the island are the destination. A five-minute crossing puts you onto a quiet island of rural roads, shoreline and Salish Sea views—a completely different experience from the traffic and highways around nearby Bellingham. The island is also home to a small arts community and several natural areas.

For riders who want to get off the motorcycle for a while, Lummi Island Beach Access offers shoreline access and a viewpoint overlooking Hale Passage where you can watch the Whatcom Chief make its crossing. The island's Baker Preserve offers a much more substantial hike, climbing roughly 1,060 feet to views across Rosario Strait toward the San Juan Islands.

This is best thought of as a slow-down-and-explore side trip, rather than a destination for technical motorcycle roads. Ride the island, enjoy the water and views, stop somewhere that catches your attention, and then make the little ferry crossing back to the mainland.

One important planning note: the Whatcom Chief undergoes periodic maintenance and an annual dry dock, during which vehicle-ferry service can be interrupted or replaced by passenger-only service. Whatcom County also occasionally schedules maintenance outages and fueling-related schedule changes. Check the ferry's current status before riding to Gooseberry Point.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

South of Tacoma, the Pierce County Ferry connects the historic waterfront town of Steilacoom with Anderson Island and Ketron Island. This is a county-operated vehicle ferry system, separate from Washington State Ferries, with the Steilacoom terminal located at 56 Union Avenue.

Most sailings run between Steilacoom and Anderson Island. Ketron Island is different: only specifically marked sailings stop there, so riders headed to Ketron need to check the schedule carefully rather than assuming every ferry serves the island. Pierce County's current schedule identifies the individual Ketron stops.

Fares are round trip and collected at the Steilacoom terminal, and Pierce County has a separate motorcycle fare that includes the rider. Passengers riding two-up require an additional passenger fare. The county advises vehicles, drivers and passengers to be in position with their tickets 20 minutes before departure or they may not be allowed to board.

Why Ride Anderson Island?

Like Guemes and Lummi, Anderson Island isn't about finding a hundred miles of twisties. Getting there is part of the adventure.

The ferry carries you away from the Tacoma-area traffic and across the southern reaches of Puget Sound to a small island of rural roads, forests and shoreline. For a motorcycle rider exploring Washington's Maritime Kingdom, it's the sort of place that makes a good destination ride rather than simply a route to somewhere else.

Anderson Island is also large enough to actually spend some time exploring after you roll off the boat. Ride the island roads, explore the shoreline, stop and look around, and make the return ferry part of the day's ride.

A Note About Ketron Island

Ketron Island is not served by every sailing. On the current 2026 schedule, only designated trips stop at Ketron on their return toward Steilacoom. Passengers departing Ketron must also make a reservation at least 60 minutes in advance. Riders specifically planning to visit Ketron should therefore check Pierce County's current schedule and requirements before leaving.

Pierce County operates different peak and non-peak schedules, and service can also be affected by weekly fuel runs, tides and operational changes. That makes this another ferry where checking the official information the day you ride is worthwhile.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

The M.V. Coho, operated by Black Ball Ferry Line, connects Port Angeles, Washington with downtown Victoria, British Columbia. This is not part of Washington State Ferries—the Coho is a privately operated international passenger and vehicle ferry that carries cars, trucks, RVs and motorcycles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The crossing covers about 22.6 nautical miles and takes approximately 90 minutes. The Port Angeles terminal is right downtown at 101 E. Railroad Avenue, while the Victoria terminal lands riders at 430 Belleville Street in the heart of Victoria.

Motorcycle Boarding Is Different Here

Do not use the Washington State Ferries motorcycle procedure at Port Angeles.

The Coho is an international ferry with its own check-in and staging procedure. Motorcycles are treated as vehicles. Riders departing Port Angeles check in at the drive-up ticket window on the right side of the terminal building, and terminal personnel then direct them to a loading lane.

If you have a reservation, Black Ball currently requires vehicles—including motorcycles—to arrive at least 60 minutes before departure from Port Angeles. Reserved vehicles load before non-reserved vehicles. Some space is held for vehicles without reservations, but Black Ball recommends reservations if you need a particular sailing.

Coming back from Victoria requires even more time. Vehicles normally need to arrive 90 minutes before departure because you're entering the United States and must go through the international processing procedure.

Why Take a Motorcycle to Victoria?

For a Washington rider, this ferry does something none of the little county ferries can do:

It turns the Olympic Peninsula into the beginning of a Vancouver Island motorcycle trip.

Ride across the Olympic Peninsula to Port Angeles, put the motorcycle aboard the Coho, and about 90 minutes later you're rolling off the ship in downtown Victoria—with your motorcycle in Canada. From there, Vancouver Island opens up an entirely different network of roads and destinations.

The crossing itself is also part of the experience. Rather than the protected waters of many Puget Sound ferry routes, the Coho crosses the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with views across the water toward Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula.

Remember — You're Crossing an International Border

This is the big difference.

