Community Forums

wahlfamily · 08-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Does anyone know about the cost and ease of taking a 41 foot RV on the ferries to Whidbey Island or the San Juans? Thanks,

Tom

wahlfamily · 08-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Does anyone know about the cost and ease of taking a 41 foot RV on the ferries to Whidbey Island or the San Juans? Thanks,

Tom

Frankie · 08-31-2008, 01:34 AM

This website has all the info you need http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/. I was in Bremerton last month and took the ferry to Seattle.They charge MH's by the foot. The car was $14.00,I thought it was a bargain.

Cruzer · 08-31-2008, 05:15 AM

That website will give you excellent, detailed information. We typically drive into Anacortes via the North Cascades and base camp there. Taking the motorhome on the ferry to San Juan Island is pricey, plus the roads in Friday Harbor as well as most of the island aren't that well suited to large vehicles so we either take the walk-on ferry and rent an SUV in Friday Harbor or else take the toad on the ferry. When it's time to leave we drive down Whidbey Island and take the ferry from Keystone to Port Townsend to get to the Olympic Penninsula where we base camp for a few more days. That ferry isn't near as expensivce as the Friday Harbor Ferry. They do charge RVs by the foot so we generally unhook just before getting to Keystone and Leann drives the Jeep behind me, which saves us some money by splitting up.

jfb · 08-31-2008, 07:20 PM

That's a good web site to find out about ferry schedules and costs. Haven't taken our MH and toad across a ferry for several years but last time it was about $75-$80 for combined length of 53 feet (35 + 18 toad). Next increment would probably be 60-70 feet at around $100. SanJuans may be more expensive. A couple of pieces of advice would be: Don't unhook, it ain't worth it; and watch the tides!!, back end may drag. Crew persons can level out the ramps pretty well but maybe not for extreme low tides. Also, reservations are required for the Keystone-Port Townsend route.

Lindsay Richards · 09-01-2008, 03:33 AM

We recently were in the area and took the ferries. They tend to vary in size also. so i would advise calling ahead to make sure. It is going to be expensive. You might try overnighting in Port Townson. It is a beautiful place and there is a ferry station. Click on link below to see some photos of area and some of the ferries. Enjoy your trip.

http://www.linandnancy.com/sanjuan1.html

Ceratto's Grotto · 09-02-2008, 06:31 AM

Another thing one might want to consider when using the ferry system is the tides. At low and/or high tide the ramps to/from the ferry can be pretty steep depending upon which ferry one is taking and the swing (footage) of that tide. That can lead to some bottoming out issues for rigs with long over hangs in the rear.

I look at the tide charts and try to make it at mid tide most of the time, (generally meaning a level ramp). Make sure the tide charts are for the actual place the ferry terminal is at, (I.E. Seattle rather than the Washington coast).

The last ferry ride I took a couple weeks ago was about $65 for rig, driver and passenger, (no toad) @ less than 40 feet.

FYI: As comparison, it is about 100 miles to drive from the Hood Canal Bridge thru Tacoma, back up north thru Seattle and to the area the Kingston-Edmonds ferry would put you onto Interstate 5.

OLYLEN · 09-02-2008, 05:04 PM

With the Cost Of ferries San Juan Isl from Anacortes At $320 week days for your crew I think a car with motel would be the cheaper route. As far as Whidbey Isl I would go I-5 then over to The Island with the MH again cost. And there are not that many places on the San Juan Islands for that big a rig and again the roads are tight. But if cost is not a problem go to Friday Harbor first then back to the other Islands as the ferry cost is west bound in the San Juans, no charge east bound. I will be on the ferry west bound to Orcas the 10th to our cabin for a short 2 weeks. Also I see bikes and if you are good bikers Friday harbor and Lopez plus Shaw are good biking Islands but to see all of Orcas is tough by bike. Then Off of Whidbey to Port Townsend Would be in the $75 range.

LEN