WA Ferry Tracker › WSF Thanksgiving ferry tips for 2026
🦃 Watch Thanksgiving sailings + get WhatsApp alertsThanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest stretches of the year for Washington State Ferries. In 2025, WSF expected about 300,000 riders over the five-day holiday period. Here's what WSF's own guidance says, applied to the 2026 calendar.
Which days will be busiest?
WSF's pattern for the holiday is consistent: vehicle traffic is heaviest westbound (onto the islands and peninsulas) on Wednesday and Thursday, both directions on Friday, and eastbound (back to the mainland) on Saturday and Sunday. For 2026 that means:
| Day | Expected pattern (based on WSF guidance) |
|---|---|
| Wed, Nov 25 | Busy westbound / onto islands |
| Thu, Nov 26 (Thanksgiving) | Busy westbound / onto islands |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Busy both directions |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Busy eastbound / off islands |
| Sun, Nov 29 | Busy eastbound / off islands |
WSF usually publishes its official holiday notice a week or two before Thanksgiving. If it differs from this table, follow WSF.
Is the Thanksgiving ferry schedule different?
Usually only a little. In 2025, WSF made a few Thanksgiving Day adjustments on Edmonds/Kingston and Point Defiance/Tahlequah, and ran Seattle/Bainbridge and Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth on holiday timetables. Holiday changes are marked on each route's schedule on wsdot.wa.gov, so open your route's schedule and look for the holiday note for November 26.
San Juan Islands: reservation dates for Thanksgiving 2026
The Anacortes/San Juan Islands route (and Port Townsend/Coupeville) takes vehicle reservations. On the San Juans route, WSF releases standard vehicle space in three tiers: 30% when the season opens, another 30% two weeks before each sailing at 7 a.m., and the last 30% two days before at 7 a.m. The final 10% is held for stand-by and emergencies. Counting the way WSF describes it, that puts the releases for the busiest days at roughly:
- Wed, Nov 25 sailings: about Nov 11 and Nov 23 at 7 a.m.
- Sun, Nov 29 sailings: about Nov 15 and Nov 27 at 7 a.m.
Book your return at the same time as your trip out, because reservations are one-way. Read the full playbook in how to get a ferry reservation when it's sold out.
Tips that actually save time
- Go early or late. WSF recommends early-morning or late-night sailings to cut or avoid the wait.
- Walk on. Walk-on passengers and bikes skip the vehicle line. WSF says there's almost always room for walk-ons.
- Check before you leave. Use the WSDOT app or wsdot.wa.gov for terminal conditions, rider alerts and cameras.
- Watch the weather. Late November can bring wind and winter road conditions. Check passes and ferry alerts the same morning.
- Arrive on time with a reservation: 45 to 60 minutes early at Anacortes and 30 to 45 minutes at Port Townsend/Coupeville.
FAQ
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026.
What are the busiest ferry days at Thanksgiving?
WSF expects heaviest vehicle traffic westbound (onto islands) on Wednesday and Thursday, both directions on Friday, and eastbound (off islands) on Saturday and Sunday.
Do Washington State Ferries run on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes. WSF sails on Thanksgiving, with holiday adjustments on some routes. Check the holiday notes on your route schedule on wsdot.wa.gov.
When do San Juan ferry reservations open for Thanksgiving?
Beyond the first seasonal release, WSF releases more space two weeks before and two days before each sailing, both at 7 a.m. Pacific.
How do I avoid long ferry lines at Thanksgiving?
Travel on early-morning or late-night sailings, walk on if you can, and check live terminal conditions before leaving home.
Sources
- WSDOT news: More room at the table, Thanksgiving 2025 sailings
- WSDOT news: Don't let Thanksgiving travel gobble you up (2025)
- WSF Vehicle Reservations (release tiers, arrival times, no-show fee)
- WSDOT: Best times to travel on ferries
- WSDOT: First-time riders
Independent guide, not affiliated with Washington State Ferries or WSDOT. Rates, schedules and rules change by season, so confirm on wsdot.wa.gov before you travel. Last updated November 3, 2026.