Non-Peak season, Mon–Fri pattern (in effect Sept. 8–Dec. 31, 2026; the same times also apply Jan. 1–May 21 each year)
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Pierce County Ferry
Map – Steilacoom–Anderson Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult passenger (19+), round trip | $8.14 |
| Senior (65+) or person with disability passenger, round trip | $4.46 |
| Youth (ages 6–18), round trip — free while the state subsidy lasts | Free |
| Children (5 and under), round trip | Free |
| Motorcycle & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $13.39 |
| Motorcycle & driver, round trip (peak season, May 22–Sept 7) | $18.90 |
| Motorcycle & driver, senior/disability, round trip (non-peak season) | $11.29 |
| Motorcycle & driver, senior/disability, round trip (peak season) | $16.01 |
| Vehicle up to 22 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $24.94 |
| Vehicle up to 22 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $33.86 |
| Vehicle up to 22 ft & driver, senior/disability ID, round trip (non-peak season) | $21.00 |
| Vehicle up to 22 ft & driver, senior/disability ID, round trip (peak season) | $28.35 |
| Vehicle 22–30 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $49.35 |
| Vehicle 22–30 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $67.73 |
| Vehicle 30–40 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $77.96 |
| Vehicle 30–40 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $107.10 |
| Vehicle 40–50 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $103.69 |
| Vehicle 40–50 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $142.80 |
| Vehicle 50–60 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $129.15 |
| Vehicle 50–60 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $178.24 |
| Vehicle 60–70 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $154.88 |
| Vehicle 60–70 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $213.68 |
| Vehicle 70–80 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $189.53 |
| Vehicle 70–80 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $261.54 |
| Vehicle 80–90 ft & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $224.44 |
| Vehicle 80–90 ft & driver, round trip (peak season) | $309.49 |
| Vehicle 90 ft and up & driver, round trip (non-peak season) | $265.13 |
| Vehicle 90 ft and up & driver, round trip (peak season) | $365.66 |
| Value Pass — 5 round trips, walk-on passenger/bicycle | $29.14 |
| Value Pass — 5 round trips, motorcycle | $50.14 |
| Value Pass — 5 round trips, vehicle up to 22 ft | $96.08 |
All fares are round trip and collected outbound at the Steilacoom terminal; the return leg is not charged separately. Vehicle and motorcycle tickets include the driver only — additional passengers need their own passenger ticket. Bicycles ride at the regular passenger fare with no separate surcharge. Prices shown are Pierce County's 2026 calendar-year rates (a further 5% increase takes effect Jan. 1, 2027 and is not shown here). A $1 per-ticket capital replacement surcharge is already included in every fare below. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Pierce County Ferry links Steilacoom, on the Pierce County mainland south of Tacoma, with Anderson Island in southern Puget Sound, with select sailings detouring to the smaller Ketron Island along the way. Pierce County owns the system and has contracted its day-to-day operation to HMS Ferries Inc. since April 2022; HMS also issues the rider alerts that flag weather, maintenance, or mechanical disruptions through the City Experiences app.
The route runs every day of the year on a two-season timetable. From September through May (the Non-Peak season), a single vessel makes about 14 round trips a day between Steilacoom and Anderson Island, starting at 4:45 a.m. from Steilacoom and 5:15 a.m. from Anderson Island and finishing after 10 p.m. From late May through early September (Peak season), a second vessel joins the schedule and adds four extra afternoon round trips in each direction, and vehicle and motorcycle fares rise accordingly.
Ketron Island, home to a small year-round community, does not get its own boat. Instead, three scheduled runs a day detour there on the return leg to Steilacoom, and anyone boarding from Ketron must call ahead to reserve a spot at least 60 minutes before departure. A separate fuel-tanker run every Monday also replaces a handful of midday passenger sailings to keep Anderson Island's gas and propane supply stocked.
Fares are round trip and collected only at the Steilacoom terminal; the trip back from Anderson Island or Ketron is not charged again. Vehicle tickets cover the car and driver only, so passengers riding along need their own ticket, and bicycles travel at the regular passenger rate. Tickets can be bought at the Steilacoom ticket window, online, or through the Anchor/City Experiences app, which also carries live rider alerts and a five-trip Value Pass discount.
Because the system typically runs on one or two vessels, scheduled maintenance or a mechanical issue can cancel individual sailings on short notice — as happened in September 2026, when a routine dry-docking took one boat out of service for six weeks. Riders with a tight connection should check Pierce County's Rider Alerts page before heading to the terminal.
- Arrive at the terminal several minutes before departure; vehicle lanes close earlier than the foot-passenger gate.
- Check the operator's service alerts before you set out — weather, tides and vessel maintenance change sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: some crossings are card-only and some take cash only.
Frequently asked questions
A round-trip adult passenger ticket is $8.14 in 2026, collected only on the Steilacoom side. Seniors (65+) and riders with a disability pay $4.46, children 5 and under always ride free, and youth ages 6-18 currently ride free too under a Washington state subsidy program.
Yes, Pierce County Ferry is a car ferry. A round-trip vehicle ticket up to 22 feet, including the driver, is $24.94 in the non-peak season and $33.86 in peak season (May 22-Sept 7). Larger vehicles and RVs are billed by length band, up to $265.13 non-peak / $365.66 peak for vehicles 90 feet and over. Passengers riding along in the vehicle need their own separate passenger ticket.
Pierce County does not publish an exact one-way crossing time. Steilacoom and Anderson Island are roughly 3.5 miles (about 5.6 km) apart by water, and the spacing between consecutive departures in the published schedule suggests each direct crossing runs about 20-30 minutes, before counting loading time or a Ketron Island stop on some runs.
Yes, but as a branch of the same Steilacoom-Anderson Island service rather than a separate route. Select runs detour to Ketron Island on the way back to Steilacoom (currently the 5:45 a.m., 10:35 a.m., and 7:35 p.m. departures), and Ketron's own listed departure times are 6:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 8:35 p.m. Anyone boarding FROM Ketron Island must call (253) 588-1950 to reserve a spot at least 60 minutes ahead.
No reservation is needed for the regular Steilacoom-Anderson Island crossing; buy a ticket at the Steilacoom terminal or online in advance. A reservation is required only for passengers boarding from Ketron Island.
It runs every day of the year on a two-season timetable: a Non-Peak schedule (Jan. 1-May 21 and Sept. 8-Dec. 31, 2026) with one vessel and about 14 round trips a day, and a Peak schedule (May 22-Sept. 7, 2026) with two vessels and extra afternoon departures.
The mainland terminal, Steilacoom Landing, is at 56 Union Ave, Steilacoom, WA 98388. The Anderson Island terminal is at the island's Ferry Dock Road landing near the island's north end.
Yes. Tickets can be bought and bookings managed online through Pierce County's Anchor ticketing system (pierce-county.getanchor.io) or the City Experiences app, as well as in person at the Steilacoom ticket window. A discounted Value Pass covering 5 round trips is also available, from $29.14 for a walk-on passenger in 2026.