Last verified: June 1, 2026. Sailing times, fares, and service alerts on this route change seasonally and without notice — always confirm time-sensitive details at the official Washington State Ferries links before you drive to the dock.
If you live in Tacoma, the Point Defiance ferry is the quickest way onto the south end of Vashon Island. Washington State Ferries (WSF) runs the crossing from the terminal inside Point Defiance Park to Tahlequah, a short hop across Dalco Passage. Here is how the route actually works — the schedule, the fares, where to park, and how to read the wait before you commit to a sailing.
Point Defiance ferry at a glance
- Route: The ferry runs between Point Defiance (Tacoma) and Tahlequah on Vashon Island — a single short crossing operated by Washington State Ferries.
- Crossing time: The trip is about 15 minutes dock to dock, the shortest run in the WSF system.
- Schedule (check live): Sailings run multiple times daily on a seasonal timetable that changes a few times a year. Pull the current departures from the official Pt Defiance / Tahlequah schedule.
- Fares (check live): Fares are collected only at Point Defiance (the Tacoma side) — the eastbound return from Tahlequah is free. Look up exact amounts with the WSF fare tool.
- Terminal: The Point Defiance terminal sits at 5810 N Pearl St, Tacoma, at the far north end of Point Defiance Park. Terminal details and live status are posted by WSF.
- Vehicle space (check live): This is a first-come, drive-on route with no car reservations; real-time vehicle-space availability is shown on the terminal status page.
How the schedule and sailing times work
WSF publishes the Point Defiance / Tahlequah timetable by season, with separate alternate schedules layered in for weekends and major holidays. That is why printing fixed departure times here would be a trap — the early first boat and the late-evening last boat shift between the spring, summer, fall, and winter schedules, and the route occasionally runs reduced service during maintenance or vessel reassignment.
For a route this small, the practical move is to check the live timetable the morning of your trip. The official WSF schedule for Pt Defiance / Tahlequah always shows the current sailing window, the date range it covers, and which sailings are weekday-only versus weekend or holiday. The crossing itself is consistently about 15 minutes, so your total trip time is really driven by how long you wait in the holding lanes, not the time on the water.
Fares: what you pay and which direction
The most useful thing to understand about this route is that fares are one-directional. You pay at the Point Defiance tollbooth in Tacoma when you head west to Vashon; the eastbound return from Tahlequah back to Tacoma collects nothing. So a round trip is priced as a single westbound fare.
WSF prices passengers and vehicle-plus-driver separately. Walk-on passengers pay a standard adult fare, with a reduced rate for seniors 65+ and riders with disabilities, and youth ride free. Vehicle fares are tiered by vehicle length, with separate (lower) rates for motorcycles and a small bicycle surcharge for adult cyclists. Multi-ride commuter and monthly options exist for regulars. Because these dollar amounts are adjusted by the Washington State Transportation Commission and vary by category and vehicle size, look up your exact fare with the official Point Defiance to Tahlequah fare lookup rather than relying on a number that may be stale by the time you read it.
Terminal access and parking in Tacoma
The Point Defiance terminal is tucked at the bottom of the hill inside Point Defiance Park, which is operated by Parks Tacoma (formerly Metro Parks Tacoma). From I-5, take the SR 16 exit, follow SR 16 west, then take the 6th Avenue exit signed for the Vashon ferry; turn onto Pearl Street (SR 163) and follow it north all the way through the park to the waterfront, where the terminal is at the end of the road.
Parking near the dock is handled by Parks Tacoma, not WSF — there are lots in the marina/waterfront area near the terminal, with passenger drop-off available past the tollbooth. The terminal has a heated waiting room and restrooms and is ADA-accessible, but note there is no overhead passenger walkway and no elevator; walk-on passengers board down at vehicle level. A small galley with a limited, card-only menu typically operates daytime hours. Cyclists should know there are bike lockers (through Pierce Transit) but no open bike racks. Confirm current amenity status on the WSF terminal page, and see the Tahlequah terminal page for the Vashon side.
Wait times, loading, and service alerts
This route runs as a single-vessel shuttle (the MV Chetzemoka), so when the boat is full, vehicles roll to the next sailing — there is no car reservation system to hold your spot. On summer weekends and holidays, the vehicle line at Point Defiance can back up into the park, so the safe play is to check vehicle-space and any service notes before you leave home.
WSF posts real-time vehicle-space availability and service alerts for each terminal; check the live status for Point Defiance here. Loading priority generally goes to bicycles and motorcycles first, then vehicles. Walk-on and bike-on riders rarely get turned away, so if the car line looks brutal on a sunny Saturday, parking in Tacoma and walking aboard is often the faster move onto Vashon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Point Defiance ferry schedule?
The Point Defiance to Tahlequah ferry runs multiple sailings daily on a seasonal Washington State Ferries timetable, with the crossing taking about 15 minutes. Because departure times change by season and on weekends and holidays, check the current departures on the official WSF Pt Defiance / Tahlequah schedule before your trip.
Where is the Point Defiance ferry terminal?
The Point Defiance ferry terminal is at 5810 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407, at the north end of Point Defiance Park. From I-5 take SR 16 west to the 6th Avenue / Vashon ferry exit, then follow Pearl Street (SR 163) north through the park to the waterfront. See the WSF terminal page for parking and amenities.
What are the Point Defiance ferry times?
Ferries typically begin in the early morning and run into the evening, but exact times vary by the seasonal schedule and differ on weekends and holidays. The crossing is about 15 minutes; pull the live departure times for your travel date from the official WSF schedule.
What is the Point Defiance to Vashon ferry schedule and fare?
The Point Defiance to Tahlequah (Vashon Island) crossing runs several times a day, about 15 minutes each way. Fares are collected only at Point Defiance for the westbound trip, so a round trip is charged once. Look up current sailings on the WSF schedule and exact pricing with the fare tool.
Do I need a reservation for the Point Defiance ferry?
No. The Point Defiance to Tahlequah route does not use vehicle reservations — it loads first-come, first-served, and a full boat sends cars to the next sailing. Check real-time vehicle-space availability and any service alerts on the live WSF terminal status page, especially on summer weekends.