Colman Dock

A wonderful experience in Seattle. Took the ferry across the sound. Great views of the cities skyline. Watching the volume of cars and trucks get onto the ferry was something to behold.

The elevated platform of the ferry terminal. It is nice as it keeps people who are loitering and not using the facilities as intended off premises. A deliberate elevated plan and one I support because I was punched in the face out of the blue whilst standing outside the main terminal waiting for the ferry one morning. I took for granted being at the ferry terminal, I let my guard down but always maintain situational awareness at all times. Other than that, it is very safe, and they have state police on site and on vessels. The updated Coleman Dock is nice addition to the renewed waterfront walkway. Since pandemic era, Seattle-Bremerton route is still on approx three and approx three-and-a-half-hour scheduled sailings. I called WSDOT customer service and the representative actually admitted they have more than enough qualified employees, it's they just they won't work presumably for better benefits as they're unionized and/or state workers.

From a foot passenger perspective the terminal is nice. It’s modern, clean and efficient. It doesn’t just drop you onto the busy street but has a buffer zone for people catching ride shares. If you have heavy items like suitcases there are elevators and automatic doors. There are two restrooms so one is always available if the other is being cleaned. This is a vastly better terminal than the old one.

if you want to take ferry to nearby places like bainbridge island, this is the place, very well maintained and clean. Ticketing service was top notch.

Fairly smooth boarding. Great view.

Construction mainly completed on the terminal building as of early 2025. Although no restaurants or bars like there were with the old terminal. See attached pics. Be prepared for long waits if you are going across by car on weekends.

The picture tells it all. We. Certainly left with carrot toy bigger than the pup. What a cute place to buy all your loved pet's toys, food, and snacks. You won't be disappointed and certainly will leave with a toy your dog has picked up.

Well organized and managed. Once you park your vehicle and the ferry is in motion, you can get out and go to the top deck . There you can enjoy nice views and get some food if needed.

We have largest ferry system in the United States. Boom. Winner. If you're in town for Seattle Fleet Week, Welcome! We're on the land of the Coast Salish people. We are surrounded by water; it is a way of life. "Sea" is literally in our city name. Colman Dock is lookin' fancy! The Viaduct is gone (we attended the Hello-Goodbye Viaduct event), but it's nice that the waterfront is quieter now. The new terminal has great views of Elliott Bay. Construction activity is still happening on Dzidzilalich/Alaskan Way but it's coming along nicely. The #99 bus was the best way to get around this area but they eliminated that route. Its replacement is the Free Waterfront Shuttle. I don't own a canoe or a boat, so the ferry is the most reliable and cost effective way for me to island hop. I've been using the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system since I was a kid so riding on them is second nature however, what's normal to me might be new and exciting for someone else. I had a revelation recently. My friend from out of state had never been on a WSDOT ferry. She was ecstatic that she got to experience being on a ship that had the ability to carry cars while traveling across the water. I guess sometimes you forget to appreciate the things you have until someone brings it to light. The ferry route I use the most is Seattle-Bainbridge Island. Tacoma (Jumbo Mark II-class) and Chimacum (Olympic-class) are the ones running currently. A majority of WSF vessels are named after native tribes and words of their dialects. It's fun to go out on the deck and take photos of the downtown Seattle skyline, watching it get smaller and smaller as we cruise away. It's pretty windy. A hat or a pony-tail helps. I love smelling that salty air. It's refreshing. It's summer and a good time to be out at sea.

If you're in Seattle, you have to take ferry rides! It's such a beautiful way to enjoy the scenery. Service if good, and efficient. They stick to the schedules. Everything seems organized. Be ready for an amazing experience!

The Seattle Ferry Terminal is easy to navigate, dog friendly and easily accessible. You can purchase tickets just before boarding and walk on to the ferry.

