How much does the Bainbridge Island ferry cost?

Walk-on fares: $9.45/adult, $4.70/child ages 6-18, free for children under 6. You only pay in the Seattle-to-Bainbridge direction -- the return trip is free. Driving a vehicle on costs an additional $16-20. Walk-on is recommended for families visiting Winslow.

Should we drive or walk on the Bainbridge ferry?

Walk on. The Winslow town center (shops, restaurants, ice cream) is a 5-minute walk from the Bainbridge ferry terminal. Walk-on passengers have no wait and lower fares. Drive-on vehicles can wait 1-2 sailings (45-90 min) on summer weekends. Only drive if you plan to explore the island beyond Winslow.

How long is the Bainbridge Island ferry ride?

The crossing takes approximately 35 minutes each way. Ferries run every 40-60 minutes depending on time of day. Check the schedule at wsdot.wa.gov/ferries and plan around departure times. The last ferry back to Seattle is typically around 11 PM.

What is there to do on Bainbridge Island with kids?

In walkable Winslow: Mora Iced Creamery, Eagle Harbor Book Co., toy shops, waterfront park, and restaurants. The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (free) is at the ferry terminal. With a car: Fay Bainbridge Park beach, Bloedel Reserve gardens. Most families with young kids find Winslow alone provides 2-3 hours of activity.

Bainbridge Island Ferry

Name: Bainbridge Island Ferry
Address: 801 Alaskan Way (Colman Dock), Seattle, WA, 98104, US
Telephone: (206) 464-6400
Rating: 4.6

Rating

4.6(7,200)

Family of 4

$35-$50 (walk-on round trip: $9.

Duration

3-5 hours (round trip)

Best Ages

Best for all ages

About

The Bainbridge Island Ferry is one of the best family experiences in the Pacific Northwest. A 35-minute ride across Puget Sound on a Washington State Ferry delivers spectacular views, a genuine maritime adventure, and access to a charming small-town on the other side. At under $10 per adult walk-on fare (one-way -- the return is free), it is also one of Seattle's best values.

The crossing itself is the experience. Washington State Ferries are full-size vessels carrying vehicles and hundreds of walk-on passengers. Multiple decks offer different vantage points: the upper outdoor deck provides wind-in-your-hair views of the Seattle skyline, Elliott Bay, and the Cascades; the enclosed passenger deck has large windows, booth seating, and a cafeteria; the observation lounge at the bow puts you as close to the water as possible.

Kids love the freedom to explore the ship, running from one side to the other spotting landmarks.

On clear days, the views are extraordinary. Mount Rainier rises to the south like a snow-capped giant. The Olympic Mountains stretch across the western horizon.

The Seattle skyline with the Space Needle shrinks as you cross, replaced by the forested shoreline of Bainbridge Island. Seagulls trail the ferry, harbor seals occasionally surface, and other ferries crossing the Sound add maritime activity to the scene.

Bainbridge Island's Winslow town center is a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal. The compact main street has an indie bookshop (Eagle Harbor Book Co. ), toy stores, art galleries, and restaurants lining a walkable few blocks.

Mora Iced Creamery makes ice cream on-site using local ingredients -- the flavors are creative and the quality is excellent. Harbour Public House on the waterfront has views back toward Seattle from their deck.

For families wanting more activity on the island, Fay Bainbridge Park (15 min by car or bike) has a beach with views of Mount Rainier and the Cascades. The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (free admission) is adjacent to the ferry terminal. The Island Farmers Market runs on Saturdays in season.

However, most families with young kids find Winslow's walkable town center provides enough for a satisfying 2-3 hour visit before catching the return ferry.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Stroller-Friendly

Yes

Nursing / Changing

Limited

Kid Meals

Available

Setting

Indoor & Outdoor

Rainy Day

Great option!

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Clear days for the best Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier views from the ferry. Weekday ferries are less crowded. The 10-11 AM departure from Seattle gives a relaxed pace for exploring Bainbridge. Summer weekends are busiest but the island has the most activities. Walk on -- do not drive on the ferry unless necessary.

Wait Times

Walk-on passengers: no wait, just arrive 10-15 min before departure. Drive-on vehicles: can wait 1-2 sailings (45-90 min) on summer weekends. The ferry runs every 40-60 min depending on time of day.

Nearby Food

On Bainbridge Island: Mora Iced Creamery (ice cream, must-visit), Harbour Public House (waterfront dining, $$), Streamliner Diner (classic American breakfast/lunch), Blackbird Bakery (coffee and pastries). Ferry cafeteria serves hot dogs, clam chowder, coffee, and snacks ($5-10). In Seattle near the terminal: Ivar's Fish Bar, Pike Place Market (10 min walk).

Why Kids Love It

The ferry ride itself is the main attraction. Crossing Puget Sound on a 200-foot vessel with open decks, cafeteria, and panoramic windows is a genuine maritime adventure. Kids run to the bow to watch the Seattle skyline recede and the green hills of Bainbridge approach.

Seagulls follow the ferry, harbor seals occasionally surface alongside, and on clear days Mount Rainier dominates the southern sky like a painted backdrop.

On the ferry, kids love exploring the multiple decks, watching the car deck from above, buying snacks from the cafeteria, and standing at the railing as wind whips their hair. The 35-minute crossing is the perfect duration -- long enough to feel like a journey, short enough to hold attention.

Bainbridge Island's Winslow town center is a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal and offers an ideal small-town experience. Kids get ice cream at Mora Iced Creamery (locally made, exceptional), browse the toy shop, and walk along the waterfront park. The pace is slower and calmer than Seattle, providing a welcome contrast.

Pro Tips from Parents

Walk on the ferry -- do not drive unless you plan to explore far from Winslow; the town center is walkable from the terminal and you skip the vehicle queue
Sit on the upper deck outside for the best views on the Seattle-to-Bainbridge leg (look for Mount Rainier to the south on clear days)
You only pay the fare one way (Seattle to Bainbridge) -- the return trip is free
Mora Iced Creamery in Winslow is the island's best ice cream and a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal
Check the ferry schedule at wsdot.wa.gov/ferries and plan around departures -- missing a ferry means a 40-60 min wait for the next one

What to Bring

warm jacket for the deck (wind on the water is cold even in summer)
camera
cash for Bainbridge shops
ORCA card for ferry fare

Cost Info

Estimated Cost (Family of 4)

$35-$50 (walk-on round trip: $9.

45/adult x 2 + $4.

Tips to Save

Walk on the ferry instead of driving -- it is cheaper ($9.
45/adult vs $16+ per vehicle), faster (no vehicle wait), and the Bainbridge town center is walkable from the ferry terminal.
Kids under 6 ride free.
You only pay the fare in one direction (Seattle to Bainbridge) -- the return is free.
ORCA cards work on the ferry for easier boarding.