Port Townsend & Coupeville (Keystone) Ferry Terminals: Parking, Directions, Busy Times

WA Ferry Tracker › Port Townsend & Coupeville (Keystone) Ferry Terminals

	Port Townsend	Coupeville (Keystone)
Address	1301 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368	1400 South State Route 20, Coupeville, WA 98239
Road in	SR 20 (Sims Way, then Water Street), or SR 104/SR 19 from the Hood Canal Bridge	SR 20 from SR 525 (Clinton) or from Oak Harbor
Arriving by car	Straight along Water Street to the tollbooths	Use the vehicle turnaround to face south before the tollbooth
Parking	Very limited downtown, 2-hour street parking. WSDOT points to Haines Place Park & Ride	Along the road and at the state park. No secured lot
Bike racks at terminal	One rack, 12 bikes	One rack, 6 bikes
Walk-on boarding	Ground level, no overhead loading or elevator	Ground level, no overhead loading or elevator
Facilities	Waiting room, restrooms, food service	Waiting room, restrooms, food service
Bus	Jefferson Transit (zero fare)	Island Transit (fare free)
Lost and found	Held at the Coupeville terminal for 30 days

Two small terminals, one small boat

The Port Townsend–Coupeville route crosses Admiralty Inlet in about 35 minutes. It links the Olympic Peninsula with central Whidbey Island. The route is run by the M/V Kennewick. WSDOT lists it at 64 vehicles and 748 passengers, with an auto deck clearance of 14'5". Sixty-four cars fill quickly, so most drivers should book ahead. Walk-ons and cyclists nearly always fit.

The Coupeville terminal is also known as Keystone. It is south of the town of Coupeville, off SR 20, so don't drive into town looking for it. Port Townsend's terminal is the opposite: it sits right at the edge of the historic downtown, a short walk from Water Street's shops and restaurants.

Driving to the Port Townsend terminal

WSDOT gives two ways in:

From Edmonds/Kingston, Bainbridge or Poulsbo: cross the Hood Canal Bridge on SR 104, take the Port Ludlow/Chimacum/Hwy 19 exit, and follow the signs to the ferry dock.
From the Olympic Peninsula (Sequim, Port Angeles, the Hood Canal side): take US 101 to SR 20 east. SR 20 turns into Sims Way and then Water Street, which brings you to the dock.

If you're coming off the Edmonds–Kingston boat to catch a Port Townsend sailing, leave plenty of extra time, because a reserved spot isn't held if you arrive after check-in closes. Our reservations guide covers the check-in window.

Driving to the Coupeville (Keystone) terminal

From the south end of Whidbey (Clinton and the Mukilteo ferry): take SR 525 north, turn left onto SR 20, and follow the ferry signs.
From the north (Oak Harbor, Deception Pass, Anacortes): take SR 20 south past the town of Coupeville and follow the signs.

One quirk WSDOT calls out: when you arrive, use the vehicle turnaround so you're facing south before you pull up to the tollbooth. In fall 2026, WSDOT's travel alerts also asked drivers using SR 536 to reach the Coupeville or Anacortes terminals to follow the signed detour via I-5 and SR 20 and allow extra time. Check the alert bulletin before you leave if you're coming from the Mount Vernon side.

Parking and the holding lanes

Port Townsend: WSDOT describes downtown parking as extremely limited, and street parking is limited to two hours, which is useless for a day trip. It suggests the Haines Place Park & Ride instead. Jefferson Transit's free Route 11 Shuttle starts there and stops at Water Street & Filmore Street, signed as the PT Ferry stop. WSDOT also mentions a bank lot that is open for parking only on weekends after 1 p.m.; read its posted signs before you leave a car.

Coupeville: parking is along the road and at the neighboring state park, and WSDOT notes that none of it is secured. Fort Casey Historical State Park requires a Discover Pass for vehicles and lists a separate fee for vehicles left unattended overnight, so check State Parks' rules if you plan to leave a car there and walk on.