Riding onto the Coho means leaving the United States and entering Canada, so riders need appropriate identification and must satisfy both Canadian and U.S. border-entry requirements for the trip.

Because those requirements can change, GMRW should not try to maintain a permanent list of acceptable documents here. Check Black Ball's current identification and travel requirements before leaving home.

That is especially important for the return trip: having enough documentation to enter Canada doesn't necessarily mean you should assume you have everything required to re-enter the United States.

Reservations Are a Good Idea

The Coho does accept motorcycles without reservations when space is available, but Black Ball specifically recommends reservations for vehicles when riders need a particular sailing. Online vehicle reservations currently must be made at least three hours before departure, and a reserved vehicle that hasn't checked in at least 60 minutes before sailing can lose its reservation.

For a motorcycle trip involving hotel reservations, border crossings and a planned route around Vancouver Island, I'd reserve the damn ferry.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

Down on the Lower Columbia River, the Wahkiakum County Ferry connects Puget Island, Washington, with Westport, Oregon aboard the Oscar B. It is operated by Wahkiakum County rather than Washington State Ferries and is the last operating ferry on the Lower Columbia River. The county operates the crossing 365 days a year.

On the Washington side, riders reach the ferry from Cathlamet by following SR 409 across the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge onto Puget Island and continuing approximately four miles to the end of SR 409. The ferry then carries you across the Columbia to Westport, Oregon.

Why Ride the Wahkiakum Ferry?

This one isn't merely an island excursion. The Oscar B can actually become part of a motorcycle route.

A rider traveling Washington's lower Columbia can come down through Cathlamet, cross Puget Island and then take the motorcycle across the Columbia into Oregon, connecting with US 30 on the Oregon side. That makes it an interesting alternative to staying entirely on one side of the river or making one of the much longer bridge crossings.

And the crossing itself is worth doing. You're putting the motorcycle aboard a small county ferry and crossing one of the biggest rivers in the West, surrounded by the landscape of the lower Columbia. The trip takes roughly 10–12 minutes.

There's some history underneath the tires, too. Ferry service across the Columbia via Puget Island dates to 1925, and Wahkiakum County has operated the service since the early 1960s. The current Oscar B entered service in 2015.

Good News for Motorcycles

Motorcycles are specifically accommodated, and the current county-listed single-trip motorcycle fare is $4. The county's official page currently says debit and credit cards aren't accepted aboard, although the ferry's newer ticketing site now offers online ticket purchases. That's another good reason for GMRW to send riders to the live information rather than trying to maintain payment details ourselves.

The normal schedule is wonderfully simple: departures from Puget Island on the hour from 5:00 AM through 10:00 PM, and departures from Westport at 15 minutes after the hour from 5:15 AM through 10:15 PM. During periods of unusually heavy demand, additional half-hour service may be provided.

As always, check for closures or service changes before building the day's ride around the crossing.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

Deep in eastern Washington, the Keller Ferry carries State Route 21 across the Columbia River between Lincoln County and Ferry County. Operated by WSDOT aboard the M/V Sanpoil, this isn't part of the familiar Puget Sound ferry network—it's a working piece of highway connecting the two sides of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake.

The crossing is normally about 10 minutes, and the ferry operates on demand rather than on a traditional sailing schedule. The crew can see both landings and waits on either side until traffic appears needing to cross. Current operating hours are 6:00 AM to midnight, seven days a week, with the final run at 11:30 PM.

And here's something riders will appreciate:

The Keller Ferry is free. No tollbooth, no ticket and no motorcycle fare. Just ride up and cross when the ferry is operating.

Why Ride the Keller Ferry?

Because this one is part of the road.

SR 21 is a long, rural north-south highway through eastern Washington. When it reaches Lake Roosevelt, the pavement simply stops at the water. The M/V Sanpoil carries you and the motorcycle across, and SR 21 continues on the other side toward Republic.

That's exactly the sort of strange little piece of Washington transportation infrastructure that makes a motorcycle trip memorable.

The setting is also dramatically different from the saltwater ferries of Washington's Maritime Kingdom. Here you're riding through the open country of eastern Washington before crossing the broad waters backed up behind Grand Coulee Dam. WSDOT says roughly 60,000 vehicles a year use this crossing, with Wilbur about 14 miles south and Republic roughly 53 miles north.

There's some serious history here as well. Washington took over the Keller ferry crossing in 1930—more than twenty years before the state entered the Puget Sound ferry business in 1951. Before Grand Coulee Dam filled the reservoir, the ferry crossed the free-flowing Columbia River. The rising waters dramatically widened the crossing, and today's ferry crosses what is now Lake Roosevelt.

Watch the Water Level

Lake Roosevelt's elevation changes throughout the year. Under normal conditions, the crossing takes about ten minutes. When water levels become unusually low, WSDOT can relocate the north landing farther up the Sanpoil River, increasing the crossing to approximately 20 minutes. Extremely low water or mechanical problems can also affect operations.

