King County, Washington · Puget Sound
Things to Do on Vashon Island, Washington
The island voted against a bridge decades ago and has kept it that way. The ferry is the filter, and that is exactly the point.
Ferry from Seattle
20 min
Ferry from Tacoma
15 min
Ferry from Southworth
10 min
Island Size
37 sq mi
County
King County
Worth a Saturday. Vashon Island is 20 minutes by ferry from West Seattle. Fifteen minutes from Tacoma. It is the largest island in South Puget Sound, 13 miles long, and it has no traffic lights, no chain restaurants, and no bridge connecting it to the mainland. That last part is on purpose. The island voted against a bridge decades ago and has kept it that way. The ferry is the filter. It keeps the pace slow and the character intact.
Most people who live within 30 miles of the Fauntleroy ferry dock have never been. They mean to go. They keep driving past the terminal. Once you step off the ferry, time shifts. The pace is unhurried, people are friendly, and there is always something going on.
About 11,000 people live here year round. The island has attracted artists, farmers, and independent minded people for over a century. The Japanese American community was farming strawberries here by 1890. That agricultural heritage is still visible in the farm stands scattered along the roads. The arts community is real, not a branding exercise. There are roughly 10 galleries on an island of 11,000 people. That ratio tells you something.
Getting Here
Three ferry routes, all run by Washington State Ferries.
From Seattle: Fauntleroy terminal in West Seattle to Vashon. About 20 minutes crossing time. The dock lands you on the north end of the island, a short drive from the main village.
From Tacoma: Point Defiance terminal to Tahlequah on the south end. About 15 minutes. Less crowded than Fauntleroy. Good option if you are coming from the south or want to start your day at Point Robinson Lighthouse.
From Southworth: Southworth terminal in Kitsap County to the north end of Vashon. About 10 minutes crossing time. The shortest crossing of the three routes and a good option if you are coming from the Kitsap Peninsula or the West Sound area.
Fares are collected one way. You pay going to the island. The return trip is free. A car and driver runs around $20. Walk on fares are cheaper and you board faster.
The wait is the variable. On summer weekends the Fauntleroy line can add 20 to 40 minutes. If you are driving on, get to the terminal early or go on a weekday. Walk on passengers board with the next sailing almost every time.
You do not strictly need a car. The main village is walkable from the north end ferry dock and you can rent bikes in town. But the island is 13 miles long and the best spots are spread across the full length. A car makes a full day realistic.
Things to Do
Parks & Nature
Point Robinson Park and Lighthouse
Point Robinson Park sits on the eastern shore of Maury Island and is one of the best spots on the island for a beach walk. The lighthouse has provided service since 1885. On clear days you can see Mount Rainier across the water from the point. Check tide timing before you go.
Curiosities
The Bike in the Tree
A bicycle absorbed into the trunk of a tree over more than a century, now lifted several feet off the ground as the tree grew around it. Find it via a short trail walk off SW 204th Street. Worth the detour.
Parks & Nature
Dockton Park
A family friendly stop on the southwest end of Maury Island with covered picnic areas, fire pits, a dock with floating platform, swimming beach, and 23 acres of hiking trails. The adjacent Dockton Forest connects to mountain biking terrain.
Food & Drink
Burton Coffee Stand and Village
Burton is a small waterfront village on the east side of the island. The Burton Coffee Stand is a community institution with locally made mosaic signage, reliably good coffee, and a welcoming atmosphere. Grab something and sit at the water.
Parks & Nature
Lisabuela Park
A quiet spot on the west shore for watching sunsets over the Olympic Mountains. Low key and undervisited. Go late afternoon and bring something to eat.
Outdoors
Cycling the Island
Vashon is well suited for cycling. Roads are quiet, traffic is light, and routes range from rolling to genuinely hilly. Vashon Adventures rents electric bikes. The full island loop runs about 25 miles.
Arts & Culture
Art Galleries in Uptown
Two galleries worth knowing in Uptown Vashon: Gather Vashon and Raven's Nest Art Gallery. Raven's Nest carries painting, sculpture, photography, pottery, jewelry, wood, glass, and textiles from local and regional artists.
