Sidney BC ferry reservation alerts

WA Ferry Tracker › Sidney BC ferry reservation alerts

For decades, Washington State Ferries ran an international route from Anacortes through the San Juan Islands to Sidney, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island near Victoria. It was the only WSF route that crossed the border, and it used vehicle reservations because the boat stopped at Friday Harbor and space was limited. Many people still search for "Sidney BC ferry reservations" and "Anacortes to Sidney ferry", so here is what you need to know.

Why the Sidney route is suspended

WSF has been operating with fewer vessels than it needs. Older boats have been retired faster than new ones have arrived, and the international route requires a vessel that meets extra requirements. WSF has prioritized domestic service, and the Sidney sailing has stayed off the schedule. WSF currently lists the suspension as lasting until at least spring 2030. Dates like this can change, so always check the WSF site.

How to get to Vancouver Island instead

• Black Ball Ferry Line (MV Coho) runs between Port Angeles, Washington and downtown Victoria, B.C. It carries vehicles and takes reservations through its own website. It is a private company, not WSF.
• BC Ferries from Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) to Swartz Bay, which is next to Sidney. Drive up from Seattle via I-5 and the border, then take the ferry. BC Ferries has its own reservation system.
• Passenger-only options such as the seasonal Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle to Victoria.
• Seaplanes fly from Seattle and the San Juans to Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Our tracker and alerts cover WSF routes only. They do not cover Black Ball, BC Ferries or Clipper.

Visiting the San Juans on the way?

You can still reach Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw from Anacortes on domestic WSF sailings, and these do take reservations. That space sells out on busy weekends, which is where WhatsApp alerts help. See San Juan Islands ferry reservation alerts for how WSF releases space (30% about two months before the season, 30% two weeks out, 30% two days out) and how to catch cancellations.

Will WA Ferry Tracker alert me when Sidney returns?

The tracker already lists Anacortes ⇄ Sidney BC and Friday Harbor ⇄ Sidney BC as routes, so when WSF reopens Sidney reservations you will be able to set a scheduler for it like any other route. Until then, schedulers for Sidney will not find space, because there are no sailings. We will update this page when WSF announces a return date.

If Sidney service returns: how it worked

When the route ran, reservations were strongly recommended because it was a single daily round trip in peak season. International travelers needed a valid passport or equivalent document, and vehicles cleared customs at Sidney or Anacortes. Expect WSF to publish new rules when service resumes, and check the WSF site rather than relying on older blog posts.

FAQ

Sources

• WSF Vehicle Reservations (release tiers, arrival times, no-show fee)
• Washington State Ferries

Independent guide, not affiliated with Washington State Ferries or WSDOT. Rules change by season, so confirm on wsdot.wa.gov before you travel. Last updated November 3, 2026.