For that reason, even though there's no conventional timetable to worry about, check the ferry's operating status before building a long eastern Washington ride around the crossing.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

Farther north on Lake Roosevelt, the Gifford–Inchelium Ferry crosses the Columbia River between Gifford and Inchelium. Unlike the Keller Ferry, this crossing is operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, providing an important transportation connection between Inchelium and State Route 25 on the east side of the river.

The ferry carries both vehicles and passengers, and the crossing is free. WSDOT recognizes the Gifford–Inchelium Ferry as one of Washington's other vehicle ferry systems, but the Colville Tribes operate the service.

Why Ride the Gifford–Inchelium Ferry?

This one has real potential for GMRW because the ferry can be incorporated into an outstanding eastern Washington motorcycle loop.

SR 25 follows the Columbia River north through Stevens County to Gifford. Put the motorcycle aboard the ferry, cross Lake Roosevelt to Inchelium, and you're suddenly on the west side of the river and inside the Colville Reservation, with an entirely different network of rural roads available for continuing the ride.

Riders have specifically used the crossing as part of loops connecting Kettle Falls, SR 25, Inchelium and the surrounding reservation roads, praising the river views, forested country and low-traffic riding. There's even a documented motorcycle route built around the ferry crossing.

And here's where it gets particularly interesting for us: Gifford–Inchelium and Keller can be used together. A rider can cross the Columbia on one ferry, ride the west side of Lake Roosevelt, and cross back on the other—turning two obscure Washington ferries into part of a much larger motorcycle route. That's something worth remembering when we're building future Atlas routes.

Ferry Schedule

The Colville Tribes currently operate summer and winter schedules. From April 1 through September 30, the first departure from Inchelium is at 6:30 AM and the final departure from Gifford is at 9:45 PM. Winter service ends earlier.

The pattern itself is simple: ferries leave Inchelium at the top and bottom of each hour, and leave Gifford at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour.

There is one particularly important rider warning: the ferry normally closes for a week in April for maintenance, and it can also close when Lake Roosevelt drops below the minimum operating water level. Anyone building a long ride around this crossing should check its status before leaving.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

Washington has one ferry route that doesn't just cross Puget Sound or connect an island—it can begin an Alaska motorcycle adventure right from Bellingham.

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is Alaska's state-operated ferry network. Its southernmost terminal is in Fairhaven, Bellingham, and its vessels carry passengers and vehicles—including motorcycles—north through the Inside Passage into Southeast Alaska. The larger statewide system continues through Southcentral Alaska and as far west as the Aleutian Islands.

From Bellingham, the Southeast mainline route serves Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Juneau, with connections continuing to communities including Haines, Skagway and Sitka. AMHS lists a typical Bellingham-to-Ketchikan running time of about 38 hours, so this is definitely not your ordinary ferry crossing.

Why Take a Motorcycle on the Alaska Marine Highway?

Because you can ride your motorcycle to Bellingham and put the whole damn thing on a ship to Alaska.

For a Washington rider, AMHS offers an extraordinary alternative to riding the Alaska Highway through Canada. Instead, you can travel north through the Inside Passage, carrying the motorcycle with you and getting off in communities that can become the starting point for the next leg of the ride.

Haines and Skagway are especially interesting because they reconnect with the continental road system. AMHS identifies Bellingham, Haines and Skagway among the road-connected points in the Southeast system.

And this isn't a cruise ship with your motorcycle left at home. AMHS vessels are designed to transport vehicles ranging from motorcycles to large freight vehicles.

Motorcycle Reservations & Boarding

Plan this one ahead.

Vehicle space is reserved, and AMHS bases motorcycle charges on the motorcycle's total length, including any trailer or attachments. Riders are also responsible for bringing the proper tie-downs and securing their own motorcycles aboard the vessel.

Bellingham also has a much earlier check-in requirement than the little Washington ferries we've covered. For vehicles traveling Bellingham to Alaska, AMHS currently requires check-in three hours before departure. Missing the required check-in can result in your reserved vehicle space being given to a standby traveler.

This Is Part of the Trip

Depending upon the vessel and itinerary, an AMHS voyage can last well over a day. Some vessels offer cabins, while passengers traveling without one can use lounges and covered solariums; AMHS even allows small tents on designated upper-deck areas.

So for a motorcyclist, the ferry isn't simply transportation to the ride. It's part of the adventure.

Ride into Bellingham, secure the motorcycle below decks, watch Washington disappear behind you, travel north through the Inside Passage, and eventually roll the bike back onto land in Alaska.

That's a pretty damn appropriate way to leave Washington's Maritime Kingdom.

SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

This ferry guide is just one of the many rider-focused tools available in the GMRW Rider Resource Center. Explore more resources built to help you plan the ride, navigate Washington, and know what to expect before you go.