Local guide
The Southworth Ferry Guide: Getting to Olalla by Ferry
Olalla has two ferry doors, and both open at the same dock. Washington State Ferries runs the Fauntleroy, Vashon, and Southworth triangle route for cars, bikes, and walk-on passengers, with Fauntleroy in West Seattle as the Seattle-side terminal. Kitsap Transit runs a passenger-only fast ferry from the same Southworth terminal straight to downtown Seattle. For a Seattle trip to Olalla, either route avoids the Tacoma Narrows Bridge drive entirely.
Two ferries, one dock, and no bridge traffic between Seattle and Olalla.
Bridge alert · October 24 to November 8, 2026
Washington State Department of Transportation crews have closed the two right westbound lanes of the SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge through Sunday, November 8, for temporary repairs to an expansion joint, and the Jackson Avenue on-ramp to westbound SR 16 is also closed. Westbound SR 16 is reduced from four lanes to two, the HOV lane is open to all vehicles, and the department warns of delays of an hour or more from Tacoma to Gig Harbor during afternoon commute hours. The ferry routes below are the standing alternative for reaching the Olalla area from Seattle during that window, and they stay useful whenever bridge traffic builds. The WSDOT announcement.
Two routes, one dock
Washington State Ferries car ferry. Direct Fauntleroy to Southworth sailings cross in 30 minutes; sailings via Vashon take longer.
Kitsap Transit fast ferry. Passenger only, about 26 minutes, weekdays in late fall and winter.
The car ferry: Fauntleroy to Southworth
The triangle route links three terminals: Fauntleroy in West Seattle, Vashon Island, and Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. Some sailings run direct between Fauntleroy and Southworth, and Washington State Ferries lists the direct crossing time at 30 minutes. Other sailings stop at Vashon on the way, which makes the same leg longer and turns the route into a Vashon day-trip option from the Olalla side: the crossing from Southworth to Vashon is the short leg of the triangle, and the island makes an easy day out (see the Vashon Island day trip guide). Read the schedule by destination, not just by departure time, because two sailings leaving Southworth an hour apart can be headed for different first stops.
How boarding works
The triangle route does not take vehicle reservations. Washington State Ferries states the rule plainly: a ticket does not guarantee a spot, and ferries are loaded on a first-come, first-served basis. Vehicle reservations exist only on the Anacortes, San Juan Islands, and Sidney route and the Port Townsend, Coupeville route. For the triangle route, the practical guidance from the ferry system is to be in line at the tollbooth at least 20 minutes in advance of a sailing with a vehicle, and to be aboard at least five minutes in advance as a walk-on passenger. Bicycles load with the walk-on flow at these terminals.
Practical details: Washington State Ferries at Southworth
- Route: Fauntleroy (West Seattle), Vashon Island, Southworth triangle
- Direct crossing: Fauntleroy to Southworth, 30 minutes
- Reservations: None for vehicles on this route; first come, first served
- With a vehicle: In line at the tollbooth at least 20 minutes ahead
- Walk-on: Aboard at least 5 minutes ahead; bicycles load with walk-ons
- Schedule: wsdot.com/ferries
The fast ferry: downtown Seattle to Southworth in about 26 minutes
Kitsap Transit runs the passenger-only Southworth Fast Ferry between the Southworth Ferry Terminal, at 11564 SE State Highway 160 in Southworth, and downtown Seattle Pier 50, at 801 Alaskan Way in Seattle. The listed crossing time is approximately 26 minutes. The service runs on weekdays, and Saturday service operates from May through September each year, so there is no Saturday fast ferry in late fall or winter. Passengers should arrive a minimum of 10 minutes before a scheduled departure and must be on board 2 minutes prior to departure. Bicycles and electric bikes under 100 pounds are welcome aboard on a first-come, first-served basis. Kitsap Transit notes that the Southworth Fast Ferry operates on a schedule tied to the Washington State Ferries boat count at the shared dock, and that its two-boat schedule runs through November 8, so the current schedule page is the place to confirm times before a trip. For the full Friday-to-Sunday plan from the city, see the Seattle weekend getaway guide.
