WA Ferry Tracker › Edmonds Ferry Terminal
🔔 Free ferry alerts on WhatsApp| Address | 199 Sunset Ave. S., Edmonds, WA 98020 (where SR 104 meets Dayton Street on the waterfront) |
|---|---|
| Ferry | Edmonds ⇄ Kingston, about 30 minutes |
| Reservations | None. Vehicles load first come, first served |
| Walk-on boarding | Overhead passenger ramp (two sloped sections of about 200 feet each) |
| Facilities | Waiting room and restrooms. Galley on board. No bike racks at the terminal |
| Transit | Community Transit buses. Sounder and Amtrak Cascades trains stop at Edmonds Station next door |
Driving in: join the line from SR 104
WSDOT's directions are simple: take I-5 exit 177 and head west on SR 104 for about 4 miles, following the ferry signs. The important rule is how you join the line. Vehicles must enter the tollbooths from SR 104 at Dayton Street, coming along the highway, not by turning in from Dayton Street. On busy days the holding lanes fill and the car line backs up along SR 104, and cutting in from a side street is exactly what the staff are watching for. If you're coming from Sea-Tac Airport, WSDOT puts the terminal at about an hour's drive.
Before you leave, look at WSDOT's terminal page for Edmonds. It shows camera views and an approximate count of open drive-up spaces for upcoming sailings. A negative number means more cars are already through the tollbooth than the boat can carry, and cars queued on SR 104 outside the booths aren't counted yet. On a Friday afternoon that number tells you whether to leave now, go later, or walk on instead.
Trains cross the waterfront
The BNSF main line runs right along the Edmonds waterfront between downtown and the ferry dock, and the streets cross it at grade. Long freight trains, plus Sounder and Amtrak trains stopping at Edmonds Station, can briefly block streets near the terminal. If you're arriving on foot from downtown or driving on local streets, leave a few minutes' buffer. A train is a common reason people watch their boat pull out.
Parking for walk-ons
WSF doesn't run its own lot at Edmonds. WSDOT lists parking in lots within a few blocks of the terminal. The closest it names is a U-Park lot at Sunset Ave. S. and James St., with 64 spaces including 2 ADA spaces, at $15–$20 a day by WSDOT's figures (rates change, so check the sign). WSDOT says that lot doesn't charge vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard or plate. Edmonds Station has about 140 parking spaces, but that's commuter rail parking, so read the posted rules before leaving a car there for a ferry trip. Downtown street parking is time-limited, which works for a quick round trip at most.
For a car-free day on the Kitsap side, getting dropped off is often easiest: walk-ons don't wait in the car line at all.
Walking on
Edmonds has overhead passenger loading. You go through the terminal building and up a covered ramp to the boat's passenger deck, away from the cars. WSDOT notes the ramp is two sections of roughly 200 feet each with a gradual uphill slope, which can be tiring with a stroller or for anyone with limited mobility. Terminal staff can help passengers with disabilities board if you arrive at least 20 minutes before the sailing. If you're in a car and need an elevator on the boat or extra room for a lift, tell the ticket seller before you board.
Buy tickets at the terminal or online. WSDOT reminds riders that buying a ticket in advance doesn't guarantee a spot on a specific boat.
Bikes and motorcycles
- Bikes: ride past the car line to the lower dock, secure your bike, buy your ticket in the passenger terminal, and show it to the lower-dock attendant. Arrive about 20 minutes early to board first. Latecomers board at the end of the load. There are no bike racks at the terminal.
- Motorcycles: if you already have a ticket, use the local lanes to the lower dock. If not, buy one at a tollbooth. Then show it to the attendant and wait in front of lanes 1 and 2. WSDOT suggests buying fares at the lower dock on Friday nights and weekends.