Ferry rides to any of the islands from Seattle areas are a local treasure. It always makes you feel like you're going on a trip somewhere without really leaving the state. The whole process of buying a ticket to get onto the ferry, queueing up in the lanes and waiting for your boarding to happen is just pure exciting and nostalgic. Haven't done this yet as a cyclist, but I bet its even more special that route too. I feel like the "truest" Seattle PNW experience comes from doing the ferry. The winds blasting across the water, splashes across the bow, wearing your patagonia/north face or whatever water resistant hoodie apparel, taking picturesque window photos, sipping on a beer while sitting on old fashioned benches, hearing the loudspeaker tell people to turn off their damn car alarms, etc etc etc. If you're lucky, you'll see Orcas or Eagles. Its that PNW feeling where you're closer to nature, away from the busy city and modern noise. Its therapeutic, healthy, natural. Whether you're a local or a tourist, take some time out to do a ferry ride, slow down, and smile the whole way.

The Seattle Ferry Terminal is a great way to get to Bainbridge Island. You can either go round trip or go one way and take the long way back. The fares are very reason at $14.10 for your car and a driver, and $9.85 for passengers. Coming back, there is no charge for passengers. They go to Bainbridge Island and to Bremerton from this terminal. You pay your fare, then they direct you to a line to park your car. When the ferry comes in, they direct you into the boat where they will also tell you where to park. Restrooms and porta potties are available at the terminal itself. My wife didn't complain about the restroom, so it must've been clean. It's a good terminal with a nice ferry ride.

I really enjoyed taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island. It was nine dollars to ride the ferry there and back. If you board from Bainbridge, there is no fee. The ferry terminal is clean and spacious. It had places for you to charge your phone and the restrooms were also clean. The ferry also had plenty of places to sit both inside and out.

What an truly enjoyable experience. We wanted to spend the day in Bainbridge Island, so we drove our car onto the ferry. The fee was reasonable for the experience, and they do not charge per person and the fee was for roundtrip. Driving on and off is very easy and well organized. You can stay in your car, but we opted to get out and enjoy the views. The ferry is quite large with lots of seating. We sat near the bow and had excellent views of the water and the Island. We walked around to capture skyline views. . It is a great way to capture views of Seattle. The ride is very calm and lasts about 30 minutes. There is food available and plenty of bathrooms.

We took a ferry that departing from Colman Dock to Bermerton. The journey provided us with the wonderful views of Seattle City Skyline, which I would like to share with you. It's always so beautiful to see Seattle from the ferry. So much fun to ride the ferry and enjoy the PNW views. Less than 10 bucks for like 2 hours. The skyline photos so worth it. The bay was beautiful! It's really nice since they did the renovations. You can take the ferry to Bremerton or Bainbridge Island.

A friend of mine once worked for Washington state ferry, so I could easily request an online discount. Now, I would like to share our experience aboard the boat. The 3 of us parked inside pier 52 and walked our way to the central terminal. The gateway over the ferry terminal was a bit confusing due to ongoing construction in this vicinity. Ticket price for a single adult was under $10, cheaper than a 4 seat hatchback vehicle. You only pay for one way trip. The passenger deck was quite spacious, holds up to hundreds of people. There were extended area on both sides of the deck that allows us to have a 180 degree view of Puget Sound. Incredible scenery. You can stay in your car, of course, or get out and go up to enjoy the breeze. It took approximately 40 minutes to Bainbridge/additional 20+ minutes to Bremerton. We had a great time on board the ferry. I'd recommend anyone local or from outside town to explore the beauty of this state.

If you're in Seattle and you're planning on going to Bainbridge Island you're most likely going to take the ferry to get there. That's what I did when I spent the afternoon on the island. The ferry terminal is at Pier 50 and you use the gray bridge to get to the entrance, although it is currently under construction so things might not be as obvious as to where they are. This could be an issue if you have not been here before and are trying to rush to get on the ferry like I was. I ended up missing my ferry because of this so I would recommend getting here earlier so you don't need to rush last minute. It is a 35 minute ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and costs $9.05 one way for an adult. It's nice that they don't require payment on the way back so the fare is for a round trip. You can either buy tickets online, at the front desk, or at one of the kiosks at the terminal so that's very convenient if you're in a rush. Other than Bainbridge Island you can also go to this ferry terminal to access the Bremerton island ferry. The ferry ride was smooth and you get beautiful views of downtown Seattle as you're moving away from the city and into the water. This is a good low-cost way to get across the water and get to other parts of the Greater Seattle area.

