Here’s a New Trip in our CFDT Series!
What’s a CFTD? A Car-Free Day Trip! Get out of your car! Use public transit plus your own energy to get to your destination and back again in one day. Avoid lodging costs or carrying camping gear. Best of all, these round trips range from FREE to about $10 max. From our home base in Port Townsend, Washington, we share our favorite excursions on the Olympic Peninsula, Whidbey Island, and Kitsap County, as well as suggest excurisions around Puget Sound.
Day Trip Overview After enjoying the wooded shorelines of south Jefferson County from the plush seat of an express bus, board a catamaran ferry for the 40-minute trip across Puget Sound. Enjoy a full seven-hours in Seattle and Waterfront Park before returning to Port Townsend. Or just take a short restorative, multi-modal trip just to enjoy the views, listen to music or a book, watch for whales, and walk or ride one of America’s spectacular urban waterfronts.
Jefferson Transit’s #14 Kingston Express connects Port Townsend and points throughout Jefferson County with the Kingston Ferry Terminal. From there, Kitsap Transit’s passenger ferry speeds you across Puget Sound to the Seattle waterfront in 40 minutes.
Seattle’s waterfront now offers smart new bike and pedestrian infrastructure, tiny beaches, public art, and professionally maintained restrooms. On one side of the esplanade are fine historic buildings no longer obstructed by the old Alaskan Way Viaduct. On the other are the ever-changing colors of the sky, clouds, anfd water. On clear days, the Olympic Mountains loom large over the water to the northwest and Mount Rainier towers over the city to the south.
Here are some photos of the western portion of Waterfront Park.
The rennovated Seattle Waterfront opened in late 2025. Sidewalks (to the left here) protect pedestrians from speedy bike commuters using the two way lanes to the right. 
The whimsical seating and climbing structures echo sand bags and jacks used to protect maritime structures. 
Wooden elements reminiscent of indigenous longhouses that once lined Pacific Northwest waterfronts. 
People from all over the world gather here, sometimes in traditional dress, as with these Amish Americans. 
Across the water the Olympic Mountains stretch out before you. 
On clear days, look to the south where Mt. Tahoma (Ranier) appears to float over Elliott Bay. 
Small beaches lie adjacent to terminals serving the Washington State Ferry, King County water taxis, and Kitsap Fast Ferries. 
Tribal and recreational boats moor in Bell Harbor Marina. Larger ships tie up outside the seawall. 
Pay attention to your departure time so you know when to head back to the fast ferry terminal. 
Be sure to stand in the correct line, as this terminal serves fast ferries bound for both Brewmerton and Kingston. 
In the darker months, enjoy the lights of the city as your ferry heads back to Kingston. 
You may even sail through a spectacular sunset.
And here are photos of from the Washington State Ferry Terminal toward the east.
How to Make this Trip
Leave Port Townsend on Jefferson Transit The Kingston Express – Route #14 weekday service originates at Haines Place Park & Ride near the Port Townsend Safeway. The Express makes only two stops en route: at 4 Corners Park & Ride (63 4 Corners Rd, Port Townsend, WA 98368) and at the Gateway Visitors Center (93 Beaver Valley Rd, Port Ludlow, WA 98365).This service now operates seven days a week with three buses in each direction daily. See Kingston Express weekday and weekend schedules here. All Jefferson Transit busses are FREE!
If you’re connecting from Chimacum, Port Hadlock, Quilcene, or Brinnon, here are schedules for all other Jefferson Transit buses, all of which run seven days a week. And if you need to drive to the bus, there’s free parking for your car at both Park & Rides and at the Gateway Visitors Center where Center Valley Road (County Rt 19) meets State Route 104.
Board the Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry to Seattle. The bus will drop you at the Kingston ferry terminal in Kingston not far from the restrooms and the ORCA fare machine. Down the ramp, look for the 100-passenger, turquoise, orange and white catamaran ferry. Walk your bike, ride your mobility device, and wait in the pedestrian line. At the boat, a crew member will direct you to secure your bike on the racks on the stern behind the restrooms.
Pay your Ferry Fares Eastbound fares across Puget Sound are $2 for adults and $1 for seniors. Returning to the Olympic Peninsula westbound, however, they are $13 and $6.50 respectively.
Pay on boarding with exact cash, a paper ticket purchased at the top of the ramp, an ORCA card, and now also a regular credit or debit card. The ORCA fare machine lets you check to see if there’s sufficient cash on your existing ORCA card.
Get Rider Alerts The Kingston Express takes you over the Hood Canal Bridge floating bridge, which periodically opens and closes to permit the passage of Navy and recreational vessels. Delays are normally short and may not be announced. So it’s a good idea to sign up here to receive Route #14 Rider Alert by text message, email, or both. And for Kitsap Rider Alerts specifying any service interruptions for each direction of the Kingston Foot Ferry, you can sign up here .
Enjoy Kingston Should you have to wait in Kingston, consider visiting Quite Place Park (26718 Ohio Ave NE, Kingston WA 98346). It’s a 15 minute walk from the ferry ramp. The nine-acre park has wooded walking trails and views of Puget Sound. Head back one block on the main drag (SR 104) toward town, turn right on Ohio Ave, walk four blocks, and continue northeast up the hill. The park is on the right. If you’re riding your bike, park it at the entrance to the trail. Should your trip be interrupted by a Hood Canal Bridge opening or a ferry cancellation, this park is the perfect place to chill. Otherwise there are a number of good cafés and eateries near the ferry terminal. And the restrooms where your bus stop meets the top the ferry ramp are always open.
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