wa state ferry travel alerts

Washington State Department of Transportation

• 3.0 • 214 Ratings

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Description.

Washington State Traveler information provided by The Washington State Department of Transportation. Features • Traffic Map with statewide traffic cameras and travel alerts. • Ferry schedules, alerts, and real-time ferry locations. • Mountain pass conditions and weather reports. • Washington State toll rates. • Northbound Canadian Border Waits. • Amtrak Cascades Train Schedules.

Version 5.39.0

- Maintenance updates.

Ratings and Reviews

214 Ratings

Add CarPlay support & Remove Ads!

This App would be more helpful if it supported use in CarPlay. Considering it’s illegal to use a mobile device/phone while driving in WA it’s entrapment that this app doesn’t support use through a car’s onboard systems. Most cars from Hondas to Fords to Toyotas and Audi and Volvo are just a few major brands that support CarPlay now. CarPlay support would make using this type of app safer AND legal while driving!

Want to see chain/up areas...

Well you can't. You can click on individual passes and see what conditions are. And you can see traffic speeds. But you don't know will I need to chain up with 4wd at all, 10 miles out, 25 miles out? how cool would it be to just see a live map layer of chain up areas under different conditons for cars and trucks. How nice would it be for state patrol to know drivers who start from most anywhere in WA will arrive with full knowledge where chain up/off will happen? And guess what, California where it doesn't even snow in most areas, does this so well on web and app. C'mon WDOT, do better! In response to WADOT: with all due respect: consider for just a moment the time and money spent by DOT and delayed drivers because of lack of timely chain information in one place for all state highways. They consider how widespread adoption is of mobile phones, and finally how good mobile services is along all WA state highways. It is not so hard to deploy tools that update real time chain up requirements for big rigs and passenger vehicles on all WA highways. Please take this under consideration to improve safety and efficiency of state roads.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for the inquiry. We have several specific chain up/off areas that are used most of the time, however, these locations and requirements can change at any time. The location of our planned chain up/off areas for Snoqualmie pass are available on the webpage in the bulleted list under the forecast: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/Snoqualmie and are also displayed on VMS signs up on the pass when that requirement is applicable. Posting those locations elsewhere besides the VMS signs isn’t in our best interest as actual chain-up locations are highly variable. As snow squalls pass through; and as snowplows clear, salt, and sand the roadways; the chain requirements change, often quite rapidly. Also, on busy routes like I-90, the chain-up location can change as one chain area becomes full and trucks have to be directed to a different one. The best source for chain up information will always be our VMS signs up on the pass which display real-time information 24/7. Hope that helps explain why!

Very useful but not perfect

I live in the islands, commute to work on another island and use this app several times a week. When ferries are running on time, it’s very useful. When service is disrupted, the app becomes less useful. I agree with other reviewers that real time updates are needed. Also, the booth workers in Anacortes claim that the app is not reliable as far as quotas, which also seems like a gap that needs to be mended. The app still is very useful for making or altering reservations on the go, or checking to see how much space is left on the ferry you’re gunning for. Having the local numbers for ferry landings is a good back up as is knowing how to interpret Vessel Watch. The more fluent you become in “ferry”, the more useful the app becomes.

App Privacy

The developer, Washington State Department of Transportation , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Reach the team with bug reports, ideas, or just to say hello at [email protected] .

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ALERT: Know before you go! For important travel alerts, click here .

Olympic Peninsula Travel Alerts

• Olympic Peninsula

Find out more about North Olympic Peninsula 2024 Construction & Expected Delays and other travel alerts on the WA State Department of Transportation Website.

Click the links below to read more about each project.

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Plan accordingly. The ferries can be busy in the summer, especially on weekends and holidays. LEARN MORE

Current WSF Travel Alerts

Vehicle reservations  for the summer schedule (June 16 through September 21) on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route are now available to reserve.

Looking for an alternative? Here are some fun alternate routes to consider, each of which offers great things to see and do along the way  (for planning purposes only; Google maps do not show real-time traffic):

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Hood Canal Bridge (SR 104)

There will be a series of overnight closures of the Hood Canal Bridge in May and June as construction and repair work resumes. The Bridge will close to all travelers overnight between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. most weeknights over a four-week period.

The first set of overnight closures will begin 10 p.m. Monday, May 13 and continue each night through Saturday, May 18. The closures will continue during most nights each week with the final one scheduled for June 10.

SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge closures each night 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Monday, May 13, through Saturday, May 18.

Monday, May 20, through Thursday, May 23.

Tuesday, May 28, through Friday, May 31.

Monday, June 3, through Saturday, June 8.

Monday, June 10.

Each night of work is weather-dependent and could be rescheduled. Real time information is available via the WSDOT  Hood Canal Bridge  web page and the  WSDOT app .

Due to the nature of the work, the bridge will not open for any traffic, including emergency response.  The bridge will be open to traffic Memorial Day weekend. Brief daytime closures are also planned .

CLICK HERE for the latest Hood Canal Bridge open/closed status.

CLICK HERE to sign up for email alerts from WSDOT.

CLICK HERE to download the WSDOT app for up-to-date information.