Especially for out-of-towners like my mom and me, who aren't used to riding ferries, taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island for the morning is definite must-do. Since we rented a car and wanted to explore the Island a bit we drove on (I've previously done it without a car and just took the ferry there and back, which was fun too). Service is friendly and while the ferry itself is definitely not like a fancy cruise or touristy ride, that made it that much more endearing to me. Both of the ferries were clean (even the bathrooms), had plentiful indoor and outdoor seating, vending machines, and the ferry named Tachoma even has a little hot cafeteria (most people ordered the popcorn).

I was here back in June where I was taking the ferry over to Bainbridge Island to run a half marathon. The entrance over to the ferry terminal from the Alaskan Way sidewalk was a bit confusing with the ongoing construction in that vicinity. It's much less confusing by taking the Marion Street Ferry Walkway which bypasses the need to cross the street at Alaskan Way. An adult ticket was $9.25 which was included in our race registration. The facilities inside the ferry terminal was well maintained. The restrooms were kept clean. You can either wait inside the terminal or check out some nice views just outside the door. Once they make the announcement to board your particular ferry, you just scan your ticket at one of the kiosks and head on over to the ferry.

Seattle Ferry Terminal provides ferry service to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. The terminal itself is geographically located at Colman Dock, which is Pier 52 along the Seattle waterfront. There is currently a lot of construction going on to replace the aging and seismically vulnerable dock. Be aware as you plan your trip as entrances may change, and ferry schedules may be delayed. On top of that, because of COVID, labor shortage, ferries being repaired, a typical 2 ferry schedule may be down to 1, which is what I experienced during our visit to Bainbridge Island. The terminal itself has basically no facilities at the moment, except bathrooms and vending machines. Seating is very limited, too. Don't come late in case the entry points have changed. Don't come early either cuz there's no place to sit. Hopefully, it's not raining so you can't stand or sit outside either. When the ferry is about to be boarded, the entire terminal is filled with people. For the COVID nervous folks, this is NOT the place to be. To go to Bainbridge, the cost is $9.05 round trip for walk-on passengers. Pay one time only. For Seattle visitors, it is a very pleasant experience to ride the ferry, enjoy the skyline view from the water. Going to Bainbridge is the shortest ferry distance to travel. To locate ferry schedule, check the wsdot site. This is the Bainbridge Island link. https://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/scheduledetailbyroute.aspx?route=sea-bi

We utilized the ferry to spend the day on Bainbridge Island and the Bloedel Reserve. There's currently a whole lot of construction going on all along the waterfront and the ferry terminal is no exception. It's in the process of getting a whole new terminal which isn't a bad thing because the current one is a bit dated. All in all, the employees we encountered here were all friendly and the ride to and from the island was smooth and scenic. I enjoyed the ride almost as much as I did the island. Not like I have much of a choice when visiting Bainbridge, but I wouldn't have an issue using the ferry again.

The ferry terminal is not bad. There's some construction going on at this time so things are a little out of sorts here. But I suspect things will clear up soon. Make sure to pay close attention to instructions and check the ferry website @ https://www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/.

Spacious, clean, well managed. Staff are helpful and it's easy to figure out where to go. It's really easy as a walk on passenger, lots of seating areas in the terminal and on the boat.

It was only for a moment, but wow, it was fun to be amongst the hustle and bustle of all the commuters and travelers. A group of us were on our way to Bainbridge Island and took the ferry there. Luckily, I was traveling with ladies that were familiar with it all and didn't really have to try and find my way or buy tickets though that process seemed easy enough. We had some time to spare before our ferry departed and so we walked over to the waterfront and hopped on the Seattle Great Wheel. Highly recommend it if you have time to spare and it was only about a 5-7 minute walk away. We made it back to our ferry just in time and watched as all the cars loaded onto the boat. I've never seen anything like it and was amazed at how fast and efficient the whole process was. The boat was able to accommodate SO many cars and I imagine that would be a good, cheap option for those that have a rental car. I would definitely recommend checking out all the options they have to offer.

