Easy Access to Seattle

We hear ya. Bainbridge Island sounds cool, but how do you get to Seattle?

Can you really live there and commute to Seattle? Will you be “stuck” on a quiet island when you really want to see the latest touring Broadway show at the Paramount, eat at Tom Douglas’ newest restaurant or watch the Seattle Macy’s Holiday Parade? Absolutely not!

Bainbridge sits approximately eight miles west of Seattle and has the busiest (and highest revenue generating) Washington State Ferry route in the state.

Easy Access to Seattle
Easy Access to Seattle

The ferry schedule covers most islander needs, with the earliest weekday run leaving Bainbridge at 4:45a.m. and continuing until 12:55a.m. every 50-60 minutes, on average. As for the return trip, you can head back to the island as late as 1:30 or 2 a.m., depending on the day of the week. The ferry ride itself takes approximately 35 minutes.

Bainbridge Island Ferry Rates

The cost of riding the ferry varies depending on whether you are walking on or driving on and the size of your vehicle (a bicycle, motorcycle or car are all options). Please note that walk-on passengers only pay one direction of ferry travel, the Seattle-to-Bainbridge Island run.

Here are the recently posted Washington Dept. of Transportation rates in a pdf file you may download and save: Seattle-Bainbridge Island Ferry Fares.

How Do Bainbridge Island Commuters Commute?

Almost half of the islanders commute to jobs on the Seattle side. How do they do it? The short answer is a variety of ways.

Options for commuting:

  • Ride a Kitsap Transit bus on Bainbridge to the ferry terminal » ferry » walk to their downtown Seattle office.
  • Ride their bike/motorcycle on Bainbridge to the ferry terminal » bike on ferry » walk/bike to work.
  • Drive their car to the ferry terminal » drive on ferry » drive off to Seattle side work.

Some needing motorized transportation in Seattle leave a car in a downtown city lot and walk or bike on the island to the ferry, leaving their bike at the Bike Barn and walking on so they can then drive to their destination when they disembark the boat.

Depending on the season, some commuters vary their method, perhaps adding more cycling in drier months, but this IS the rugged Pacific Northwest! Many don’t let a few rain drops prevent them from saddling up and riding!