Hurricane Ridge (Olympic National Park)

Winter season operations at Hurricane Ridge have ended. In April, the road is open as conditions allow. However, there is no longer a dedicated plow crew to keep it clear. Typically by May the road is open 24/7, but snow can still interrupt operations.

Before traveling, call the Road & Weather Hotline at (360) 565-3131 for current information and road updates. The road’s status will also be updated HERE .

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Ongoing construction projects will be taking place around the North Olympic Peninsula for the next two years. LEARN MORE

NOTE: Construction to replace the Elwha River Bridge continues. Sometime in June, 2024 (exact dates TBD), there will be a 9-day planned closure of the bridge to allow crews to complete the tie ends and final paving. During that time, travelers will be detoured using State Route 112 and SR 113. CLICK HERE for updates.

WSDOT resources for safe travel

For real-time conditions & data and advanced notices for work that is planned:

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MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Travel alert: Washington ferry prices have gone up amid wave of riders

May 2, 2024, 1:10 PM | Updated: 2:30 pm

A Washington State ferry pulls up to the dock on March 29, 2020 in Edmonds, Washington. (Photo: Karen Ducey, Getty Images)

(Photo: Karen Ducey, Getty Images)

BY JULIA DALLAS

MyNorthwest Content Editor

Planning a local getaway? Visiting family who live on the islands? Your Washington ferry ride could cost you more as prices keep climbing.

On Tuesday, prices for roundtrips went up nearly $10. A roundtrip from Edmonds to Kingston now costs a couple with a standard car: $54.35. The price is the same for a roundtrip between Bremerton and Seattle.

Inslee on Washington ferries : ‘We’re going as fast as humanly possible’ getting ferry boats in the water

Washington State Ferries (WSF) attributed the price increase to keeping up with the influx of spring and summer travelers, according to The Everett Herald . Riders can also expect longer wait times, around an hour or two, as the warmer weather entices people to take trips.

However, according to The Everett Herald, the surcharge was not added to multi-ride or passenger rates. An adult walk-on ticket costs $9.85 and a senior ticket costs $4.90. Children 18 and under are free.

For those heading from Mukilteo to Clinton who don’t want to pay the extra $3 for a one-way trip, The Everett Herald recommended taking the scenic route and driving through Deception Pass.

To plan the cost of your trip, visit WSDOT’s fare calculator . To pay for your trip, WSF recommends getting an ORCA card. ORCA cards can be bought online on ORCA’s website , or in person at various transit locations . However, VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards are also accepted alongside cash, traveler’s checks and business account charge cards.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), most ferries are loaded on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, travelers are highly recommended to reserve their car spot for the Port Townsend/Coupeville and Anacortes/San Juan Island routes . Walk-ons and smaller vehicles like motorcycles cannot be reserved.

Travelers can also see how many car spaces are available, in real-time, at each terminal via WSDOT’s live tracker found on the department’s website . They can also keep up with ferry wait times on WSDOT’s website .

Other news : Surging home prices prolong Seattle’s ‘bidding wars’ era

While prices will go back down after the summer, an overall 4.25% fare increase will start on Oct. 1, according to the Washington State Transportation Commission  (WSTC).

This will bring prices up by 50 cents to $1. To see a more detailed list of how fares on each ferry will be affected, visit this PDF from the WSTC .

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories  here . Follow Julia on X, formerly known as Twitter,  here  and email her  here .

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Travel Alerts

Visitors and residents can find travel advisories and alerts related to transportation, wildfires, and other natural impacts below. Please check back often for updates. State of Washington Tourism recommends that visitors consult local official resources for the most up-to-date information on safety and closures.

Wildfire Resources

Before you head out, check the Washington State Department of Transportation website for road conditions and closures in your travel area. You can also view the status of large wildfires on the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center’s Large Fire Information page .

For air quality and smoke conditions, head to the Washington Smoke blog , which is a partnership between state, county, federal agencies, and Tribes.

For tips on wildfire safety, check out Recreate Responsibly’s wildfire resources .

Ferry Disruptions

Washington State has an extensive network of ferries connecting visitors and residents to points throughout Western Washington. For alerts, schedule changes/route cancellations, and more, please check the Washington State Ferries alerts bulletin .

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• Puget Sound
• Traffic Lab

Washington ferry fares increase May 1 for peak season

The state ferry system’s annual peak-season surcharge goes into effect Wednesday.

The surcharge will increase fares for vehicles on all routes by 25%, except for vehicles traveling from Anacortes to Lopez, Shaw and Orcas islands, as well as Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Those fares will increase by 35%.

For example, a one-way trip on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route will see an increase of about $4 to $22.25 for a standard-sized car and driver, according to Washington State Ferries.

The surcharge applies to single vehicles crossing Puget Sound but does not apply to passenger or multi-ride fares. Senior passengers ride for half price, and youth ages 18 and under ride free on all routes.

The peak-season pricing will continue through September, covering the busiest months of the year for ferry travel.

Vehicle fares are available online at  wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/fares .

Fares vary by route, depending on location, sailing time and other factors.

For Port Townsend/Coupeville and Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes, travelers can reserve their spot on the ferry for the summer season through Washington State Ferries’ website.

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