Kind of a long wait in between ferry's but worth the trip to take my girl out on a date she would remember. I enjoy that they run kinda late which let us stay in town after dark and see the beautiful lights of the city. From Bremerton was free but back to Bremerton cost about 30 bucks. Sure glad we left the car cause that would have been insanely expensive. Also, they should have the gally open late by the time we got back we were looking for snacks and could have used a quick bite

Buying the tickets and getting to the terminal is easy. It's the actual terminal that is quite confusing with multiple lines and no direction. Once you're on the ferry it's smoothing sailing and perfect picturesque backdrops no matter which side of the ferry you are on. We did a full day at Bainbridge Island and utilizing the ferry just made our trip even better. Not having to deal with traffic and parking was great. The terminal is in a great location on both sides too and within walking distances to all the restaurants and siteseeing. Tip: Make sure to arrive 15 minutes (heck, maybe even 20 minutes) before the actual departure time. We got there 10 minutes before the ferry was about to leave and as soon as we boarded, the ferry took off...with 10 minutes left to spare until the actual departure time! It's another 50 minutes before the next ferry comes, so be mindful of your timing.

Took some out of towners here and the ferry itself was a great ride to Bainbridge and back but there really needs to be some food options besides a vending machine. Not sure if the cafeteria has been operating but it wasn't open when we went on a Thursday midday. The vending machines need to be replaced. Several times it didn't dispense food but luckily when it doesn't dispense it gives you back your money if you paid on a card. Just wish the ferry itself for a facelift..it's really outdated.

We really enjoyed this ferry ride. We did the expensive one the day before. Now I would have only taken this one. I highly recommend this instead of the expensive other cruises. The ferry ha s food and adult drinks and is only 25% of the touris

Allow extra time during construction. Signage could be better to help alleviate confusion. Discover is an accepted form of payment. The cost of our car + driver was $15.35 and each passenger was $8.50. The travel time to Bremerton was about an hour. Loading was quick and seamless. Aboard the vessel, one can find bathrooms with several stalls, informational flyers to surrounding destinations and a cafeteria serving food and drink. I always appreciate the WSF system. Today didn't disappoint.

Big and spacious, old and needing upgrades, yet fully functional for the hundreds (nay thousands) that commute to and from the peninsula. Limited seating is available upon entry near the one open cafe, while others line up, standing until given the okay to head towards their ferry. Construction also under way, we are eager to see what is coming and how much more will be developed in the coming years as the Seattle waterfront gets its upgrades.

I have friends who live on the Olympic peninsula and I enjoy having the option to take the ferry instead of driving the whole way. First of all the ferry is quick, it's not that expensive and it saves wear on your car. I think the entrance to the ferry if you are coming from the south is a bit odd but with that whole cut through the parking lot then drive on the wrong side of the street to hit a traffic light before turning in. I'm not sure but I'm hoping this is temporary. I wish they would take Good To Go here. That would be awesome so we would not have to use our credit cards. The ferry itself is pretty big and I suggest you get out of your car and check it out. There's a snack place inside but with COVID it's probably still closed. There are vending machines though if you're feeling you can't wait. Go out on deck and enjoy the view or sit inside. If you're lucky you'll get to see a sea creature or two! Take abreast from traffic and take a ferry. It's worth it.

While my husband, our little girl dog and I were visiting Seattle last week, we decided to check out Bainbridge Island. So last Tuesday, we purchased a ticket around 12:25 pm, which was the perfect time since the ferry was leaving for Bainbridge Island within 5 minutes after purchasing ($8.35 round trip per adult). Leashed dogs are allowed on the ferry (no additional cost, our little girl dog was also offered a treat by the employee who sold us the ticket). You can also bring on your car, but for an additional fee. There are outlets on the ferry at some booth seating. There is a restaurant on board in case you didn't get a chance to grab a bite to eat (you are also allowed to bring on luggage, food, etc on board too) or need some alcohol to calm the nerves. But please note that the ride to Bainbridge Island was smooth for the most part. I typically have to take a motion sickness pill before going on cruises and did not have to for this short ride over (roughly 30 minutes each way). Restrooms on board (in the middle of the boat) are plentiful. The ladies restroom was clean. Bainbridge Island is pretty dog friendly but can be boring. But if you are curious as to what is on this island and wish for a different type of scenery, consider catching the ferry boat over. The ride is smooth and painless. Or consider catching other ferry rides to Victoria, BC in the future if you have a free weekend.

