Washington State Ferries advises travelers to plan ahead for the Fourth of July weekend, one of the system’s busiest of the year.
“It’s the summer crowd you normally have, and its holiday, and everyone’s going to see fireworks or on camping trips,” said WSF spokeswoman Susan Harris-Huether.
Traffic will be at its greatest on the days before and after the holiday, Harris-Huether said. The heaviest traffic is expected heading westbound on the evenings of July 1 and 2 for people leaving town to make their way to the Olympic Peninsula. Traffic is expected to clog the eastbound routes on July 5.
Bainbridge will see the increased traffic for the Grand Old Fourth of July celebration and some of the overflow from the Edmonds/Kingston route. Several of the Edmonds/Kingston runs will be interrupted by holiday festivities (see below) and potential passengers with a long wait may choose to head south for the Bainbridge route.
“The wait is less,” Harris-Huether said. “You can have a two-hour wait at Kingston, or you could take a 30-minute drive to Bainbridge.”
Several routes will see changes to the schedule over the holiday weekend.
Anacortes/San Juan Islands
The annual Lopez Island fireworks display attracts a large crowd. Travelers should plan for delays as traffic is heavy. WSF encourages customers to walk on instead of taking their vehicles. WSF will not provide free parking at the Anacortes terminal this year. The Anacortes/San Juan Islands route will operate on its regular summer sailing schedule throughout the weekend, supplemented by the following additional service:
• June 30, there will be a 6:35 p.m. departure from Anacortes to Lopez. This will result in the 9 p.m. sailing from Anacortes departing at 9:45 p.m.
• July 1, the Evergreen State will operate a Friday night schedule with additional departures from Anacortes at 9:50 p.m. and 11:55 p.m.
• July 5, there will be a 2:15 p.m. departure from Friday Harbor to Lopez and Anacortes.
Bainbridge Island/Seattle
The Bainbridge Island/Seattle route will operate on its regular summer Sunday schedule July 4. The route will operate on a holiday (Saturday) schedule July 5.
Port Townsend/Keystone
The Port Townsend/Keystone route will operate on its regular summer sailing schedule throughout the weekend. Reservations are available online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries or by calling 5-1-1.
Bremerton/Seattle
The Seattle/Bremerton route will operate on its regular summer sailing schedule throughout the weekend.
Edmonds/Kingston
The Edmonds/Kingston route will operate on its regular summer sailing schedule throughout the weekend. Off-loading from the 12:10 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. sailings to Kingston on July 4 will be delayed for Kingston’s annual Fourth of July Parade, which passes near the terminal. Customers trying to catch the 12:55 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. departures from Kingston to Edmonds may also be delayed because of the parade.
Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth
The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route will operate on its regular summer weekend schedule July 4. The route will also operate on a weekend schedule July 5.
Mukilteo/Clinton
The Mukilteo/Clinton route will operate on its regular summer sailing schedule throughout the weekend.
Point Defiance/Tahlequah
The Point Defiance/Tahlequah route will operate on its regular summer weekend schedule July 4. The route will also operate on a weekend schedule July 5. The weekend schedule includes an extra midday run (12:35 p.m. from Point Defiance and 1 p.m. from Tahlequah)
