Getting to Vashon Island

FERRIES
​Vashon is a real island: there's no bridge (we're looking at you, Bainbridge and Mercer), so most of you will be doing business with our friends at the Washington State Ferry System to get to P2P.

If you're coming from Seattle or the Kitsap Peninsula, you'll arrive at the north end of Vashon. If you're coming from points south, consider the boat from Tacoma, which takes you to the south end of Vashon.

Here are links to the schedules for the relevant routes. Keep in mind that the Spring schedules will change on June 23rd to the Summer Schedules, so be sure you're looking at the right season's schedule – as well as the right route, the right day of the week, the right direction of travel, and the right time of day (AM vs. PM)!

​To Vashon Island ...
TO DRIVE, OR NOT TO DRIVE, THAT IS THE QUESTION ....
Reasons TO drive to Vashon:
  • It is 9.8 miles (and 647 vertical) to the P2P start from the north end ferry terminal on Vashon. And 9.8 miles back, which could feel like 98 at the end of the day.
  • You don't have to figure out where to park on the mainland for the entire day.
  • Bus service on Vashon on Saturdays is ... bad.
  • We love our cars almost as much as we love our phones, and can't bear to be far from them.

Reasons NOT to drive to Vashon:
  • We're planning to run a shuttle from/to the north end ferry terminal. More on this as it firms up. We did it last year, and it worked pretty well.
  • If you're an Idiot looking for a Century on September 14th: problem solved!
  • Ferry fares. When the summer rates go into effect, a round-trip fare will be on the order of $25 for a car & driver. (It's about $6 per passenger, with a $1 surcharge for bicyclists. Seniors get price breaks.)
  • P2P parking is a bit of an imposition on our Vashon neighbors, although they have been great about it because P2P riders have been great about it.
Passport2Pain is a fundraiser for the
Vashon Island
Rowing Club