Low tide warnings

Learn about when to avoid certain routes during low tides so you do not damage your vehicle from scraping or getting caught on the loading ramps.

At low tides, some of our loading ramps have a steep slope that causes an extreme angle for:

  • Trucks
  • RVs with a low ground clearance
  • Vehicles towing a trailer

People driving these vehicles should wait for a ferry when the tide is higher for safe clearance and to avoid damage to your vehicle. Below are the routes with low tide warnings.

Vashon Island low tide warnings

Trucks with a ground clearance of less than 14 inches should not travel on our Fauntleroy/Vashon, Southworth/Vashon and Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes during the following dates and times:

April 2024

  • Wednesday, April 10: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (-1.8 feet)
  • Thursday, April 11: noon to 3 p.m. (-2.2 feet)
  • Friday, April 12: 1 to 3:30 p.m. (-2.0 feet)
  • Saturday, April 13: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (-1.4 feet)
  • Friday, April 26: noon to 2 p.m. (-1.6 feet)
  • Saturday, April 27: 12:30 to 3 p.m. (-1.7 feet)
  • Sunday, April 28: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (-1.6 feet)
  • Monday, April 29: 3 to 4 p.m. (-1.3 feet)

May 2024

  • Tuesday, May 7: 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (-1.9 feet)
  • Wednesday, May 8: 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (-2.8 feet)
  • Thursday, May 9: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (-3.2 feet)
  • Friday, May 10: 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. (-3.0 feet)
  • Saturday, May 11: 12:30 to 3:15 p.m. (-2.5 feet)
  • Sunday, May 12: 2 to 3:30 p.m. (-1.5 feet)
  • Wednesday, May 22: 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (-2.8 feet)
  • Thursday, May 23: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (-3.2 feet)
  • Friday, May 24: noon to 2 p.m. (-1.6 feet)
  • Saturday, May 25: 12:30 to 3 p.m. (-1.7 feet)
  • Sunday, May 26: noon to 3 p.m. (-2.7 feet)
  • Monday, May 27: 1 to 3:45 p.m. (-2.4 feet)
  • Tuesday, May 28: 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. (-1.8 feet)
  • See the schedule for our Fauntleroy/Vashon, Southworth/Vashon or Point Defiance/Tahlequah route.

Mukilteo/Clinton low tide warnings

Trucks with a ground clearance of less than 14 inches should not travel on our Mukilteo/Clinton route during the following dates and times:

April 2024

  • No restrictions.

See the schedule for our Mukilteo/Clinton route.

Port Townsend/Coupeville tidal cancellations

Our Port Townsend/Coupeville route is subject to scheduled cancellations or adjustments to sailing times due to tidal currents. Visit our Port Townsend/Coupeville tide cancellations page to view dates and times of all upcoming sailing times canceled or adjusted for tidal currents.

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95% of people hurt in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians, not just our road crews.