The journey is the destination…
getting to kitsap
Via auto Ferry
There are 4 ferry terminals that you may use to get to the Kitsap Peninsula: Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton & Southworth (Port Orchard). The auto ferries allow people to drive their car onto the ferry or walk on as a passenger.
Click the city name to view the Washington State Dept. of Transportation schedule.
Kingston
The Kingston auto ferry 30 crossing from Edmonds.
Bainbridge Is.
The Bainbridge Island auto ferry is a 30-minute crossing from downtown Seattle.
Bremerton
The Bremerton auto ferry is a 60-minute crossing to downtown Seattle.
southworth
The Southworth auto ferry is a 30-minute crossing to West Seattle. Southworth is near Port Orchard, in South Kitsap.
Via fast Ferry
The Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry provides quick (approx. 30 minutes) passenger-only service from Kingston, Bremerton & Southworth directly to downtown Seattle.
Click the fast ferry link above to check route schedules.
Via the Tacoma narrows bridge
Two bridges connect the Kitsap Peninsula to the wider world - the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Hood Canal Bridge.
On Highway 16 (which connects to I-5 if you are driving from Portland, Olympia or Seattle) the Tacoma Narrows Bridge connects to Kitsap and brings drivers first to the city of Gig Harbor and then to Port Orchard.
Via the Hood Canal bridge
Highway 104 leaves Jefferson County, spans the Hood Canal, and enters Kitsap a stone’s throw from Port Gamble. Highway 104 connects to Highway 3 and runs North to South connecting drivers to Poulsbo, Silverdale & Bremerton.
ferry
adventures
Kitsap boasts the biggest and most beautiful ferry system in north america and for a visitor a ferry ride to kingston, port orchard, Bainbridge Island or bremerton can be a highlight of the journey. we encourage you to take to the water on a foot ferry, auto-ferry or a passenger only fast ferry to experience the relaxation and the thrill of sailing across the salish sea…
There are 4 ferry terminals on the Kitsap Peninsula: Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton & Southworth (Port Orchard). TWO types of ferry service help visitors and locals get to Kitsap from King County - the AUTO FERRY, a large vessel that you can drive your car onto and the FAST FERRY, operated by Kitsap Transit that provides passenger-only service to downtown Seattle in half the time of the auto ferry. Use the links below to check the current routes and schedules to plan your next ferry adventure to the Kitsap Peninsula.
FAST FERRY Schedules
Travel to Kitsap on foot!
AUTO Ferry Schedules
Travel to Kitsap in your car, drive onto the ferry.
spend the day in Kingston
ferry from Edmonds to Kingston in an afternoon
It’s a beautiful 30-minute crossing from Edmunds to Kingston and once you’ve landed on the Peninsula endless small-town PNW adventure awaits! Feet from the ferry terminal is some of North Kitsap’s best cafes, pizzerias, bars, ice cream shops, and eateries…not to mention dozens of wonderful local small businesses worth a stop. Use the link below to plan your next Kingston ferry adventure!
spend the day in Port Orchard
downtown Seattle > Bremerton > Port Orchard
Port Orchard is connected via the ferry system like no other Kitsap community is. Port Orchard boasts easy travel to Fauntleroy (West Seattle), Vashon Island, Bremerton, plus two options for traveling to Downtown Seattle. On the Port Orchard Waterfront you can easily board the last remaining historic ‘Mosquito Fleet’ foot ferry carrying passengers across Sinclair inlet to Bremerton. Visitors to Bremerton can travel to Port Orchard for an hour, an afternoon, or the entire day in exactly 12 minutes, ferries leave from the Port Orchard and Bremerton terminals every 30 minutes. Pick up a copy of Mosquito Fleet of South Puget Sound, by Images of America at Revival PNW to learn more about these relics that buzzed along the waters in bygone days.
Southworth (Port Orchard) > Vashon Island > Fauntleroy (W. Seattle)
Across Port Orchard in the eastern-facing shores, the community of Southworth is home to the Washington State Ferry System’s Southworth- Fauntleroy-Vashon route, a 30 minute crossing to West Seattle with a stop on Vashon Island. Port Orchard, having ferries that link to 3 cities, is the most ferry-connected community in a place known for its maritime history and celebrations. Check out the Mosquito Fleet Fest in Port Orchard on Memorial Day Weekend.
explore kitsap water trails
Kitsap is designated as a National Water Trails System.
Across the Peninsula, there are numerous spots to launch a kayak, SUP or SCUBA or sail. This vast network of constitutes the Kitsap Peninsula National Water Trails System.
water trails access point: fay bainbridge park
- 47.702654 / -122.506404 // 5446 Sunrise Dr NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Access Type: Beach with paved parking lot.
Loved for its long sandy beach strewn with driftwood logs, Fay Bainbridge Park is a great place to kayak or SUP while taking in the Puget Sound views.
water trails access point: Port of Manchester
-47.555648 / -122.543696 // 8067 E Main St, Port Orchard, WA 98366
Access Type: Dock, Boat Ramp, Beach with paved parking lot.
Launch your kayak from this beautiful South Kitsap water trail access point and take in the gorgeous views of the distant Seattle skyline and Blake Island. A small park and a sandy beach round out this favorite spot for water access. Just a few feet away the Manchester Pub and Carbon Mexican Steakhouse offer food, drink and merriment for all!