Fall 2026 schedule, Sept. 20 through Dec. 26, 2026 (Monday-Thursday pattern shown; Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays differ slightly). WSF's winter schedule starts Dec. 27 and is not yet posted.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~15 min
Operator
Washington State Ferries
Map – Point Defiance–Tahlequah Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult passenger (19-64), one-way | $7.60 |
| Senior (65+) / disability passenger, one-way | $3.80 |
| Youth passenger (18 and under) | Free |
| Bicycle surcharge (rider 19+) | $1.00 |
| Vehicle under 14' and driver, one way (westbound only) | $20.25 |
| Vehicle under 22' (standard vehicle) and driver, one way (westbound only) | $25.65 |
| Vehicle under 14' and senior/disability driver, one way (westbound only) | $16.45 |
| Vehicle under 22' and senior/disability driver, one way (westbound only) | $21.85 |
| Motorcycle and driver, one way (westbound only) | $11.20 |
| Motorcycle and senior/disability driver, one way (westbound only) | $7.40 |
| Vehicle under 30' and under 7'2" high, with driver | $37.95 |
| Vehicle under 30' and over 7'2" high, with driver | $74.90 |
| Vehicle under 40' with driver | $99.55 |
| Vehicle under 50' with driver | $124.20 |
| Vehicle under 60' with driver | $148.85 |
| Vehicle under 70' with driver | $173.50 |
| Vehicle under 80' with driver | $198.10 |
| Vehicle over 80', cost per additional foot | $2.45 |
| 10-ride commuter card, passenger | $62.80 |
| 31-day monthly pass, passenger | $100.50 |
| 10-ride commuter card, vehicle under 14' | $164.00 |
| 10-ride commuter card, vehicle under 22' | $207.20 |
| 10-ride commuter card, motorcycle | $91.60 |
Fares are one way and collected only at Point Defiance for the trip to Tahlequah; no fare is collected at Tahlequah, per WSDOT's fare page for the route. The prices shown are the ones WSDOT listed for Thursday, October 15, 2026. WSF adds a peak season surcharge to full-fare vehicle-and-driver tickets from May 1 through Sept. 30 (it excludes multi-ride cards and monthly passenger passes), so vehicle prices were higher over the summer and WSDOT says the surcharge applies again from May 1. Passenger, bicycle, commuter-card and monthly-pass prices did not change between the summer and fall pages. Since March 1, 2026, WSF adds a 3% cost recovery surcharge to tickets bought with a credit or debit card; paying with cash, or using an ORCA card not loaded at a WSF facility, avoids it. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Point Defiance-Tahlequah ferry is a Washington State Ferries (WSF) route connecting Point Defiance in Tacoma with Tahlequah at the south end of Vashon Island. At about 1.7 miles and roughly 15 minutes, it is the shortest crossing in the WSF system, making it a quick link for Vashon Island commuters, Pierce County residents, and visitors heading to Point Defiance Park and Zoo or exploring Vashon.
WSF runs the route year-round on a timetable that changes with the sailing seasons. The Fall 2026 timetable runs from September 20 through December 26, 2026, and the winter timetable starts December 27. A single table covers the whole fall season. Monday through Thursday there are 19 sailings each way: the first boat leaves Point Defiance at 5:05 am and the last at 10:30 pm, with departures roughly every 50 to 65 minutes and a longer midday gap between 11:45 am and 1:40 pm. Fridays add one midday round trip, leaving Point Defiance at 12:35 pm and Tahlequah at 1:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday also have that midday round trip but drop the first boat, so the earliest departure from Point Defiance is 5:55 am. WSF lists the midday round trip for holidays too, naming Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Fares are charged one way and collected only at Point Defiance; there is no charge on the return trip from Tahlequah. An adult passenger pays $7.60, seniors and riders with disabilities pay $3.80, and passengers 18 and under ride free. Vehicle prices depend on length: on WSDOT's October 15, 2026 fare page a car under 14 feet with driver was $20.25 and a standard vehicle under 22 feet was $25.65. Those are lower than the summer prices because WSF adds a peak season surcharge to full-fare vehicle tickets from May 1 through September 30. There is no vehicle reservation system on this route; vehicles load first-come, first-served.
Because the route is served by one vessel, the Chetzemoka, a mechanical problem can cancel or delay sailings with little notice. Riders with a tight connection should check WSDOT's route alerts or @wsferries 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
About 15 minutes. It is the shortest crossing in the Washington State Ferries system, covering roughly 1.7 miles across Dalco Passage.
An adult passenger pays $7.60 one way, seniors and riders with disabilities pay $3.80, and passengers 18 and under ride free. On WSDOT's fare page for October 15, 2026, a standard vehicle under 22 feet with driver was $25.65 and a vehicle under 14 feet with driver was $20.25. WSF adds a peak season surcharge to full-fare vehicle tickets from May 1 through September 30, so summer prices are higher.
No. WSDOT's fare page says passenger and vehicle fares are collected at Point Defiance, while no fares are collected at Tahlequah. The westbound trip to Tahlequah carries the whole round-trip charge, and the return trip is not charged.
Yes, this is a car ferry. Vehicle fares are priced by length, from $20.25 for a driver and vehicle under 14 feet to $198.10 for vehicles under 80 feet (WSDOT's prices for October 15, 2026), plus $2.45 per foot beyond 80 feet. Summer prices are higher because of the May 1 to September 30 peak season surcharge. There is no reservation system; vehicles load in the order they arrive.
The Tacoma terminal is at 5810 N Pearl St, next to Point Defiance Park. The Vashon Island terminal is at Tahlequah, at Vashon Hwy SW and SW Tahlequah Rd, at the island's south end.
Yes, it runs year-round. The fall timetable runs September 20 through December 26, 2026, and WSDOT lists the winter season as December 27, 2026 to March 20, 2027. The winter timetable had not been posted on October 16, 2026, so check WSDOT's route page for its times.
Occasionally. Because the route can run on a single vessel, WSF sometimes cancels individual sailings on short notice for mechanical or operational reasons. Check WSDOT's ferry alert bulletins or @wsferries before you travel if your trip is time-sensitive.
In the fall 2026 timetable the first boat leaves Point Defiance at 5:05 am on weekdays (5:55 am on Saturday and Sunday) and Tahlequah at 5:30 am on weekdays (6:20 am on weekends). The last boat leaves Point Defiance at 10:30 pm and Tahlequah at 10:55 pm every day.