The world is coming to Seattle this summer, and the King County Water Taxi is ready to help visitors and residents sail the Salish Sea with trips to West Seattle and Vashon. Both routes will see expanded service: weekend and late-night runs on Fridays and Saturdays to West Seattle and “Summer Sundays” as part of seven-day-a-week service to Vashon.
The water taxi summer sailing schedule begins Saturday, April 11, and will run through Friday, Oct. 9.
Treat yourself!
Enjoy a 15-minute ride to West Seattle or a 22-minute sail to Vashon and take in the panoramic views of the Seattle city skyline and Mount Rainier on your way. Walk along Alki Beach or the downtown waterfront. Enjoy a daytime bike ride around Vashon and get home in time for dinner.
West Seattle service
Weekday sailings will leave the dock every 35 minutes during peak commute hours and every hour midday.
- Monday through Thursday, service will run from approximately 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- On Fridays and Saturdays, enjoy sunsets on the water with late-night sailings through 11 p.m.
- This summer, there will be new additional sailings on Saturdays and Sundays.
West Seattle Route: Monday-Friday (*Friday-only late sailings)
| Depart Pier 50 to West Seattle | Depart West Seattle to Pier 50 |
| 5:55 a.m. | 6:15 a.m. |
| 6:30 a.m. | 6:50 a.m. |
| 7:05 a.m. | 7:25 a.m. |
| 7:40 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. |
| 8:15 a.m. | 8:35 a.m. |
| 8:50 a.m. | 9:10 a.m. |
| 10:30 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. |
| 11:30 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. |
| 12:30 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| 1:30 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| 2:30 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| 3:25 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. |
| 4:05 p.m. | 4:25 p.m. |
| 4:45 p.m. | 5:05 p.m. |
| 5:25 p.m. | 5:45 p.m. |
| 6:05 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. |
| 6:45 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. |
| *7:30 p.m. | *8:00 p.m. |
| *8:30 p.m. | *9:00 p.m. |
| *9:30 p.m. | *10:00 p.m. |
| *10:45 p.m. | *11:00 p.m. |
West Seattle Route: Saturday & Sunday (*Saturday-only late sailings)
| Depart Pier 50 to West Seattle | Depart West Seattle to Pier 50 |
| – | 9:05 a.m. |
| 9:25 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. |
| 10:05 a.m. | 10:25 a.m. |
| 10:45 a.m. | 11:05 a.m. |
| 11:25 a.m. | 11:45 a.m. |
| 12:05 p.m. | 12:25 p.m. |
| 12:45 p.m. | 1:05 p.m. |
| 1:25 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. |
| 2:05 p.m. | 2:25 p.m. |
| 2:45 p.m. | 3:05 p.m. |
| 3:25 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. |
| 4:05 p.m. | 4:25 p.m. |
| 4:45 p.m. | 5:05 p.m. |
| 5:25 p.m. | 5:45 p.m. |
| 6:05 p.m. | 6:25 p.m. |
| 6:45 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. |
| *7:25 p.m. | *7:45 p.m. |
| *8:05 p.m. | *8:25 p.m. |
| *8:45 p.m. | *9:05 p.m. |
| *9:25 p.m. | *9:45 p.m. |
| *10:05 p.m. | *10:25 p.m. |
| *10:45 p.m. | *11:00 p.m. |
Ride free to and from the Water Taxi
Riders can take the free Metro water taxi shuttles between the West Seattle Junction or Alki to the dock at Seacrest Park. Route 773 will get you to the businesses and restaurants in the West Seattle junction. Route 775 takes you along Alki and into the Admiral District.
Vashon Service
On Sunday, April 12, “Summer Sundays” arrive on Vashon to join Saturday service! The weekend service joins the weekday service that includes morning, midday and afternoon trips.
This summer is more than soccer
There is a large international soccer tournament that will be in Seattle in June and July, but there’s a lot of other activities in Seattle this summer.
Latin Grammy-nominated Fuerza Regida comes to T-Mobile Park in June and Ed Sheeran brings his Loop Tour to Lumen Field in August followed by Noah Kahan. Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC will battle for soccer titles—and don’t forget about the Mariners! Seafair’s Torchlight Parade will again make its way along Alaskan Way. The Water Taxi is a great way to get to these events in Pioneer Square and downtown Seattle, and to connect to transit options that will take you throughout the region.
Don’t forget your bike or your pet
Bring your regular, electric, or “fat tire” bike on board the water taxi for a ride along Alki or around Vashon. Pet parents can bring their cat or dog for the trip as long as cats stay in their carrier and dogs are leashed throughout the entire trip.
How much does it cost to travel by Water Taxi?
Adult fare to West Seattle is $6.25 one way ($5.25 with an ORCA card). Vashon one-way fares are $7.00 for adults ($6.00 with an ORCA card).
ORCA has launched its new Tap to Pay feature allowing riders to use credit and debit cards and digital wallets to pay for transit across the Puget Sound region. Don’t have an ORCA card yet? MyOrca.com is the place to go to purchase a card. If you want to use your mobile device to pay your fare, download the Transit GO Ticket app prior to boarding.
Young people up to 18 years old can ride the Water Taxi, and most regional transit, for free! Customers with lower incomes, seniors and people with disabilities can apply for an ORCA LIFT card or an ORCA Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card using the new Reduced Fare Portal.
Water Taxi summer is coming! We can’t wait to see you on board.
Captain's Blog 