Long Ferry Wait Times Expected Over July 4 Weekend In Washington

SEATTLE — State officials expect drivers will encounter long wait times for many sailings on the nation's largest ferry system over the holiday weekend, but some routes will see more impacts than others.

Despite record gas prices, AAA predicts the long Independence Day weekend could be busier than ever on the roads, with an estimated 42 million Americans planning trips of 50 miles or more, including one million Washingtonians. Drivers with a ferry trip as part of their itineraries will have more than just freeway traffic to contend with.

According to Washington State Ferries, sailing schedules are likely to change most often along the Edmonds/Kingston route, which will have a second boat running only when enough crewmembers are available. Delays are possible across the system, both due to high holiday traffic volumes and continued staffing challenges.

“With elevated cases of COVID-19, and continued vessel and crewing availability constraints, our service restoration efforts have slowed considerably in recent weeks,” said Patty Rubstello, head of WSF. “While we continue to hire new employees, our biggest issue is a lack of licensed deck officers such as captains and mates, who require significant training time. To encourage current crewmembers to become licensed deck officers, we’re developing a ‘Pilotage Training Program,’ so they’ll be paid to train as pilots and take required exams.”

Overall, WSF said travelers should expect the busiest timeframe for westbound and island-bound sailings to be Thursday and Friday, with eastbound and off-island volumes peaking Monday and Tuesday. As usual, the best bet to avoiding long waits is planning for early morning or late night sailings or taking the ferry as a walk-on passenger.

Several routes will run on modified schedules for Independence Day itself, including the Anacortes/San Juan, Mukilteo/Clinton, and Point Defiance/Tahlequah runs. The Seattle/Bainbridge Island route will operate its Saturday schedule, while Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth vessels will run on a Sunday schedule.

Travelers have a few tools to aid them before they head out the door, and officials encourage riders to check terminal conditions online and monitor delays on WSF's Facebook and Twitter feeds. Residents can also sign up to receive regular alerts via text and e-mail.