When the line is long
The Edmonds–Kingston route is the main way from the north Seattle area to the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas. The worst car waits are westbound on Friday afternoons and evenings, and on Saturday mornings in summer and on holiday weekends. Eastbound from Kingston, Sunday afternoon is the crunch. WSDOT publishes seasonal "best times to travel" charts for this route, and our Edmonds–Kingston route guide covers timing. If the camera shows a multi-boat wait, your choices are to go much earlier or later, take another crossing (Seattle–Bainbridge to the south), or park and walk on.
Coming back, note that Kingston runs an automated boarding-pass system on SR 104 to stop line cutting. It's on from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, daily in summer, and during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's weeks. Our Kingston ferry terminal guide explains how it works. Join the line where the signs tell you to.
What's nearby while you wait
Edmonds is one of the nicer places on the Sound to wait for a boat, especially as a walk-on with time to spare:
- Brackett's Landing, just north of the ferry dock, is a beach park and the shore entry for the Edmonds Underwater Park, popular with scuba divers. Kids like watching the ferries come in from the jetty.
- Downtown Edmonds is a few blocks uphill on Main Street and 5th Avenue, with cafes, bakeries, restaurants and an ice-cream stop or two. It's walkable from the terminal, but leave time for the railroad crossing on the way back.
- The waterfront walkway heads south from the terminal past Olympic Beach and the public fishing pier.
- On board, the galley on each boat opens early. WSDOT's fall 2026 hours start at 4:45 or 5:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on Saturdays.
If you're in the car line, you can usually stretch your legs, but be back at your car well before loading starts. When the boat loads, the lanes move quickly.
Lost something?
WSDOT says items found on the Edmonds–Kingston route go to the Edmonds terminal and are held for 30 days. Call WSF lost and found at (206) 515-3439 or email WSFLost_Found@wsdot.wa.gov (weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).
Heading to Whidbey or the San Juans instead?
The Edmonds ferry goes to Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula, not to Whidbey Island. For Whidbey, take the Mukilteo–Clinton ferry (a short drive north) or come in from the Olympic side on the Port Townsend–Coupeville ferry. Edmonds doesn't take reservations, but Port Townsend–Coupeville and the San Juan routes do, and that's where WA Ferry Tracker helps. It watches reservation space and sends you a WhatsApp alert when a spot opens.
FAQ
Where is the Edmonds ferry terminal?
At 199 Sunset Ave. S. in Edmonds, on the waterfront where SR 104 meets Dayton Street. From I-5, take exit 177 and follow SR 104 west about 4 miles.
Where do I park for the Edmonds ferry?
WSF has no lot of its own. WSDOT lists private lots within a few blocks, including a 64-space U-Park lot at Sunset Ave. S. and James St. ($15–$20 a day by WSDOT's figures). Downtown street parking is time-limited.
Do I need a reservation for the Edmonds–Kingston ferry?
No. The route is first come, first served for vehicles, and walk-ons just buy a ticket. Vehicle reservations exist only on the San Juan Islands and Port Townsend–Coupeville routes.
How do I get in the Edmonds ferry line?
Follow SR 104 to the tollbooths at Dayton Street. WSDOT says vehicles must enter from SR 104, not by turning in from Dayton Street. Check the WSDOT terminal cameras and drive-up space count before you leave.
Is there a walkway onto the Edmonds ferry?
Yes. Edmonds has an overhead passenger ramp in two sloped sections of about 200 feet each. Staff can help passengers with disabilities if they arrive at least 20 minutes early.
Can I bring a bike on the Edmonds ferry?
Yes, no reservation needed. Ride past the car line to the lower dock, buy your ticket in the terminal and arrive about 20 minutes early to board first. There are no bike racks at the terminal.
Sources
- WSDOT: Edmonds terminal (directions, parking, bikes, ADA, galley, lost and found)
- WSDOT ferry schedules
- WSDOT: Best times to travel on ferries
- WSDOT: Ticket information
Independent guide, not affiliated with Washington State Ferries or WSDOT. Schedules, fares and rules change by season, so confirm on wsdot.wa.gov before you travel. Last updated November 5, 2026.