Water Transport

There are many ways to come to Whatcom County! One of the best ways to make your trek to the peak of the Pacific Northwest is on a boat or ferry. 

Bellingham is the southern port of the Alaska Ferry,  which departs from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven (I-5 Exit 250). The ferry makes a week-long voyage through Alaska’s Inside Passage, stopping at numerous ports including Ketchikan and Juneau. 

Visit ferryalaska.com to view the schedule.

While regular ferry service to the San Juan Islands operates from the town of Anacortes, WA, tour and charter operators like San Juan Cruises offer trips to the islands out of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, located in historic downtown Fairhaven. Trip options are also available through Outer Island Excursions and Island Opportunity Charters.

The ferry to Lummi Island departs Gooseberry Point on a regular schedule throughout the day. Take I-5 Exit 260. This is a first-come, first-served ferry, so make sure to check the departure time and get there early! Pricing can be found here.

Directions to the Lummi Island Ferry 

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

Currently, there is no scheduled ferry to Point Roberts. Private water taxi service is available with Island Opportunity Charters. For those with their own vessel, Point Roberts does offer a full-service 950 boat marina that provides guest moorage.

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.