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Vashon Island/Downtown Seattle route

The King County Water Taxi Vashon Island/Downtown Seattle route provides commute-hour weekday service between the ferry terminal at the north end of Vashon Island and Pier 50 on the downtown Seattle waterfront. Find information about the following topics on this page:

Sailing schedule

Sailing schedule beginning Sept. 28
Operates weekdays only; does not operate on holidays*
Crossing time: approx. 22 minutes    
Leave Vashon Leave Seattle
6:10 a.m.         5:38 a.m.
7:10 a.m. 6:38 a.m.
8:15 a.m. 7:40 a.m.
4:58 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
5:58 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.

*Does not operate on the following holidays:

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day after Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day

Fares

King County Water Taxi passengers will pay the following one-way fares as they board the vessel on Vashon and in Seattle:

  • $4.50 adult cash fare
  • $3.75 adult fare for passengers using a Puget Pass or ORCA card (E-purse or regional transit pass loaded onto ORCA)
  • Seniors and people with disabilities who have a Regional Reduced Fare Permit pay $2.25 cash fare or $1.75 ORCA fare (50 percent discount)
  • Youth pay $3.60 cash fare or $3 ORCA youth fare (20 percent discount)

You may use a PugetPass, ORCA card or cash to pay King County Water Taxi fares. As you board the vessel, either show your PugetPass, tap your ORCA card on the card reader held by a crew member, or deposit the exact cash fare in the fare box. No change will be given to passengers who pay cash fares. There are no change or ticket machines at the Vashon or Seattle ferry terminals.

More fare information:

Bicycles are welcome

Bicycles must be walked between the pier entrance and the vessel. A maximum of 18 bicycles are permitted onboard the Water Taxi. There is no additional charge for bicycles.

Accessibility

The Water Taxi's passenger waiting area, portable restrooms and vessel are accessible. If you need assistance boarding the vessel, please inform a crew member.

Bus connections

Metro Transit routes 118, 119 and 116 provide connections to arriving and departing Water Taxi sailings on Vashon Island.

In downtown Seattle, the Water Taxi docks at Pier 50 (next to Colman Dock) where it is be served by Metro Transit Routes 16, 66 and 99 and is within a quarter-mile of dozens of additional transit connections.

Click here to look up transit connections and specific route schedules.

Lost and found

If you have lost an item, please call Metro Transit Lost and Found at 206-553-3000. Items will be held for 30 days. If you have found an item, please contact a crew member. The King County Ferry District is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Pets and service animals

Pets are not allowed on the Water Taxi. Service animals are allowed; no additional fare is required.

Customer comments

We value your comments! Please call us at 206-684-1551 or e-mail your comments to watertaxi.info@kingcounty.gov.

Terminal information

Seattle Pier 50

Vashon Island

The vessel

The MV Melissa Ann, a catamaran that can carry 150 passengers and 18 bicycles, serves this route. Learn more

Environmental review

A full environmental review was conducted for the operation of the MV Melissa Ann on this route.  Read the full report.

King County Ferry District approved new fare structure at its January 25 meeting. 

A simplified fare policy goes into effect on Monday, March 1.  Read more.

Sign up for e-mail alerts for notification of delayed or cancelled sailings!

King County is implementing a new e-mail alert system that the Water Taxi will use to notify passengers when sailings will be cancelled or delayed by more than 15 minutes.  Read more!

Average ridership

The charts below show the daily average number of passengers on the Vashon Island-Downtown Seattle route during the first three weeks of December, 2009.  The last two weeks of December do not give an accurate picture of average ridership.  The vessel's capacity is 150 passengers.

Average Number of Passengers
A.M. Sailings, Vashon to Seattle
6:10 a.m. 7:10 a.m. 8:15 a.m.

Total

Monday 37 121 100 258
Tuesday 40 130 105 275
Wednesday 40 125 106 271
Thursday 39 122 95 256
Friday 30 107 70 207

Average Number of Passengers
P.M. Sailings, Seattle to Vashon

4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

Total

Monday 107 119 61 287
Tuesday 107 123 70 300
Wednesday 110 123 73 306
Thursday 89 126 69 284
Friday 99 82 43 224