This is a good terminal in that it's functional and easy to access and use, but the main issue is it's run-down and at times feels sketchy if not unsafe with a lot of homeless folks loitering and sleeping there, and it smells like urine and kinda nasty like it's dingy and could catch a disease. I think if they cleaned it up, added security, made it more tourist friendly aesthetically, it can be a five star review recipient. Although at times I have sympathy for the homeless as well as the mentally ill, it's easy to take a NIMBY (not in my back yard) approach where when they impact your experiences directly it's not so easy to have a lot of compassion (to all of the bleeding hearts out there who advocate for 'em, I'd say, put your money where your mouth is and invite them into your home and support them with food and shelter as well as socially by co-mingling with you and your families) when they are in a "you can't help people who don't want help or are unable to assimilate to a basic norm" situation where it's easier to try to move 'em along out of your area. Seattle needs to address their homeless issues with long term solutions.

Seems like 5 stars is not enough. To start with the cost in itself like 8 bucks for a round trip is so reasonable. The ferry probably can hold 1000 people, it was so long it seems like it took 3 or 4 minutes to walk end to end. The trip to Bainbridge Island is so smooth it's like a lake. My wife who gets motion sickness very easily had no problems. Beautiful views of snow capped mountains. And the views of the Seattle skyline takes your breath away it's so nice. Dogs are allowed, bring your car, bus or truck. They have a restaraunt so bring your appetite. Lots of locals to talk to on the ferry and find out local lore and things to do. Once you get to Bainbridge Island have fun in Winslow Village. Lots of restaraunts and crafty places. The Harbor House is our reccomendation with the sailboats complimenting the view. If you can go during the week, best times after 10am you'll have the boat to yourself...almost.

Was my first time ever to be on a fairy and let me tell you it was fun we took the fairy from Seattle to Bremerton easy boat ride and you don't even have to leave your car for the ride . Kids enjoyed it as well

Had to go back to work all the way from Seattle to Silverdale one day and gps made us go to the ferry terminal instead of driving on the main road. This happened by accident, but glad it did! Ditch the traffic and only took 15 or so mins to reach Bainbridge terminal. People directing the traffic are pretty efficient at their work. Thumbs up! It'll better if there's an exit though! Way out of the ferry terminal if you get there by accident. But overall good!

I felt this ferry was a waste of time and money. It's $5.75 per ticket, one way, per person. It's not similar to the one in New Jersey where it takes 15-20 minutes, and you can actually enjoy the ride, go to a different location to spend the day and hang out. They take you to a random island (I don't know, city?) where you can have the whole view of Seattle and the space needle.. buuuut there's absolutely nothing to do out there. We ended up paying ~$12 per person and we didn't do anything. The ferry ride to that random area was less than 5 minutes! We didn't even get to enjoy the ride because the ferry was going so quick! I would probably recommend it if it's your first time, but then again.. it was a waste of money and time!

The people here are all so so sweet! I got into an accident and needed to go to the ER. A man helped me downstairs to wait for an Uber and told my friend and I that they let someone know to let us back into the ferry terminal when we got back from the ER to wait for the next ferry. When we got back, an older man waited outside with us and got someone to come down to open up the elevators as I couldn't walk great. He waited down there with us until the next man came. This next man was also amazing. He got my friend and I waters throughout the night, and checked on us often. Other staff also checked on us and made sure we were doing okay. I ended up throwing up on the floor of the ferry terminal and the man was so helpful and didn't make me feel bad once. It was a hell night but the people here made it much better.

Caught the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle. Easy process. Drove car into ferry ($19), parked and walked up to the free deck to enjoy the sights. You can also walk into the ferry. Beautiful landscape, snowcapped Mt Ranier in the backdrop, and the Seattle cityscape as we made our way through Puget Sound. Loved it! The ferry has a snack bar (not very spacious but the line moves smoothly) stocked with beverages, snacks, basic alcoholic beverages. Lots of seating and several restrooms made for a comfortable and enjoyable ride. Can't wait to return for a longer visit. So much to see

Craig helped process my ticket and ensured I made my ferry on time during the holiday season. I really appreciate them.