Arts & Culture
Vashon Bookshop
An independent bookstore at 17612 Vashon Highway in Uptown, carrying new and gently used books with a strong selection of local island authors and Pacific Northwest writers. Under new ownership since 2025, it remains the kind of place where you stop in for one book and leave with three. Open daily except Tuesday.
Parks & Nature
Whale Watching at Point Robinson
Point Robinson is one of more than 100 sites on the Whale Trail, with resident orca pods tracked through East Passage in fall and winter. Transient orcas, humpbacks, harbor seals, and river otters can be spotted year round from the point. Parking is limited when the whales are active.
“Once you step off the ferry, time shifts. The pace is unhurried, people are friendly, and there is always something going on.”
Explore Washington State
Where to Stay
The Lodges on Vashon
Individual 570 sq ft cabins with gas fireplaces, radiant heat floors, deep soaking tubs, and private decks, situated a short walk from the beach. The standout lodging option on the island.
lodgesonvashon.comThe Vashon Inn
Simple rooms in the heart of Uptown. Convenient if you are on foot and want to be close to the restaurants and shops.
vashoninn.comKeeper's Quarters at Point Robinson Lighthouse
Two separate rental units managed by the Vashon Park District. Quarter A and Quarter B each sleep small groups and sit directly at the active lighthouse on the eastern shore of Maury Island. Available April through October.
vashonparks.orgVashon Adventures
Runs a small camping operation and rents kayaks, paddleboards, and electric bikes. A useful base if your plan involves a lot of time on the water or on the roads.
vashonadventures.comFind a Cabin Near Vashon Island
Find a Cabin Near Vashon Island
Food & Drink
The food on Vashon is better than it needs to be. Nobody is doing this for the tourist traffic.
The Hardware Store Restaurant. The island institution. Literally in a converted hardware store. Breakfast through dinner, seven days a week, locally sourced ingredients. Go for breakfast or lunch. Dinner too if you are staying late for a return ferry.
May Kitchen and Bar. Thai food that is genuinely good and not just good for a small island. Silk curtains, the right music, and a kitchen that takes it seriously.
Camp Colvos. The brewery with the big outdoor seating area in the village. Good beers and savory pies. This is where you end up on a warm afternoon when you have walked the village and need a place to sit.
Vashon Brewing. Taproom in town. Smaller than Camp Colvos, different vibe. Good rotating taps.
The wineries and cideries round out the picture. Maury Island Winery produces about 150 cases a year of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Dragon’s Head Cider has an orchard open May through October on weekends. Nashi Orchards does hard cider and perry from Asian and European pears grown on the island.
Festivals & Events
July
Vashon Island Strawberry Festival
The island's signature annual event, running since 1909. In 2026 the festival runs July 17 through 19. Vendors line the main street through the village with a parade, live music, and a beer garden. The Fauntleroy ferry line gets longer during festival weekend so arrive early or take the Point Defiance route from the south.
May through October
Vashon Island Farmers Market
Runs Saturdays in Uptown, a reliable anchor for a weekend morning visit. The island also has a rotating calendar of gallery openings, farm dinners, and community theater at the Vashon Theatre.
Day Trips
Vashon sits at a useful geographic midpoint between Seattle and Tacoma, which opens up a few natural combinations.
Tacoma (20 minutes from Tahlequah ferry terminal)
The Point Defiance ferry puts you directly into Tacoma, which has more going for it than most visitors expect. The Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and the waterfront are all within a few miles of the terminal. A Vashon morning followed by a Tacoma afternoon makes for a full and varied day.
Seattle and West Seattle
Fauntleroy lands you in West Seattle, about 25 minutes from downtown by car. Alki Beach, Pike Place Market, and the Seattle Art Museum are all straightforward from there. This combination works better in the other direction (Seattle first, Vashon after) so you are not rushing for the last ferry.
