The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is setting up new protocols during the pandemic. Click here to read the article.
Alaska Marine Highway System
Bellingham is the southern port of the Alaska Ferry, which departs from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven (I-5 Exit 250) every Friday evening, year-round. The ferry makes a week-long voyage through Alaska’s Inside Passage, stopping at numerous ports including Ketchikan and Juneau.
Alaska Marine Highway ferry service Matanuska, the Friday ferry from Alaska, has stopped running and will not be back to Bellingham until Friday, Febraury 12, 2021.
The Kennicott will continue to arrive at the Fairhaven Ferry Terminal every other Saturday. Updated Alaska Ferry schedule information is at: http://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/.
- Read Annette’s Insider Blog post: Cruise to Alaska Like a Local – On the Ferry
San Juan Islands
Bellingham has seasonal service to Friday Harbor, as well as charter service to other San Juan Islands.
- San Juan Cruises makes summer crossings to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Departs the cruise terminal at 9:30 am.
- Read Annette’s Insider Blog post: Discover the San Juan Islands on a Small Ship Cruise out of Bellingham.
Lummi Island Ferry
Hourly car ferry departs Gooseberry Point. Take I-5 Exit 260. This is a First-Come, First-Served ferry. Cost is $7 for one round trip passenger/pedestrian and $13 for vehicle and driver round trip.
Hours of Operation
- Monday – Friday: 5:40 a.m.- 12:10 a.m.
- Saturdays: 7 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- Sundays & Holidays: 7 a.m. – 12:10 a.m.
Holidays: New Year’s Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Directions
From Canada & Points North
- Follow Interstate 5 south to Slater Road Exit 260
- Turn right or West on Slater Road
- Follow Slater Road 3.22 miles to Haxton Way
- Turn left or South on Haxton Way
- Follow Haxton Way 7.02 miles to the Whatcom County Public Works Lummi Island Ferry
From Seattle & Points South
- Follow Interstate 5 north to Slater Road Exit 260
- Turn left or West on Slater Road
- Follow Slater Road 3.22 miles to Haxton Way
- Turn left or South on Haxton Way
- Follow Haxton Way 7.02 miles to the Whatcom County Public Works Lummi Island Ferry
Port of Bellingham
The Port of Bellingham operates a number of the transportation connections within Whatcom County including the airport, marinas, cruise terminal, and Fairhaven Station, where Amtrak train and bus services are located.
Water Transportation Resources
Located in the Historic Fairhaven District the Bellingham Cruise Terminal (BCT), completed in 1989, is the southern connection for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Seasonal foot ferries and charter vessels also provide connections to the San Juan Islands. BCT provides safe and convenient passenger facilities for more than 200,000 passengers each year.
Squalicum Harbor is a full-service marina on the northern shores of Bellingham Bay in the City of Bellingham, Washington. It is the home port to more than 1,400 commercial and pleasure boats, including a large charter boat fleet.
San Juan Cruises offers a scenic whale watch cruise which includes lunch and a stop in Friday Harbor, sunset crab dinner cruises on the bay with spectacular views of the Chuckanut coastline, wine and beer tasting cruises, and customized adventures.
The traditional gateway to the San Juan Islands and Alaska, Bellingham offers outstanding transportation connections. A new multimodal facility in Fairhaven is home to Amtrak and the Alaska Marine Highway System.
With 360 degree views of the Salish Sea and snow-capped Mount Baker, Blaine Harbor offers 629 state-of-the-art boat slips for commercial and pleasure boats, protected by a heavy rock breakwater.
Bellingham is the southern port of the Alaska Ferry, which departs from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven (I-5 Exit 250) on a varied schedule depending on time of year. The ferry makes a week-long voyage through Alaska’s Inside Passage, stopping at numerous ports including Ketchikan and Juneau.