The journey to Port Townsend is magical, rugged, and scenic. And there are many ways to get here! Many couples are traveling from Seattle and one of the most quintessential PNW ways to travel to Port Townsend is via the Washington State Ferries. It is approximately a two hour journey each way whether you take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston or Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
If you choose to travel by ferry it is best to rent a car, there is no direct ferry to Port Townsend from Edmonds or Seattle. We highly recommend staying the night (or multiple nights!) in Port Townsend or the surrounding area.
If you are traveling from the greater Seattle area you can also drive through Tacoma, Kitsap County, eventually bringing you to the iconic Hood Canal Bridge leading you to the scenic path to downtown Port Townsend. Sometimes, this is a better plan depending on the day of the week or time of day. Weekends and holidays can be tricky and unpredictable for ferry travel. To learn more about taking the ferry, click here.
Another reason that we highly recommend you have a car is there is just so much to explore on the Olympic Peninsula. From savoring farm fresh oysters on the Hood Canal to hikes to wildflower hikes with views and vistas of the Olympic Mountains, there are endless adventures to be had.
Other ways of getting to Port Townsend include:
The Dungeness Bus Line has a two trips per day from Edmonds, Kingston, SeaTac, and several downtown Seattle locations. If you aren't interested in renting a car but taking a ferry this could be a great way to explore Port Townsend on foot (or rent bicycles!) and take the bus back.
If you're coming from Northern WA or British Columbia, you can head to the Coupeville ferry on Whidbey Island (they accept reservations, highly recommended if bringing a car!) and the ferry lands just about 1 mile from the With These Rings studio.
If you're coming from Victoria BC, the Black Ball Ferry takes you to Port Angeles which is a 1 hour drive to Port Townsend.
For boaters, Port Townsend is a beautiful, sleepy seaport with the gorgeous Point Hudson Marina located right in downtown.
Written by: Kaitlin Chester