How it works

What the numbers on the board mean, and how the reminders are timed.

Reading the board

Drive-up is WSDOT's live estimate of spaces still open on a specific departure for vehicles without a reservation. It already reflects vehicles that have been ticketed and are waiting in the holding lanes, and it counts down as the tollbooth sells — so a 2:00 sailing showing 23 means roughly 23 more drive-up vehicles fit on that boat, not that 23 is its capacity. Each departure's total vehicle capacity is tracked separately.

Reservable is the number of Save A Spot reservation spaces still bookable for that departure. Selecting the number opens WSF's reservation site. WSF holds a portion of every sailing for drive-up vehicles, so a reservable count of zero does not mean the boat is full.

— means WSDOT isn't publishing that count for the sailing — different from zero. Multi-island sailings in the San Juans share one vehicle pool, which is why a departure can read "Orcas Island / Shaw Island": one boat, one space count, several stops.

WSDOT updates this feed as often as every few seconds; Ferry Signal checks once a minute and stamps every board with the time of its last check.

Booking

Vehicle reservations are made on WSF's Save A Spot site (guest checkout available) or by phone at 206-464-6400 or 888-808-7977. Reservations for each season open on published dates, in phases — the first tranche about two months before the season starts, with more space released closer to each sailing date.

Opening reminders

When an opening date is announced, it appears on the openings calendar. Subscribing gets you two emails: one the day before, one 15 minutes before the window opens. Openings use a waiting room — everyone present when it opens receives a randomized place in line, and later arrivals join in order — so the 15-minute reminder is timed to have you in the room before it opens.

History

Every change in space is archived from the moment tracking began, which is what will power per-sailing fullness charts as the record grows.