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Washington State Ferries Vehicle Reservations Washington State Ferries Vehicle Reservations Home Page

Vehicle reservations

Vehicle reservations are a way to save a spot for your vehicle on the ferry. You can only make reservations for the Port Townsend/Coupeville and Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes. Reservations open up over time and are currently open for booking through June 14, 2025. Reservations for the summer sailing season open in mid-April 2025

What to know about vehicle reservations

    • A vehicle reservation does not count as a ticket. You’ll need to buy your tickets when you arrive at the terminal or online.
    • Vehicle reservations are available and strongly recommended for the Port Townsend/Coupeville and Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes. All other routes do not have reservations.
    • Reservations are only for vehicles. You do not need reservations for walk-on passengers or bicycles.
    • Vehicle reservations are for one-way trips. Remember to book for both your departure and return trips.
    • If you don’t make a reservation or can’t get your preferred time, there’s very limited stand-by space available on all sailings. You may have to wait for later sailings.
    • If you do not show up for your reservation, you will be charged a no-show fee. Otherwise, there is no cost to make a reservation.
    • If ferry service is disrupted, new reservations may not be available. People with existing reservations will be given priority.

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Vehicle reservations space release dates

Vehicle reservations open up over time, typically four times a year. Availability varies by the route and the seasonal sailing schedule, which we update quarterly – in the fall, winter, spring, and summer.

Right now, you can book spring reservations through June 14, 2025. Reservations for the summer sailing season open in mid-April 2025

On the Anacortes/San Juan Islands Routes

Because many people want to make reservations on this route and space is limited, we open vehicle reservations in three phases:

    • Two months before the season starts at 10 a.m. PT:
      • 30% of standard vehicle spaces are released
      • All 90% of tall, non-standard vehicle spaces (RVs, delivery trucks, etc.) are released
      • A virtual waiting room is in place to ensure a smooth and equitable experience during this high-demand time.
    • Two weeks before each sailing date at 7 a.m. PT:
      • Another 30% of standard vehicle spaces are released
    • Two days before each sailing date at 7 a.m. PT:
      • The last 30% of standard vehicle spaces are released

The last 10% of standard vehicle space is kept open for emergency and stand-by vehicles. More stand-by space may open up if there are no-shows or cancellations.

Starting with the winter 2024 schedule on Dec. 29, 2024, we returned to opening 90% of vehicle space for reservations and keeping open the remaining 10% for stand-by vehicles. In 2023, we restricted reservations to 75% of vessel space to provide more flexibility for our terminal staff and better predictability for reservation holders during service disruptions. With the new schedules, we expect reliability to improve and disruptions to decrease, so returned reservations to 90% of vessel space.

Important: There are no reservations for vehicles going from Shaw Island or Lopez Island (eastbound) to Anacortes. Vehicles from these terminals are loaded on a first-come, first-served basis.

On the Port Townsend/Coupeville Route
      • 2 months before the season start date at 10 a.m. PT:
        •  80% of the vehicle spaces are released
        • A virtual waiting room is in place to ensure a smooth and equitable experience during this high-demand time.

The last 20% of vehicle space is kept open for emergency and stand-by vehicles. More stand-by space may open up if there are no-shows or cancellations.

 

On the day of travel

Arrive early for your sailing:

    • You can arrive for an earlier or later sailing on the same day and travel stand-by. Let the ticket seller know so you don’t get a no-show fee for your reserved sailing.
    • There is no separate line for reservations. After the tollbooths, you will go to the reservation holding lanes.
    • Bring either a printed copy or mobile barcode from your confirmation email, or your reservation confirmation number.

For Port Townsend/Coupeville: Arrive 30-45 minutes before your reserved sailing.

For Anacortes/San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Shaw Island, and Lopez Island): Arrive 45-60 minutes before your reserved sailing.

    • You need to check-in at a tollbooth or with an attendant at least 30 minutes before your reserved sailing in both directions. If you don't check in on time, you will lose your reserved spot and must travel stand-by. We have this policy on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes because of the complicated vehicle loading and unloading at each island.
    • On busy days, you may have to wait in line before reaching the tollbooth. Please plan your arrival time accordingly.

