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Vashon Island to Seattle

Are you craving city or island life? Both can be yours with a Water Taxi ride between Seattle and Vashon in around 22 minutes.

"Sally Fox" vessel

Sailing schedule

Weekdays & holidays

Crossing time is approximately 22 minutes

Departs Pier 50 Departs Vashon
5:30 am 6:10 am
6:38 am 7:10 am
7:40 am 8:15 am
8:50 am 9:25 am
11:25 am 12:00 pm
12:45 pm 1:30 pm
3:00 pm 3:45 pm
4:30 pm 4:58 pm
5:30 pm 5:58 pm
6:30 pm 6:58 pm

Transit connections

Passengers can transfer to or from the Water Taxi at both terminals using the following Metro routes:

Route 21

Arbor Heights, Roxhill, Westwood Village, High Point, West Seattle, Downtown Seattle

Routes 56, 57

Alki, Alaska Junction, Genesee Hill, Admiral District, Downtown Seattle

Routes 101, 102

Fairwood, Renton, Downtown Seattle

Route 113

Shorewood, White Center, Olson Place/Myers Way P&R, Federal Center South, Downtown Seattle

Route 125

Westwood Village, West Seattle, South Seattle College, Downtown Seattle

Route 150

Kent, Southcenter, Tukwila, Downtown Seattle

Route 162

Lake Meridian, Kent, Downtown Seattle

Route 177

Federal Way, Downtown Seattle

RapidRide C Line

South Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, West Seattle, Alaska Junction, Fauntleroy, Westwood Village

RapidRide H Line

Burien, White Center, Westwood Village, Delridge, Seattle Ferry Terminal, Downtown Seattle

Routes 118, 119

Vashon Island, Tahlequah, Dockton

Fares and payment

Fare type Cash or Ticket ORCA
Adult (19 to 64 years) $6.75 $5.75
ORCA LIFT $4.50
Senior (65+ years) or Disabled $3.00* $3.00*
Youth (0 to 18 years) Free Free
Bicycles & pets No extra charge No extra charge

* With a Regional Reduced Fare Permit

Terminals

Vashon Island Terminal

The King County Water Taxi docks at the Vashon Ferry Terminal, owned and operated by Washington State Ferries.

Amenities

  • Ticket vending machines
  • Restrooms
  • Terminal building:
    • Indoor waiting area
    • Vending machines with drinks and snacks
  • On shore, near base of dock:
    • Restaurant

Parking

Free parking is available about a block away and uphill from the terminal.

Downtown Seattle Terminal

The terminal is located at Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront.

Address

801 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98104

Enter at the bottom of Yesler Way

Amenities

The King County Water Taxi terminal at Pier 50 can hold up to 500 passengers under cover and out of the weather.

Elevated walkways provide safe access to restrooms located in the Washington State Ferry terminal from the intersection of 1st Avenue and Marion Street Passengers can walk from downtown Seattle to the passenger-only ferry terminal without having to cross on busy city streets.

ORCA card vending machine—purchase and reload money on your card before you board.

Parking

There is no parking available at Pier 50. There are paid lots available in the area and metered parking on nearby streets. The Pier 50 terminal connects with several bus routes and Link Light rail. Please use Metro's Trip Planner to see options.

Boat

MV Motor Vessel Sally Fox

The Sally Fox passes Alki Point on the way to the Vashon Terminal.The first of the King County Water Taxi’s two new boats, the Sally Fox, was dedicated in a ceremony on March 28, 2015, by County Executive Dow Constantine, County Council member Joe McDermott and other local figures.

After a public vote, the vessel was named for longtime Vashon resident Sally Willinger Fox, who was a passionate advocate for the preservation of passenger-only ferry service between Vashon Island and downtown Seattle. According to a plaque on the vessel that honors Fox, she "understood that passenger-only service enhances Islanders' family lives, protects the environment, reduces congestion and contributes to the health, vibrancy and fun of Vashon and Maury Islands."

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