Seattle–Bremerton Ferry FAQ
Everything you need to know about riding the ferry between Seattle and Bremerton — including the WSF car ferry and the Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry. Planning a World Cup trip? See our dedicated Bremerton World Cup Fan Zone guide.
Riding the Seattle–Bremerton ferry
How long is the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle?
The WSF car ferry takes approximately 60 minutes. The Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry (foot passengers only) takes approximately 30 minutes.
What is the difference between the Fast Ferry and the regular ferry?
The WSF car ferry carries both vehicles and passengers, takes 60 minutes, and runs throughout the day and on weekends. The Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry is foot-passengers only, takes 30 minutes, runs weekdays year-round plus Saturdays from May through September, and has different fares. If you need to bring a vehicle, take the WSF ferry from Colman Dock.
Which ferry is better for the scenery?
The 60-minute Washington State Ferry is the more scenic, relaxing ride: lots of room to walk around, seating inside or out on the open deck, skyline and Olympic Mountain views, and a dining area (with food, drinks, and beer/wine) plus vending machines during the main part of the day. The 30-minute Fast Ferry is quicker and more compact — you stay seated and see the water through the windows, but it’s built for speed, not sightseeing. First time on Puget Sound and the weather’s nice? Take the big ferry at least one way.
Can I bring my car and make a loop around Puget Sound?
Yes. The Washington State Ferry carries vehicles, so you can drive over to Bremerton and back, or drive north through Kitsap County and return on the Bainbridge Island–Seattle ferry for a full loop. Kitsap County has far less traffic than Seattle and the I-5 corridor, plus plenty of parks and waterfront towns to explore.
Do you need a reservation for the Bremerton ferry?
No. The Seattle–Bremerton route does not offer or require reservations. Vehicles board first-come, first-served, and foot passengers can always walk on.
Can I bring a bicycle on the ferry?
Yes. Both ferries carry bikes. On the WSF ferry, bikes board with foot passengers — there’s a small $1 bike surcharge for riders 19 and over, and it’s free for youth 18 and under (no full vehicle fare either way). The Fast Ferry allows bikes at no extra charge on a first-come, first-served basis in its exterior racks.
Is there food on the Bremerton ferry?
The WSF car ferry has a galley with hot food, snacks, and beverages (including beer and wine) during the main part of the day. The Fast Ferry does not have food service because of the shorter 30-minute crossing.
Are the Bremerton ferries usually on time?
Based on our analysis of thousands of actual sailings, about 80% of departures are within 1–5 minutes of schedule. About 15% run 6 or more minutes late, with Saturdays and January the worst for delays. Our delay prediction system gives a color-coded forecast for each sailing.
Fares & tickets
How much does the Bremerton ferry cost?
On the WSF car ferry, walk-on passengers pay westbound only (Seattle→Bremerton) and ride free eastbound. The adult walk-on fare is $11.35; seniors (65+) and riders with disabilities pay $5.65; and youth 18 and under ride free. Vehicle fares vary by size (a car under 14 ft with driver is $21.30). On the Fast Ferry, adults pay $2 eastbound and $13 westbound, and riders 18 and under ride free. See our Fares & Tickets page for the full breakdown.
Can I use my ORCA card on the Bremerton ferry?
Yes. ORCA works on both the WSF ferry and the Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry. Tap at the terminal reader before boarding. The Fast Ferry also now accepts contactless tap-to-pay with a Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express card or a phone wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay).
How do I pay if I don’t have an ORCA card?
The WSF ferry accepts cash and credit/debit at terminal booths, plus the Wave2Go mobile app for walk-ons. The Fast Ferry accepts contactless tap-to-pay and exact cash (no change is given). ORCA vending machines are at both Fast Ferry terminals.
Terminals, parking & timing
Where exactly are the ferry terminals? (Google Maps)
Tap a link for instant directions to the exact dock — the WSF and Kitsap Transit docks are close together but separate on each side:
- Seattle — WSF (Colman Dock / Pier 52): 📍 Directions
- Seattle — Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry (Pier 50): 📍 Directions
- Bremerton — WSF terminal: 📍 Directions
- Bremerton — Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry terminal: 📍 Directions
Where do I park at Colman Dock in Seattle?
Colman Dock has no parking garage of its own. The nearest options are the Pike Place Market garage and commercial lots along the waterfront and First Avenue. Walking on from Seattle is recommended — the terminal is a short walk from Link light rail and many bus routes.
Is there parking on the Bremerton side?
