Seattle, WA area ferry questions.

[Silent1CB]

Never been to Seattle. Can't wait to get there. I think the rain will have even stopped by the time we arrive.

We'll need to take the ferry from Keystone (Whidbey Island) to Port Townsend with our car. Do we have to make reservations? I do know what day, but don't know what time we'll be passing through the area yet. It will depend how slow & how long we take poking around as we drive.

Can we just show up with a car & get on the ferry?

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_desk/terminals/index.cfm?terminal_id=11
Website mentioned making reservation 2 hrs in advance by calling 511. I'm confused. Do I NEED a reservation? If I call 511 from a cellphone that originates from New England, that's not going to call the right 511 in WA, will it? lol (911 doesn't work by where you are either, right?) Do they even make payphones anymore?

Tips? Never had to ferry a car anywhere before. Or take a ferry for that matter. Don't know how this all works.

We have 2 other ferry crossings, but not taking the car. Those are Port Angeles to Victoria BC & back. We have our passports.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Never been to Seattle. Can't wait to get there. I think the rain will have even stopped by the time we arrive.

We'll need to take the ferry from Keystone (Whidbey Island) to Port Townsend with our car. Do we have to make reservations? I do know what day, but don't know what time we'll be passing through the area yet. It will depend how slow & how long we take poking around as we drive.

Can we just show up with a car & get on the ferry?

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_desk/terminals/index.cfm?terminal_id=11
Website mentioned making reservation 2 hrs in advance by calling 511. I'm confused. Do I NEED a reservation? If I call 511 from a cellphone that originates from New England, that's not going to call the right 511 in WA, will it? lol (911 doesn't work by where you are either, right?) Do they even make payphones anymore?

Tips? Never had to ferry a car anywhere before. Or take a ferry for that matter. Don't know how this all works.

We have 2 other ferry crossings, but not taking the car. Those are Port Angeles to Victoria BC & back. We have our passports.

I've taken the ferries multiple times... mostly Bainbridge Island-Seattle, Clinton-Mukilteo and the one you mention, neither of which I needed to make reservations for. But they do tend to get quite busy around rush hour, so if you can avoid going that time, I recommend that you do so.

 

[Silent1CB]

Thanks for the help.

I do plan on making reservations for the Port Angeles to Victoria & back, but I'll wait till we arrive in the area & do it day or 2 before. Just incase something changes. At least that ferry I can predict the time better for. No car, just us for that one, so maybe I don't really even need a reservation mid-week.

 

[disykat]

I do make reservations for the Black Ball, but have never made reservations for WA state ferries - I've never even heard of that being an option. I wouldn't worry about walk on reservations for the Black Ball, however. I'm not even sure if you can do that? I thought reservations were car only.

I wouldn't worry about reservations. If it is a holiday weekend, show up nice and early. Avoid commute times if possible. You should be fine.