Vehicle reservations are available
The Port Townsend route is currently operating on a one-vessel schedule. To decrease wait times vehicle reservations are now available on the Port Townsend/Keystone route.
Read answers to frequently asked questions about this reservations program.
How to make a reservation
You can make reservations from 30 days in advance up to two hours before your sailing.
- Make a reservation online.
- Call customer service at 1-888-808-7977 (WA & BC toll free), 206-464-6400 or 511 (WA) between 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. daily. You can call our toll free number at no charge from pay phones located near the Port Townsend and Keystone terminals.
- Make a reservation at local visitor centers or participating businesses in Port Townsend or Coupeville.
Once you make a reservation you will be given a confirmation number that you must present at the terminal along with your driver's license.
Key Facts
- Reservations are for vehicles and motorcycles only. Motorcycles must make a reservation to ensure priority boarding on this route.
- Customers are strongly encouraged to make a reservation. Customers without reservations will travel on a space-available basis (standby). WSF will not be able to verify a space for your vehicle on a particular sailing until just prior to loading. A reservation confirms a space on the sailing of your choice.
- Customers with reservations may arrive at the terminal no earlier than 90 minutes before departure time. WSF recommends reservation holders arrive 30 minutes prior to departure to ensure timely processing and boarding. Customers arriving late may forfeit their reservation.
- To travel roundtrip, you will need to make a separate reservation for your Port Townsend departure and your Keystone departure. Limit one Port Townsend departure reservation and one Keystone departure reservation per day, per customer.
- There is no fee for making a reservation.
Additional travel options
In the event space is not available or service is cancelled or delayed on the Port Townsend/Keystone route customers can use the Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton routes as an alternative. Call WSF Customer Service for assistance with specific alternate travel arrangements.
Questions?
For questions, please call WSF Customer Service at 1-888-808-7977, 206-464-6400 or 511 between 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make reservations
Can I make a reservation online?
Yes. Visit the WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries and click “Make a reservation."
Can I make a reservation by phone?
Yes. Call WSF customer service at 1-888-808-7977 (WA and BC toll free), 206-464-6400 or 511 between 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Can I make a reservation in person?
Yes. You can make a reservation at local visitor centers and participating businesses in Port Townsend and Coupeville. Look for “Make a ferry reservation” posters around town, or pick up a list of participating locations at the terminal.
How do I find out which sailings have space available to reserve?
On our reservations Web site, select a route, departure terminal, vehicle type and date of travel to see a list of available sailing times. For help making a reservation or determining when space is available, you can also call customer service.
How will travelers know about the reservations program?
WSF purchased three highway advisory radios (HARs) to broadcast reservations information on Whidbey Island and in the Port Townsend vicinity and signs are posted along roads leading to the ferry terminals. Posters are displayed at local visitor centers and participating businesses and you can pick up printed information at those locations as well as at the Port Townsend and Keystone terminals.
Who should make a reservation?
Do I have to make a reservation?
Reservations are not required for this route, but we strongly encourage you to make a reservation in advance to avoid long waits and to ensure you can travel when you want. All vehicles that arrive at the terminal without reservations will be allowed to sail only as space becomes available.
Do motorcycles need to make a reservation?
Yes. Motorcycles must make a reservation the same way as other vehicles on the Port Townsend/Keystone route. Motorcycles that arrive at the terminal without a reservation will be allowed to sail only as space becomes available.
Do walk-on passengers need to make a reservation?
No. Reservations are not available for walk-on passengers.
Won’t this be inconvenient for travelers who don’t know about the reservations program, or people who want to take a spontaneous trip?
We hope most travelers will learn about the reservations program before arriving at the terminal, but for those who don’t we will keep some spaces available on each sailing for standby travel. Reservations can be made up to two hours before a sailing.
Are there any restrictions for oversize vehicles?
If you’re traveling in a vehicle that is longer than 20 feet and/or weighs more than 6,000 pounds, you will need to call WSF customer service to make a reservation. Oversize vehicles cannot make reservations online. Vehicles over 80,000 pounds are not allowed on the Port Townsend/Keystone route. You can take either the Edmonds/Kingston route or the Mukilteo/Clinton route as an alternative.
Making a reservation
Is there a fee to make a reservation?
No. There is no fee to make a reservation on this route.
Can I purchase my fare when I make my reservation?
Yes. We encourage you to purchase your ticket in advance. Full fare, single-use tickets for the Port Townsend/Keystone route are valid for 90 days from the date of purchase.
How far in advance can I make reservations?
You can make a reservation up to 30 days in advance of your sailing.
How close to my sailing time can I make a reservation?
You can make a reservation up to 2 hours before your sailing time.
How many reservations are allowed each day?
You may make only one Port Townsend departure reservation and one Keystone departure reservation per day.
Can all spaces on the vessel be reserved, or are some held out for those who don't make reservations?
Most of the 50 car spaces on the vessel can be reserved in advance, but we keep some spaces available to accommodate oversize vehicles and for standby travel.
Are there any measures in place to prevent people from making multiple reservations in one day, or making multiple reservations and selling them?
There is a limit of one Port Townsend departure reservation and one Keystone departure reservation per day, per customer. Terminal staff will check your driver’s license to make sure it matches the name on the reservation.
Arriving at the terminal
When can I arrive at the terminal?
You may arrive at the terminal up to 90 minutes before your reserved sailing time. We recommend that reservation holders arrive 30 minutes prior to departure to ensure timely processing and boarding. Customers arriving late may forfeit their reservation.
How will I be sure I can reach the tollbooth if there is a line of waiting cars?
Vehicles will not be allowed on the dock until 90 minutes before their reserved sailing. Only vehicles with confirmed reservations and a limited number of standby vehicles will be on the dock at any time. Other customers who show up at the terminal without a reservation will be given information about how to make a reservation and asked to return to the terminal for their reserved sailing time. Our goal is to keep the terminal entrance clear and avoid long lines of cars waiting for the ferry.
How will you confirm my reservation?
When you arrive at the terminal, WSF staff will ask you to present your confirmation number and your driver’s license to confirm your reservation. The driver’s license must match the driver’s name on the reservation.
Sailing cancellations and delays
What happens if a sailing is cancelled?
If you have a reservation and your sailing is cancelled, you will be given the option to remain at the terminal and will have priority boarding for the next sailing. Customers without reservations will be provided information on other travel options and will be directed to leave the terminal.
What about tidal cancellations?
Tidal cancellations are scheduled well in advance, and WSF does not take reservations for those sailings.