Yes, and it’s a real advantage. There’s free parking in the WSF lot next to the Bremerton terminal, plus downtown garages a short walk away. On summer weekends and game days the lot can fill, so arrive 20–30 minutes early if you need a space.
I’m dropping someone off with luggage at the ferry terminal. Where is the best spot?
Bremerton: pull over on Washington Avenue just north of the terminal entrance, at the spot pinned here: 📍 Bremerton drop-off. From the curb it is a short, flat walk with a rolling bag to either the WSF passenger walkway or the Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry dock, which sit side by side. Don’t drive into the WSF vehicle lanes just to drop someone; you will end up behind the toll booth with no easy way out.
Seattle: use the passenger load zone on Alaskan Way in front of Colman Dock (Pier 52), pinned here: 📍 Seattle drop-off. The WSF terminal entrance is right there, and the Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry at Pier 50 is one pier south, about a two-minute walk along the waterfront. Traffic on Alaskan Way backs up around sailing times, so expect a quick curbside stop rather than a wait.
Both terminals have elevators and ramps, so luggage on wheels is no problem, and both boats have room for bags near the seating areas.
How early should I arrive at the ferry terminal?
Walk-on passengers should arrive 5–10 minutes before departure (the Fast Ferry asks you to be aboard 2 minutes prior). With a vehicle, arrive 20–30 minutes early — 30–45 on summer weekends. See our Terminal Info page for parking and directions.
How full does the Bremerton Fast Ferry usually get? Do I need to get there early?
It depends a lot on which sailing you take. Kitsap Transit publishes passenger counts for every sailing, and the pattern is very consistent: the boat fills in the commute direction (toward Seattle in the morning, toward Bremerton in the afternoon) and runs light the other way. Boarding is first come, first served, so for a sailing that usually runs full plan to be in line 15 to 20 minutes early, or take the sailing before it. For a light sailing you can walk up a couple of minutes before departure.
Weekday sailings that usually run full (80% or more of seats, get there early): Seattle to Bremerton at 2:25, 3:45, 4:25 and 5:05 PM. The 3:45 PM is the single fullest boat on the route and regularly reaches capacity.
Busy (60 to 79%, arrive a few minutes early): Bremerton to Seattle at 6:05, 6:45, 7:25 and 8:05 AM; Seattle to Bremerton at 5:40 and 6:25 PM.
Moderate (roughly half full): Bremerton to Seattle at 4:40 and 5:25 AM, and every afternoon sailing from Bremerton between 1:50 and 5:45 PM.
Light (plenty of room): every morning sailing from Seattle to Bremerton (5:20 through 8:40 AM), the 7:05 PM from Bremerton and the 7:40 PM from Seattle.
Saturdays (May through September) flip the pattern: the midday boats toward Seattle (10:50 AM, 12:15, 3:30 and 5:30 PM) usually run full, and the afternoon and evening boats back to Bremerton (4:10, 6:10 and 10:10 PM) run at 80% or more.
Two things to keep in mind. First, these averages were measured while Kitsap Transit ran 20 weekday sailings each way. Since September 1, 2026 there are 13, so the sailings next to a cancelled one (8:05 AM and 7:05 PM from Bremerton; 8:40 AM, 2:25 PM, 6:25 PM and 7:40 PM from Seattle) will likely run fuller than the numbers above. Second, averages don’t capture the days that matter most: Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders and Kraken games, big concerts and festivals, and the first warm, sunny weekends of summer can fill sailings that normally run half empty, especially the last boats home. On those days treat every sailing as a get-there-early sailing, and if you get left at the dock the WSF car ferry (walk-on) is your backup.
Source: Kitsap Transit Fast Ferries Performance Indicators dashboard, weekday averages January 2025 through March 2026, Rich Passage-class vessels (118 passengers). See the dashboard →
What time is the first and last ferry?
The first Fast Ferry leaves Bremerton at 4:40 AM on weekdays; the first WSF car ferry leaves Bremerton at 4:50 AM daily. Since September 1, 2026 the last weekday Fast Ferry from Bremerton is 7:05 PM and the last from Seattle is 7:40 PM (Saturdays in summer run later, until 10:50 PM from Bremerton and 11:30 PM from Seattle). The last WSF sailing from Seattle to Bremerton runs after midnight. Check our live schedule for today’s confirmed times.
About this site
What is Ferry Times Now?
Ferry Times Now is a free website that combines WSF and Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry schedules for the Seattle–Bremerton route into one live view, with real-time vessel tracking and delay predictions based on analysis of thousands of actual sailings. No app download required — just visit ferrytimesnow.com.