Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry schedule and guide

Washington State Ferries (WSF) runs the Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry, a car and passenger ferry between Point Defiance in Tacoma and Tahlequah at the south end of Vashon Island.

Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry schedule Fall 2026

Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry details

Point Defiance ferry terminal parking and directions

The Point Defiance ferry terminal sits at 5810 North Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98405, by the entrance to Point Defiance Park. From I-5, drivers take exit 132 onto Highway 16 west and leave it after about 3 miles at the 6th Avenue exit, signed Vashon ferry. A left turn onto 6th Avenue and a right turn onto Highway 163 (Pearl Street) lead about 3.5 miles north to a stop sign at the park entrance.

At the stop sign, drivers keep right and do not enter Point Defiance Park. The Point Defiance tollbooth is one block on, on the right, and the ferry terminal is at the end of the street.

Drivers picking up or dropping off riders pass the tollbooth in the left lane and continue to the Marina Parking area. A bus stop next to the dock serves as a temporary drop-off point.

Metropolitan Park Services runs the parking to the left of the Point Defiance ferry terminal. Pierce Transit buses serve the Point Defiance ferry terminal. The terminal has 2 Pierce Transit bike lockers and no bike racks.

Tahlequah ferry terminal parking and directions

The Tahlequah ferry terminal sits at the south end of Vashon Island, at Vashon Hwy SW and SW Tahlequah Rd, Vashon, WA 98070. Drivers follow Vashon Highway south to its end at the Tahlequah ferry terminal.

A park and ride lot sits next to the Tahlequah ferry dock, at Vashon Hwy SW and SW Tahlequah Rd. King County Metro routes 118 and 119 serve the Tahlequah ferry.

The Tahlequah ferry terminal has no staff, no waiting room, no restrooms and no bike racks. WSF terminal workers arrive on the ferry, and WSF sells and collects no fares at Tahlequah. Cyclists skip the vehicle line onto the dock.

When the Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry is busiest

WSF's best times to travel guide marks weekday early afternoon sailings from Point Defiance as likely to fill with vehicles, and weekday early morning sailings from Point Defiance as often full. Weekday sailings from Tahlequah often fill from mid-morning through late afternoon. Late evening sailings in both directions are unlikely to fill.

The best times guide covers vehicles only. WSF says walk-on passengers and cyclists almost always find room.

WSF asks drivers to be in line at the tollbooth at least 20 minutes before a sailing, and walk-on passengers to be aboard at least 5 minutes before. Carpools and vanpools get preferential loading when they are ticketed and in line 10 minutes before the sailing.

Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry FAQs

More Washington State Ferries routes

• Fauntleroy–Vashon–Southworth ferry
• Seattle–Bremerton ferry
• Seattle–Bainbridge Island ferry
• Edmonds–Kingston ferry
• Mukilteo–Clinton ferry
• Port Townsend–Coupeville ferry
• Anacortes–San Juan Islands ferry