First time taking the Seattle ferry. Went to Bainbridge. Seems like it woulda been pretty painless if not for the construction going down on Alaska Way on the Waterfront. With the construction, it was crazy. Had to wait in gridlock for about 45 minutes just to get into the waiting area/lot. Then, parked/waited in another line before driving in to the final waiting area where you pay. Relatively cheap for a car and passengers. Probably shoulda gone on foot, but it was cool. Anyway, you drive your car right onto the ferry. Then you can get out and walk around. Nice, little eatery on board if you want a snack and a drink. They even serve beer which is always appreciated. All in all, it makes for a nice little half day trip if you're already in Seattle. We bummed around Bainbridge for a bit, which is another review I suppose.

We used the ferry for a day trip to Bainbridge Island. I've never rode on a ferry boat and was very excited for the experience. Despite the construction at the terminal, the entire process was very organized and efficient. I enjoyed walking around on the decks, snack bar and beautiful views of the city. Before I got too comfortable, it was time to disembark the vessel. Truly memorable experience and I can't wait to take the ferry again!

Very long lines. Get here at least an hour before your trip. No way to get food or drinks if in your vehicle. Not sure about walk on. So bring a drink at least. The porta potty. Toilet were absolutely disgusting. Haven't been emptied at 10am in the morning.

Husband and I are in town visiting for the first time and wanted to take the ferry to the Bainbridge Island for a day trip. Ferry typically runs a bit late. Pro tips from the local from downtown is to walk down Marion Street onto an overhead so you don't have to try finding the ticket booth walking from Pike place. Smooth ride and very pleasant. I have sea sick typically and didn't feel sick at all.

Organized, friendly staff and the ferry ride gave my husband and I the best views of Seattle. Headed to Brainsworth island and it was $8 a ticket round trip. Awesome drop off and pickup times that suites everyone's schedule. Dog and car friendly ferry. Bring a jacket and keep warm especially if your outside looking at the views. Otherwise, if your a weak person like me who lives in Arizona and doesn't know how to pack for cold weather, go to the top deck for indoor seating - don't worry, you still the get views. Hungry or cold? Go downstairs and they have a little cafe to get something warm to drink or a snack. Again, very organized and the sites and people watching was super fun!

Bainbridge Island. Price for round trip ferry ride: $8.20. Tina's Travels and Tabloid: - You can bring your rental car onto the island to browse around, go early! - Buy your ticket, wait around, get in line, go on ferry. Easy as 1, 2, 3. - Be sure to look at the times the ferry comes back so you can catch the one you want back in case you have dinner or some plans. - So spacious and views are all good! Even saw a submarine - up close and personal.

Took the ferry to Bainbridge Island from Seattle ($29.45 there and $20.40 back for 2 passengers in one car) and I felt the ride could have been better. The wait from after paying for Your ticket varies and can take up to 40-50 minutes for the next ferry. The ride there was really smooth and the employees enforced masks on the ferry back to Seattle (i don't mind but in case you're wondering). The restaurant in the viewing deck or passenger deck is closed i'm assuming due to Covid, which sucks because I actually got really hungry during the ride and was craving some quick-stop food or whatever they would have served there. Other than the wait and restaurant being closed the ride went well overall, kinda pricy too IMO but i get things in the PNW are overpriced

Let's face it, Seattle has the worst traffic in the Pacific NW. :-( Coming from southern WA, the traffic gets bad just north of Olympia and gets worse the closer you get to Seattle. One option to avoid the traffic is to pick up Hwy 101 out of Olympia then cut across to Bremerton and catch the ferry to Seattle. It doesn't save much time but the drive is beautiful as is the ferry ride. It's dog friendly too! Check it out.

I have such wonderful memories of riding the ferry as a child it was wonderful to be back 25 years later. The prices are still affordable, especially on foot. The boats are huge and can fit tons of cars and people, I am always amazed about the vast amount of cars parked and how they can possibly fit them all. Ferries are clean and very well maintained for their age, the staff is wonderful, all around very well run. Fun for kids and adults, something everyone should include in their visit to Seattle.

