Transportation
Transportation
by car, ferry, bus, bike, and beyond
There are many ways to get you and your family to, from, and around Whidbey Island and the Central Whidbey area. Here you’ll find travel tips for any mode that suits your needs.
There are many ways to get you and your family to, from, and around Whidbey Island and the Central Whidbey area. Here you’ll find travel tips for any mode that suits your needs.
Entering Whidbey Island
Coupeville is nearly perfectly at the center of Whidbey Island. That makes it easily accessible by both Whidbey ferries and the Deception Pass Bridge.
Deception Pass Bridge
At the north end of the island, vehicles approach over the Deception Pass Bridge. As the only bridge to the island, vehicle traffic can be heavy at times; Deception Pass State Park is also one of the most visited state parks in Washington.
There is no toll to access the Bridge, and it is open 24/7 (barring construction conditions).
Access the bridge by getting off I-5 at exit 230 in Burlington. Follow signage along Highway 20 until you reach the roundabout east of Port Townsend and head for the bridge. You'll cross onto the island approximately 20 miles north of Coupeville.
Coupeville Ferry
Five miles south of Downtown Coupeville lies the Keystone dock of the Coupeville - Port Townsend ferry. A 35 minute crossing time brings you to the island from the Olympic Peninsula.
Reservations are highly recommended for any Keystone crossings; wait times can be long and on busy weekends ferries can be reserved for reservations only.
While walking on to the ferry is allowed, be sure to have a plan for transportation on Whidbey Island. Directly across from the ferry dock is Callen's Restaurant; the rest of Coupeville is 5 miles away. Be sure to check the bus schedule, ride your bike, call a cab, or bring your car.
Clinton Ferry
At the south end of the island lies one of the busiest ferry routes in Washington. The Clinton-Mukilteo ferry lies about 25 miles north of Seattle.
No reservations are available for this route, but ferries usually depart every half an hour; be sure to check the ferry website for updates, cancellations, and wait times before heading out.
Easily catch an Island Transit bus, rent a car, call a cab, or drive your own vehicle. The crossing takes approximately 20 minutes, and will bring you 28 miles south of Coupeville.
Traveling Car-Free
Don’t have a car? You can still easily see and explore some of the top sites of Whidbey.
Island Transit
Island Transit provides bus service across Whidbey. From bridge to ferry, between each town and major location, Island Transit offers a variety of routes on a reliable schedule.
The best part? Island Transit is free to ride. You don’t need a ticket, pass, residency, or anything. Map out your trip with Island Transit’s app through Route Shout or their online Trip Planner to get you to your destination without worrying about parking.
Biking on Whidbey
Cyclists are a common site among the major and back roads across Whidbey. From regular local riders, visitors taking advantage of the Scenic Isle Way, to the annual Tour de Whidbey, there are cycling opportunities for every level of skill.
Take your breaks in town with bike racks provided strategically in central locations, hop the bus when you’re ready to skip some hills and get farther along your ride, or enjoy daily sojourns to can’t-miss spots.
Whidbey Island Bicycle Club, headquartered in the heart of Coupeville, offers road riding and mountain biking weekly group rides. Or click the link below to download Island County’s bicycle map.
Rentals & Taxis
If you’ve somehow made your way to Whidbey and decide you now need a car, keep in mind that as a rural location, your options will be somewhat limited, so plan ahead.
There is one car rental business to the north in Oak Harbor and one to the south in Clinton.
The Rock Taxi Cab service is available to Coupeville, Oak Harbor, and surrounding areas. Common rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are not available on Whidbey at this time.
Planes, Trains, and Long Distance
Planning your Whidbey getaway may start farther afield than ferry or bridge. Whidbey is close to major transportation hubs without being impacted by the noise.
By Air
Whidbey Island has two landing strips open to the public, one just north of Coupeville at the AJ Eisenberg Airport and one 24 miles south at the Whidbey Airpark outside Langley. Lynk Air offers chartered flights from Sea-Tac or Paine Field.
Most long-distance visitors enter the area via SeaTac Airport, 14 miles south of Seattle. From there, you can rent a car, take public transportation to the Clinton-Mukilteo Ferry, or charter a shuttle (see below).
A recent addition to air travel options is Paine Field in Everett, less than 5 miles from the Clinton-Mukilteo Ferry.
By Shuttle
Whidbey SeaTac Shuttle has been serving Whidbey Island since 2003. They offer daily service to SeaTac and Paine Field airports, personalized service to Downtown Seattle and the Cruise Piers, and are available to charter for special events.
By Train
Whidbey Island has no rail lines. However, Amtrak offers stops right at our doorstep. Head for Stanwood or Everett stations and take advantage of connecting buses to get you to Whidbey Island.
On weekdays, Puget Sound’s commuter rail service, the Sounder, can take you from downtown Seattle to Mukilteo, arriving at the station mere steps from the new Mukilteo ferry terminal with walk-on passenger service. There are four trips north from the City to the ferry each weekday afternoon (and four trips south each weekday morning).
By Sea
The gem of Downtown Coupeville is the hundred year old Wharf. Visitors come by water for day or overnight visits off the passenger dock. For more information on visiting Coupeville by sea, check out our Tides page.
