Insider’s Hints: Taking the ferry to Whidbey Island
There are two ferries serving Whidbey Island.
The Clinton – Mukilteo ferry is the direct route to Whidbey Island from the Seattle area, Tacoma, Everett and points south and east. The Coupeville – Port Townsend ferry connects Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula and communities such as Port Townsend, Port Angeles, and the Washington coast.
When driving from the north, most people usually enter via Deception Pass.
Camano Island does not require a ferry.
Clinton – Mukilteo
The ferry between Clinton on Whidbey Island and Mukilteo on the mainland runs from 5:30 a.m. until after midnight. For most of the day, two boats sail the route, providing service about every half-hour.
Coupeville – Port Townsend
The ferry runs between Coupeville on Whidbey Island and Pt. Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. The schedule varies depending on the time of year. Two boats sail the route in the busy season. Reservations are strongly recommended.
General Tips
- Ticket prices depend on vehicle size, route, and sailing time. Look fares up here.
- You can buy tickets in advance online here.
- In some cases, you may want multi-ride passes mailed to you. Buy them here.
- You can pay at the ticket booth. No checks.
- Commuters/Walkers may use kiosks inside the ferry terminals.
Tips when taking the Clinton – Mukilteo Ferry
When you get off the ferry, you’ll be at the Clinton terminal on the southern end of Whidbey Island. You are on state highway 525 and on the “Whidbey Scenic Isle Way.”
The drive from downtown Seattle is usually slightly more than an hour, depending upon freeway traffic. However, during the summer, especially on Friday afternoons and early evenings, there can be long waits for the ferry. During the day, ferries sail every half-hour.
An alternative route from Seattle is State Route 99N, Aurora Avenue in Seattle. It will take you through many communities and there are frequent stoplights and congested commercial areas. The drive time is longer than I-5, however, if you have the time to explore, this is an alternative to the freeway.
When you get near the ferry, you’ll see that about halfway down the hill to the ferry building, there is a right-hand lane that cars heading to the ferry must use. This lane turns right at the light and a hundred yards or so later, the ticket booths. As you buy your ticket, you will be told which lane you are to park in. The lot (and the ferries as well) for the most part, load first in – first out. Motorcycles, established car-pool vehicles, and some buses are given priority along with those with a special medical card. Heavy trucks are also loaded out of order so they can be safely parked on the ferry.
There are restrooms at the front end of the parking area.
Waits for this ferry can be long, especially on Fridays and extremely long going into long weekends. Therefore, the ferry line can be backed up for a mile or more. Don’t try to cut in line. It’s a traffic violation and the people you cut in front of will call you in.
Tips when taking the Coupeville – Port Townsend Ferry
Reservations are strongly recommended for this route. While a portion of every sailing is reserved for first-come, first-served vehicles, there is no guarantee you won’t have a several-hour wait that could stretch into the next day.
Tides sometimes force cancellation of some sailings on this route. These are known in advanced and can be looked up on the state ferry website.