The Seattle-to-Bainbridge ferry is $11.35 for an adult walk-on and $27 for a standard vehicle with driver.
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For a simple Bainbridge Island day trip, the ferry fare is cheaper on foot than by car. Adults walking on pay $11.35 from Seattle, youth riders age 18 and under ride at no charge, and a standard vehicle under 22 feet with its driver costs $27 for the Seattle-to-Bainbridge leg.
The number that surprises most visitors is the return cost. Walk-on passengers do not pay a second passenger fare when returning from Bainbridge Island to Seattle, but vehicles pay a vehicle fare in both directions, so a standard car with driver is $54 round trip before any card surcharge.
For a live route check before you leave downtown Seattle, compare the current Seattle-to-Bainbridge transport options here:
Seattle To Bainbridge Ferry Cost: Current Fares By Rider Type
The Seattle to Bainbridge ferry cost depends mostly on whether you walk on, bring a bike, ride a motorcycle, or drive a vehicle. The cheapest paid adult trip is a walk-on passenger fare; the biggest jump is bringing a standard car.
These are base fares from the current Washington State Ferries fare table. A 3% cost-recovery surcharge is added to credit or debit card transactions, so cash and card totals can differ slightly at purchase.
| Fare Type | Base Fare | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passenger, age 19 to 64 | $11.35 | Passenger fare from Seattle; no second passenger fare returning on foot |
| Senior or disability passenger | $5.65 | Reduced passenger fare with proof of eligibility |
| Youth passenger, age 18 and under | No charge | Passenger fare only; vehicle charges still apply if riding in a car |
| Adult bicycle surcharge | $1.00 | Added for riders age 19 and older bringing a bicycle |
| Motorcycle with driver | $11.80 | Motorcycle and driver fare for one direction |
| Vehicle under 14 feet with driver | $21.30 | Small vehicle and driver for one direction |
| Vehicle under 22 feet with driver | $27.00 | Standard vehicle and driver for one direction |
| Vehicle under 30 feet and under 7 feet 2 inches | $40.00 | Longer vehicle fare before extra passenger charges |
How Does The Fare Work Both Ways?
The Seattle terminal collects passenger fares plus Seattle-side vehicle fares, while the Bainbridge Island terminal collects vehicle fares for the return. That means walking on is paid once, but driving is paid each way.
Washington State Ferries states that passenger and vehicle-driver fares are collected at Seattle, and vehicle-driver fares are collected at Bainbridge Island for the return, on the official Seattle to Bainbridge Island fare page.
For most visitors, the practical math looks like this:
- One adult walking on for a day trip: $11.35 base fare total.
- One adult with a bicycle: $12.35 base fare total from Seattle.
- One standard car with driver, one way: $27 base fare.
- One standard car with driver, round trip: $54 base fare.
- One standard car, driver, and one adult passenger, round trip: $65.35 base fare.
Useful fare rule: The driver is included in the vehicle-and-driver fare, but adult passengers in the vehicle pay passenger fares when leaving Seattle.
What Changes The Price At The Terminal?
The final ferry price changes when you add a vehicle, a bicycle surcharge, extra adult passengers, or a credit or debit card payment surcharge. Vehicle height and length matter, so a van, camper, or trailer can cost much more than a standard sedan.
The most common visitor mistake is comparing a walk-on day trip against a car trip without counting the return vehicle fare. A couple walking on pays two adult passenger fares from Seattle. A couple in a standard car pays the vehicle-and-driver fare from Seattle, one adult passenger fare from Seattle, and another vehicle-and-driver fare on the return.
Payment Details That Matter
Washington State Ferries adds a 3% surcharge to credit and debit card payments. On a single $11.35 adult walk-on ticket, that makes the card total about $11.69; on a $54 standard-car round trip with driver, the card total is about $55.62.
Reduced fares also have a gate. Senior and disability fares require proof of eligibility, and youth passenger fares are no charge for age 18 and under, but the youth fare does not erase a vehicle fare.
Seattle Terminal Timing And Ticket Buying
Seattle departures leave from Colman Dock on the downtown waterfront, so the fare decision should happen before you reach the terminal. Walking on is usually the easiest choice for a day trip because it avoids vehicle queues, return vehicle payment, and parking decisions on Bainbridge Island.
Buy the ticket that matches how you will board, not how long you plan to stay. A walk-on ticket works for a simple day trip. A vehicle ticket is needed if the car boards the ferry, even if the car stays parked for most of the day on the island.
Driving can still make sense when you are carrying luggage, staying overnight outside Winslow, traveling with mobility needs, or visiting multiple parts of Bainbridge Island in one day. For a low-cost first visit, walking on and using downtown Winslow as your base keeps the math simple.
Bainbridge Island Arrival Costs And Overnight Planning
Bainbridge Island arrival costs depend on whether the island is a day stop or an overnight base. Walk-on visitors can spend very little after the fare if they stay around the ferry terminal and Winslow, while overnight travelers should price lodging near their plans before deciding to bring a car.
The ferry lands close to Winslow, the most convenient area for restaurants, shops, waterfront paths, and a car-light visit. Staying near the terminal can also save the return vehicle fare if your trip works without a car.
If you are turning the ferry ride into an overnight Bainbridge Island stay, compare places near the ferry terminal and farther island areas on a map before choosing:
Fare Scenarios For Real Trips
Real ferry budgets are easier to understand by trip type than by fare category. The table below uses base fares plus the 3% card surcharge so you can see the likely checkout total before you reach the booth.
| Trip Scenario | Base Fare | With 3% Card Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| One adult walk-on, same-day round trip | $11.35 | About $11.69 |
| One senior walk-on, same-day round trip | $5.65 | About $5.82 |
| One youth walk-on, same-day round trip | No charge | No charge |
| One adult with bicycle, same-day round trip | $12.35 | About $12.72 |
| Standard car with driver, Seattle to Bainbridge only | $27.00 | About $27.81 |
| Standard car with driver, round trip | $54.00 | About $55.62 |
| Standard car, driver, and one adult passenger, round trip | $65.35 | About $67.31 |
Walk-On Versus Driving: The Useful Choice
Walking on is the value choice for most Seattle visitors taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island for a few hours. Driving is the comfort choice when the island stop is part of a longer Kitsap Peninsula trip, an overnight stay, or a plan that reaches beyond Winslow.
Pick the boarding style that matches the trip:
- Choose walk-on for the lowest fare: an adult day trip can stay at $11.35 before card surcharge.
- Choose bicycle for flexible movement: the adult bike surcharge adds $1 to the passenger fare.
- Choose a standard car for luggage or distance: budget $54 round trip for the vehicle and driver before passenger add-ons.
- Choose a longer vehicle only when needed: length and height categories rise fast once the vehicle is over the standard size.
The Fare Verdict By Traveler Type
The cheapest realistic Seattle-to-Bainbridge ferry plan is walking on from Colman Dock and returning on foot. The simplest car budget is $54 round trip for a standard vehicle with driver, plus any adult passenger fare from Seattle and any card surcharge.
For a first Bainbridge Island visit, walk on unless you already know you need the car after arrival. For an overnight stay away from Winslow, a family trip with gear, or a wider island route, driving can be worth the extra fare because the car replaces multiple short rides and gives you control over the day.
References & Sources
- Washington State Department of Transportation.“Fare Information For Seattle To Bainbridge Island.”Provides the current passenger, bicycle, motorcycle, and vehicle fares used in this article.