Commercial and Business travel

Commercial and business travel, like package delivery trucks, semis, and construction vehicles, needs an active Wave2Go Executive Reservation Account. Learn more on the Wave2Go Business Account page.

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

How do I book a reservation?

You can make a vehicle reservation online.

    • Select which locations you will be departing from and arriving at, your travel date, and your vehicle length and vehicle height.
    • Choose your preferred sailing time from the list of available sailings.
    • Add the sailing to your cart and checkout as a guest or create an account to easily manage your reservation.
How do I change or cancel a vehicle reservation?

You can change or cancel your vehicle reservations online.

    • Reservations must be changed or canceled before 5:00 p.m. PT the day before travel to avoid a no-show fee.
    • You are allowed one, final change after 5:00 p.m. PT the day before the reserved sailing at no extra charge. However, if you cancel the reservation after making this final change, a no-show fee will be applied.
    • No changes or cancellations can be made less than two hours before your reserved sailing.
    • If you are traveling round-trip, remember to cancel both reservations to avoid a no-show fee.
How does the virtual waiting room work?

To ensure a smooth and fair experience during this high-demand period, we will continue using the virtual waiting room. This system helps prevent website overload and guarantees equitable access for everyone.

Here’s how it works:

    • Pre-queue: Before reservations open, early visitors will enter a virtual holding area called the pre-queue. This reduces website strain and ensures a smoother experience for all users. Please note that the pre-queue will be activated 30 minutes prior to the reservation release at 9:30 a.m. Customers needing to make, change, or cancel reservations for the current summer schedule are advised to complete their transactions before 9:30 a.m. or later in the afternoon to avoid waiting with those making reservations for the fall schedule.
    • Countdown timer: While in the pre-queue, you will see a countdown timer showing how much time is left until reservations open.
    • Randomized entry: When reservations open, everyone in the pre-queue will be randomly assigned a position in the waiting room, giving all early visitors a fair chance.
    • First-come, first-served: Visitors who arrive after reservations open will be placed in line on a first come, first served basis. You will see your place in line and the estimated wait time.
    • Email notification: You can opt to receive an email notification with a link to your place in line. This allows you to leave the site and return when it’s your turn. You can also monitor your estimated wait time from another device or location if needed. We recommend using the email notification option to ensure you always have a way back to your place in line.
What if vehicle reservations are fully booked?

Vehicle reservations fill up quickly. If you can’t get your preferred day and time, here’s what you can do:

    • Check back frequently: Visit the vehicle reservations site Space may open up because of changes and cancellations. A good time to check is around 5:00 p.m. the day before your preferred reservation, which is when people can cancel without a no-show fee.
    • Be ready to wait in stand-by: We keep 20-25% of the space for stand-by vehicles. You may still get on your preferred sailing if there’s stand-by space when you arrive. If not, you will need to wait for a later sailing.
How can I get help booking a reservation?

If you need help booking a reservation, please call Customer Service at 888-808-7977. Our phones are open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please note that our call center staff does not save reservation space for anyone who calls. If you don’t see available spots, we can’t see them either.

How can I book a reservation for large groups (i.e. memorials, school groups)?

We can accommodate large groups onboard our ferries. We allow school groups, memorial services, weddings, birthdays and other celebrations aboard some vessels. To learn more about planning special occasions or traveling with a school group, visit this webpage.

Can I make multiple reservations?

Yes, but if you make multiple reservations and only use one, you will be charged a no-show fee for the unused reservation(s).

What is Washington State Ferries doing to improve the reservation system? 

Through support from the Governor’s office and legislative funding, we’re working with a new vendor to replace the current system so that it can better handle the reservation release dates.

What happened to the service and reservations to and from Sidney, B.C.?

International service to and from Sidney, B.C. was suspended in 2020 due to vessel availability challenges. We expect the route to be out of service until at least Spring 2030 when we’ll have more vessels available.

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