Hopped on the ferry this afternoon. We must've got lucky because we're there were no reservations required (although reservations are optional), it's mostly first come first serve. We simply drove to the ferry terminal, paid for tickets on the spot, and then proceeded to drive our car right onto the bottom of the ferry boat. We immediately exited the vehicle and went up the stairs to tour the two level floors available for customers. The first floor of the deck was protected by windows, and yet still had excellent views of the water and Seattle skyline. The top floor was open air, and had guard rails that were thick and secure to lean on while enjoying the water views. What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Just really fun to ride in general! If you are going just for fun for a short period of time like 1-4 hrs to just shop, you probably don't want to take a car unless you have to! It'll take a while if just sitting there for a long time. Also just be at the terminal by the time of your wanted ferry! You don't have to get there like 30 mins early if you don't want to.

If your immunocompromised I would strongly advise against riding the Seattle ferry. They do NOT enforce the mask order nor do they take any steps to sanitize seats after passengers get off and new ones get on. I'm appalled, actually, at how many people took their masks off immediately after getting on board and not a soul said anything to them about it. There were at least 100 people on board and at least 60% were without their masks in their seats. They also do nothing to enforce social distancing prior to departure in the terminal. People are always literally crammed into a tiny room standing nearly shoulder to shoulder--I always wait outside. I can't believe this is allowed to continue. These were just a few of the people sitting on one level near by where I was sitting. But like I said, when I walked around at least 60 percent of the passangers were unmasked for the duration of the trip!!!

Parking was a nightmare thanks to all the construction happening on Alaskan. Almost drove onto the ferry - ended up parking somewhere across the street (5m walk) in an open parking lot for $35 for 3-10 hours ... Sheesh!! Oh well. When we actually got to the terminal, the ticket booth guy was very nice and helpful. Making memories before the Man Boy goes off the college!

You should go take a ferry regardless of whether you're a Seattle native or a visitor. My favorite destination is Bainbridge. The ferries and ferry terminals seem outdated, but some people may think that adds charm. I would prefer if they made it a bit cleaner. The ferry are pretty much always on time, so make sure you arrive at least 10 mins before the scheduled departure time. The coffee shop there doesn't have great coffee, but at good that it exists if you want a quick pick me up. I would wait until you get to the islands to get coffee or food though.

Just to get to Bremerton the best way of commute is the Seattle Ferry. It's fun for us visitors to commute to another island of Washington. It saves gas this way and the ferry is $15 for the vehicle and driver to get aboard. Passengers are $8.35 and $4.15 for kids/Youth ages 6-18. Under 6 is free. The wait for the ferry was about 30 minutes depending on the time you go. It's walking from the ferriswheel and Pier 51. The best part is the view and quick time to relax and lounge on the deck. The cafeteria offers quick bites like hot dog, tots and one of my favs.. clam chowder! On a windy day hot coffee and hot cocoa is a must. The people in the cafeteria are so helpful and friendly. I like that the place is clean and there are so many seating areas to choose from. There are also vending machines for snacks as well. The restroom convenient. My family and I enjoy cruising the ferry to get to Bainbridge. The view is beautiful seeing the ocean view homes and scenery is a must see.

If you're looking for a great day trip during your stay in Seattle, consider taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island. It cost just about $16 for a round trip for the 2 of us. The ride is about 30 minutes. Plan to bring your camera - the views are beautiful. You can snap pics of the scenery, mountains, and waterfront homes. It was foggy that morning so the haze was gorgeous in the shots we captured. A cozy scarf or sweater was necessary as it was much cooler and windier on the ferry despite high 60 temps the day we went. There are seats on the top deck - bench-style, some with walls protecting from the wind, others out in the open. There are also lots of indoor seats if you want to stay cozy. When we got to Bainbridge, we just walked to town, which was very close - there are also taxis or buses if you don't want to walk. It was a gorgeous visit to the island. We walked around the harbor, the main street, shopped, visited a brewery, and had lunch.