Practical details: Kitsap Transit Southworth Fast Ferry
- Route: Southworth Ferry Terminal to Seattle Pier 50, passenger only
- Crossing time: Approximately 26 minutes
- Service: Weekdays; Saturday service May through September only
- Boarding: Arrive at least 10 minutes ahead; on board 2 minutes prior
- Bikes: Bicycles and e-bikes under 100 pounds, first come, first served
- Schedule: kitsaptransit.com
From the Southworth dock onward
The land side of the route is back to normal this fall. Sedgwick Road, State Route 160, reopened to all travelers on Saturday, October 3, after a new bridge over Salmonberry Creek replaced the closed section between Blackberry Hill Lane Southeast and Long Lake Road Southeast, ahead of the late October reopening originally expected. SR 160 is the road that links the Southworth terminal to Port Orchard and to SR 16. Kitsap Transit lists connecting service at the Southworth terminal on routes 184, 185, and 186, plus the Southworth Ride service. No route in that connection list runs into Olalla itself, so the last leg from the dock to Olalla needs a car, a pickup, a taxi or rideshare, or a bicycle. Drivers collecting arriving passengers should plan on the dock, not on a transit connection, as the reliable meeting point.
Which ferry fits which trip
| Trip | Route that fits |
|---|---|
| Seattle with a car | Washington State Ferries, Fauntleroy to Southworth |
| Downtown Seattle without a car, weekday | Kitsap Transit Southworth Fast Ferry to Pier 50, with a pickup at Southworth |
| West Seattle without a car | Washington State Ferries as a walk-on passenger, with a pickup at Southworth |
| Vashon Island day trip from the Olalla side | Washington State Ferries, Southworth to Vashon on the triangle route |
| Weekend arrival in late fall or winter | Washington State Ferries; the fast ferry has no Saturday service in that season |
Check the operator schedule on the day of travel in every case. Boat counts, tides, and crew availability change sailings, and neither ferry operator holds a vehicle spot on this route for anyone. For what to do once across, see things to do in Olalla.
Questions people ask
- Is there a ferry from Seattle to Olalla?
- There is no ferry dock in Olalla. The Seattle ferries dock at Southworth, a short drive north of Olalla: Washington State Ferries from Fauntleroy in West Seattle, and the Kitsap Transit passenger-only fast ferry from downtown Seattle Pier 50.
- How long is the Fauntleroy to Southworth ferry ride?
- Washington State Ferries lists the direct Fauntleroy to Southworth crossing at 30 minutes. Sailings that stop at Vashon on the way take longer.
- How long is the Southworth fast ferry to Seattle?
- About 26 minutes. Kitsap Transit lists the approximate crossing time for the Southworth Fast Ferry at 26 minutes, varying with dock availability.
- Can a vehicle reservation be made for the Southworth ferry?
- No. Washington State Ferries takes vehicle reservations only on the Anacortes, San Juan Islands, and Sidney route and the Port Townsend, Coupeville route. Ferries on the triangle route load on a first-come, first-served basis, and a ticket does not guarantee a spot.
- How early should travelers arrive at the Southworth ferry?
- With a vehicle on Washington State Ferries, at least 20 minutes before the sailing at the tollbooth. As a walk-on passenger, aboard at least five minutes ahead. On the Kitsap Transit fast ferry, arrive at least 10 minutes ahead and be on board 2 minutes prior to departure.
- Does the Southworth fast ferry run on weekends?
- Saturday service operates from May through September each year. Outside that season the fast ferry schedule listed by Kitsap Transit is weekday service. Washington State Ferries runs the triangle route on weekends year round; check the current schedule before traveling.
Come by water
The ferry is the calm way in: thirty minutes on the Sound, and the bridge traffic never happens.
Book directKeep exploring
Vashon Island Day Trip
The short leg of the triangle: a lighthouse, a wooden troll, forest trails, and a real small town, ten minutes from the Southworth dock.
Read the guideKingston: Ferry Town Day Trip
The other Kitsap ferry town: the Edmonds crossing, a walkable waterfront downtown, and Port Gamble, an 1853 mill town.
Read the guideThings to Do in Olalla
Kayaking, the bay, the general store, and the quiet corners of Olalla itself, once the ferry leg is done.
Read the guide