Point Defiance ↔ Tahlequah

Walk-ons and bicycles should aim for about 20 minutes early. The space count omits vehicles that have not reached the tollbooth; the camera tells the rest of the story. Drivers can't reserve this route, so check the holding-area status, camera, and alerts before joining the line.

Starting at Point Defiance, pay the round-trip fare there or buy it online; the Tahlequah return is then covered. One rule, two starting points, no mystery charge at Tahlequah. Starting at Tahlequah, board without paying at the island terminal. If you later return to Vashon, you pay at Point Defiance before that sailing.

Yes, with a side-specific plan. Check the posted rules when you arrive. At Point Defiance, parking is left of the terminal and the adjacent parking is managed by Metro Parks Tacoma. At Tahlequah, WSF lists a park-and-ride beside the dock at Vashon Highway SW and SW Tahlequah Road.

Yes. Neither terminal has bike racks, Point Defiance has two lockers, and no bicycle fare is collected on the Tahlequah return. Bicycles may bypass the vehicle line and should arrive about 20 minutes early to load first; late arrivals load after vehicles. Walk the bike on and off.

No. An advance ticket settles the fare; it doesn't hold a place on a particular Point Defiance sailing. This crossing is first come, first served. WSF vehicle reservations are limited to Port Townsend–Coupeville and Anacortes–San Juan Islands travel.

The published low-tide restriction names trucks with less than 14 inches of clearance, which may be refused when the ramp gets too steep. It does not name ordinary passenger cars. Ask WSF directly if your vehicle is modified, unusually low, or has a long overhang.

Very little is at the landing itself: WSF lists no waiting room, food service, or restroom at Tahlequah. Bring the onward plan, not just the ferry ticket. King County Metro routes 118 and 119 serve the terminal, but the schedule needs to line up with your sailing.

Most listed departures run daily, but selected sailings carry a day marker. Read the marker beside your exact time instead of treating the whole column as weekend-only. One marker means Monday through Friday, including holidays; another means Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the named holidays.