Bainbridge Island
If you want to compare Pacific Northwest island experiences, Bainbridge is a solid choice. It is more developed and more tourist facing than Vashon, but the ferry ride from Seattle is one of the better views on Puget Sound. The two islands make an interesting contrast for a multi day trip.
Mount Rainier National Park (1.5 hours from Tahlequah)
More practical as an overnight than a same day add, but the Tahlequah ferry landing puts you closest to Rainier among the Vashon routes. Highway 7 south from Tacoma gets you to the Nisqually entrance in about 90 minutes. Worth planning a two night trip around.
Planning Your Visit
Summer and early fall are the best window for a first visit. Winter Vashon is moody and beautiful but you will have fewer options. Some restaurants reduce hours. Some farm stands close.
Vashon rewards the person who is fine with a slow morning, a farm stand, a lighthouse, and a long lunch. If you want a packed itinerary with scheduled attractions and things to check off a list, the island will feel empty. That is not a criticism. It is a description.
Cell service is spotty on the south end and parts of Maury Island. Download your maps before you go.
A solid day plan: Take the 9 AM ferry from Fauntleroy. Head south on Vashon Highway. Stop at a farm stand. Drive to Point Robinson Lighthouse on Maury Island. Walk the beach. Back to the village for lunch at the Hardware Store or May Kitchen. Walk the Saturday Farmers Market. Browse a gallery. Get a beer at Camp Colvos. Take the 5 or 6 PM ferry back.
One thing nobody tells you: The return ferry line is the bottleneck. Leave before 4 PM or after 7 PM on summer Sunday evenings. Or take the south end ferry to Point Defiance and drive home through Tacoma. Fewer people know about that route and the line is shorter.
More Vashon Island on EWS
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vashon Island worth a day trip from Seattle?
Yes. Walk on the ferry at Fauntleroy in West Seattle and you are on Vashon in 20 minutes. No traffic lights, no chain restaurants, farm stands, wineries, beaches, and a lighthouse. A full day is easy to fill. A half day works too. It is one of the best day trips in the Puget Sound region.
How do you get to Vashon Island?
Washington State Ferries runs two routes. Fauntleroy in West Seattle to the north end of the island takes about 20 minutes. Point Defiance in Tacoma to Tahlequah on the south end takes about 15 minutes. You can drive on or walk on. Fares are collected one way, going to the island. The return trip is free.
How long is the ferry ride to Vashon Island?
About 20 minutes from Fauntleroy in West Seattle. About 15 minutes from Point Defiance in Tacoma. The ride itself is short. The wait to board can add 20 to 40 minutes on summer weekends if you are driving on. Walk on passengers board faster.
Do you need a car on Vashon Island?
It helps. The island is 13 miles long and attractions are spread out. You can walk on the ferry and rent bikes in town, which works well if you are staying near the main village. But if you want to hit Point Robinson Lighthouse, Maury Island, and the south end farm stands in a single day, a car makes it realistic.
What is Vashon Island known for?
No traffic lights and no chain restaurants. The island has maintained its rural, independent character for over a century. It is known for its arts community, organic farms, farm stands, wineries, Point Robinson Lighthouse, the Strawberry Festival in July, and the bicycle in the tree.
What is the Vashon Island bicycle tree?
In the 1950s, a boy named Don Puz left a small bicycle in the woods and never went back for it. A tree grew around the frame over the decades. The bike is now about seven feet off the ground, partially absorbed into the trunk. The popular story that a boy left it before going to World War I is not true. It is on private property near the intersection of Vashon Highway and 204th Street.
When is the Vashon Island Strawberry Festival?
Mid July, typically the second or third weekend. In 2026 the festival runs July 17 through 19. It has been running since 1909. The festival runs three days with vendors lining the main street through town, a parade, live music, and a beer garden.
Are there restaurants and breweries on Vashon Island?
Yes. The Hardware Store Restaurant has been the island staple for years, serving breakfast through dinner with locally sourced ingredients. May Kitchen is a Thai restaurant that is genuinely good. Camp Colvos is the brewery with the outdoor seating and savory pies. Vashon Brewing has a taproom in town. Several wineries and cideries are open for tastings on weekends.