(Washington Ferry Route )Starting this Tuesday at 10 a.m., you can reserve spots for vehicles on Washington State Ferries (WSF) for the fall 2024 schedule. This applies to routes between Port Townsend and Coupeville, as well as Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, running from September 22 to December 28.
Washington State Ferries (WSF) strongly recommend making vehicle reservations, although they are not mandatory. WSF mentions that there is limited stand-by space available on all sailings.
Reservations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis once they become available. Starting at 9:30 a.m., early visitors can join a virtual waiting area called the pre-queue, which includes a countdown timer. When reservations open, everyone in the pre-queue will be assigned a random position, ensuring a fair opportunity for all early visitors.
For convenience, those waiting in the pre-queue can choose to receive an email notification with a link to their place in line. This allows them to leave the website and return when it’s their turn to make their reservation.
Fall (9/22-12/28) vehicle reservations for our #Anacortes/#SanJuanIslands & #PortTownsend/#Coupeville routes will be available at 10a tomorrow 7/23. We will once again use a virtual waiting room to prevent website overload & deliver fair access. https://t.co/GFAEU11ue5 pic.twitter.com/37fIOmumIX
— Washington State Ferries (@wsferries) July 22, 2024
Washington State Ferries (WSF) allows you to modify or cancel vehicle reservations without a fee if done before 5 p.m. the day before travel.
Reservations are specifically for vehicles. Walk-on passengers and bicyclists can buy tickets online or pay when they arrive.
When making reservations, remember they are one-way, so you need to book for both your outward and return journeys.
For the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes, WSF releases vehicle space according to a schedule. Typically, 75% of each vessel’s space is available for reservations, while the remaining 25% is reserved for emergency vehicles and stand-by passengers during normal operations.
According to WSF, they release vehicle space in stages for their routes. For standard vehicles, 25% of the space is available two months before the season starts. Another 25% is released two weeks before each sailing date, and the final 25% is available two days before the sailing date. All 75% of space for tall or non-standard vehicles is released two months before the season starts.
On the Port Townsend/Coupeville route, 80% of vehicle spaces are released two months before the season starts.
Travelers with reservations should arrive early at the terminal before their sailing times. For Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes, arrive 45-60 minutes early, and for Port Townsend/Coupeville routes, arrive 30-45 minutes early.
Vehicle reservations on the Port Townsend/Coupeville and Anacortes/San Juan Island routes are currently available to reserve through September 21. Learn more on the WSF website.
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