Ferries brace for busy Labor Day after record summer

Washington State Ferries is preparing for nearly 400,000 passengers over the Labor Day weekend, capping its busiest summer since 2019.

WSF expects close to 400,000 people to ride the state ferry system from Thursday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 7.

The holiday rush follows a strong summer for the ferry system. From Memorial Day through the final Sunday in August, WSF carried nearly 7 million passengers, about 100,000 more than during the same period in 2025.

Saturday, Sept. 5, is expected to be the busiest day of the Labor Day travel period.

So far this year, WSF has recorded six days with more than 90,000 riders – all of them Saturdays. The busiest was Aug. 8, when 99,557 passengers rode the ferries, the highest single-day total since Aug. 17, 2019.

Other busy days included July 18 with 98,174 passengers and Aug. 15 with 96,243.

“Seeing more people ride with us is a clear sign that we’re moving in the right direction and rebuilding confidence in our system,” WSF head Steve Nevey said.

Nevey said the agency continues to focus on recruiting, training and retaining workers while improving on-time performance and maintaining its aging fleet until new ferries arrive.

For Labor Day weekend, the heaviest vehicle traffic is expected westbound or traveling onto islands Thursday and Friday, Sept. 3-4. The busiest return traffic is expected eastbound or leaving islands Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6-7.

Travelers should prepare for long lines and potentially extended waits, particularly during peak periods. WSF recommends considering early-morning or late-night sailings. Travelers also can avoid vehicle lines by taking transit to a terminal and walking or bicycling aboard when practical.

Drivers should check conditions before leaving home using the WSDOT mobile app or Washington State Ferries website. Information available includes sailing schedules, terminal conditions, rider alerts, vessel locations and vehicle reservations on routes where reservations are offered.

Some ferry routes will operate with holiday schedule adjustments Monday, Sept. 7. Changes are planned for the Anacortes/San Juan Islands, Edmonds/Kingston, Port Townsend/Coupeville and Point Defiance/Tahlequah routes.

The Seattle/Bainbridge Island and Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth routes will operate on their weekend/holiday schedules.

Travelers driving to ferry terminals also should expect heavier traffic on state highways and check real-time road conditions before departing.

Washington State Ferries, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest ferry system in the United States.