Holding lanes: once you're through the tollbooth you wait in the holding area. For each sailing, WSDOT's terminal pages show the approximate number of unreserved drive-up spaces left there. A negative number means more cars are already waiting than the boat can take. The count doesn't include cars still lined up outside the tollbooths, so check the terminal cameras too.

Reservations, briefly

This is one of the WSF routes where drivers are strongly encouraged to reserve. Standby is possible, but on most daytime sailings it means waiting for a no-show. You can book online or by phone at 1-888-808-7977. Release dates, check-in times and the no-show fee are in our Port Townsend–Coupeville reservations guide. If your sailing is sold out, our reservation alerts page explains how to get a WhatsApp ping when a space opens. Walk-ons, bike riders and transit riders don't need a reservation.

Tidal cancellations and the weather

WSDOT says this route is subject to scheduled cancellations or changes to sailing times because of tidal currents. Those changes are planned in advance and listed on WSDOT's tidal cancellation page for the route. For fall and winter 2026–27 it lists affected dates from November 2026 through March 2027, with some sailings cancelled and others added on certain days. Check it before you book and again before you drive. A tidal cancellation can move your boat by more than an hour, or take it off the schedule.

Unplanned problems such as weather, crew or mechanical issues are posted on WSF's travel alert bulletins. With only one boat on the route, a single cancelled sailing affects the whole day. If you have a tight connection on the other side, sign up for WSF's route alerts or watch the live map in WA Ferry Tracker.

When the boats fill up

WSF's fall 2026 best-times charts for this route come in two versions, early fall and late fall. They cover vehicles only, and WSDOT notes there is almost always room for walk-ons and bikes. On the late-fall chart:

Leaving Coupeville: the first boat of the morning is sometimes full on weekdays. From late morning through the afternoon most sailings are often full, and Friday and Saturday late-morning boats and the Friday mid-afternoon boat are marked likely full. The last couple of evening sailings are mostly unlikely to fill.
Leaving Port Townsend: the first morning boat is mostly unlikely to fill (Monday is sometimes full). Mid-morning through mid-afternoon is often full, with some Sunday midday and mid-afternoon boats likely full. Evenings are mostly unlikely to fill, but Friday and weekend evenings are busier.

The early-fall chart was busier, with many late-morning sailings likely full. Summer and holiday weekends are busier still. If you're driving without a booking, the earliest and latest boats give you the best chance. Our best time to take the ferry guide explains how to read the charts.

Walking on, bikes and buses

Walking on is the easy way to do this crossing: no reservation, and the boat nearly always has room. You board at ground level at both ends. Riders under 19 travel free, and seniors 65+, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders qualify for half fare. Our walk-on passenger guide covers tickets and luggage.

Bikes skip the car line but still stop at a tollbooth. At Coupeville, use the tollbooth window on the side away from the cars. Arrive about 20 minutes before the sailing to load first. Bikes don't need a reservation, and late bikes load after the cars. On the Kennewick you can use the upper-deck racks (10 racks with room for about 50 bikes) or ride onto the car deck. Walk your bike on and off. If you're leaving a bike behind, Port Townsend's terminal rack holds 12 and Coupeville's holds 6.

Motorcycles are often loaded ahead of cars. WSDOT's note for both terminals says they load after bicycles and up to six vehicles. At Port Townsend they queue with the cars before the tollbooth and are sent to a staging lane. At Coupeville they can bypass the line and go to the tollbooth for staging directions. Late motorcycles go on at the end, and the dock speed limit is 10 mph. Carpools and vanpools must be ticketed and in line 10 minutes before the sailing. Trucks over 80,000 lbs or wider than 8'6" need WSF travel approval at least three business days ahead. Because the boat has limited height clearance, tall trucks may be loaded out of order.

Jefferson Transit serves the Port Townsend side, and all its routes are zero fare. The Route 11 Shuttle loops through downtown and uptown Port Townsend from Haines Place Park & Ride, with a stop at the ferry, and Jefferson Transit says the last run connects with the ferry. Its Haines Place office (440 12th Street) is open weekdays 10 to 3 and answers at 360-385-4777. Its schedules list holiday closures, including Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 26). Island Transit covers Whidbey Island, and WSDOT lists it as the transit connection at Coupeville. It is always fare free, and its fall 2026 Whidbey schedules took effect September 27, 2026. Island Transit notes that walk-ons and transit riders don't need a ferry reservation. Its buses have bike racks, first come, first served.

Nearby, if you're early

At Keystone: Fort Casey Historical State Park is close to the terminal. It has old military batteries, the 1903 Admiralty Head Lighthouse, beaches and kite-flying views. The park is open 8 a.m. to dusk year round. In 2026 the lighthouse and gift shop opened only on certain days, noon to 4 p.m., so check before you go. Divers use the Keystone Underwater Dive Park off the park's shore.

At Port Townsend: the terminal is at the edge of downtown, with Water Street's Victorian buildings, shops and restaurants a short walk away. With a longer wait, take Jefferson Transit's Route 2 from Haines Place to Fort Worden, a state park with trails and long beaches.

On board and in the terminals

Both terminals have a waiting room, restrooms and food service. On the boat, the Kennewick's upper cabin has a galley. WSDOT's fall 2026 galley hours for the route are 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. Multi-ride cards are valid for 90 days and are non-refundable. A monthly pass saves 20%.

Accessibility

WSDOT says all its terminals and vessels are accessible, though the level of access varies. Neither terminal here has overhead loading or an elevator, so walk-ons board at ground level. If you're driving and need to be parked near the elevator on the boat, arrive at least 30 minutes early and tell the ticket seller. These spaces aren't guaranteed. WSF also runs a medical preferential loading program, which you have to enroll in ahead of time. If you need a wheelchair at the terminal, call 206-464-6400, ideally 24 hours ahead, and bring an attendant if you need help boarding. Elevator or ramp outages are posted on the travel alert bulletins.

Lost something?

Items found on the Port Townsend–Coupeville route, at either terminal or on the boat, are sent to the Coupeville terminal and kept for 30 days. Call (206) 515-3439 or email WSFLost_Found@wsdot.wa.gov on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For anything else, WSF's information line is (206) 464-6400, open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

FAQ

Where is the Coupeville (Keystone) ferry terminal?

At 1400 South State Route 20, south of the town of Coupeville and close to Fort Casey Historical State Park. From Clinton take SR 525 north and turn left on SR 20. From Oak Harbor take SR 20 south past Coupeville and follow the ferry signs. Use the turnaround to face south before the tollbooth.

Where do I park for the Port Townsend ferry?

Downtown parking is very limited and street parking has a two-hour limit. WSDOT recommends the Haines Place Park & Ride, and Jefferson Transit's free Route 11 Shuttle runs from there to a stop at the ferry on Water Street.

Do I need a reservation for the Port Townsend–Coupeville ferry?

Drivers should reserve. The boat carries only 64 vehicles, and standby usually means waiting for a no-show. Walk-ons, cyclists and transit riders don't need a reservation. See our Port Townsend–Coupeville reservations guide for release dates and check-in times.

Why are Port Townsend–Coupeville sailings cancelled at low tide?

WSDOT says the route is subject to scheduled cancellations or changed sailing times because of tidal currents. Those changes are planned and listed in advance on WSDOT's tidal cancellation page, which for 2026–27 covers dates from November 2026 through March 2027. Check it before you book.

Is there a bus to the Port Townsend or Coupeville ferry?

Yes. Jefferson Transit (zero fare) serves Port Townsend, and its Route 11 Shuttle stops at Water Street & Filmore Street for the ferry. Island Transit (always fare free) is the transit connection on the Coupeville side. Check each agency's current schedule for times.

Where does lost and found go for this route?

Items from both terminals and the boat go to the Coupeville terminal and are held for 30 days. Call (206) 515-3439 or email WSFLost_Found@wsdot.wa.gov, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

📤 Share this on WhatsApp

Sources

Independent guide, not affiliated with Washington State Ferries, WSDOT, Jefferson Transit or Island Transit. Schedules, fares and rules change by season, so confirm on wsdot.wa.gov before you travel. Last updated November 5, 2026.