Ferry from Kingston WA to Lynnwood WA

More on Port Townsend--If the campgrounds are full, head to the fairgrounds.
The fairgrounds will take you if it is not fair weekend. I've camped there during the wooden boat festival, when there were no spots to be had anywhere else.

When we are headed north, we "back track" and take the Port Townsend ferry also.

Be aware, it is smaller ferry then the other route, it can get canceled due to storms (unlikely in summer) and we really mean, get a reservation.

In winter I have seen green water two feet over the bow, with a couple inches pouring down the deck. That was during a storm, just before they canceled runs until the wind died down.

I'll have to check that route out on Google Earth. Thanks for the suggestion.

If you intend to spend some time in Canada, you could cross the border at Sumas/Abbottsford, and take BC3 across the Cascades. The part through Manning is nearly as nice as WA20 Cascades. In fact, Ross Lake, which you see from WA20 extends into BC. But for a first time visitor I'd suggest sticking with 20 to US97, and take that north to Ossoyos. Then head east on 3. That has more grades than 20 but nothing too difficult. That border area has a lot of shared history, since in the early mining days it was easier to get to eastern BC from the USA than from Vancouver. There is another current thread asking about BC3 in the BC/Alberta area.

Another vote for the Port Townsend ferry. It's really not that long of a trip and it's a big ferry and I would wager that you would not get seasick on it. It is not a congested area at all - easy on/off.
It's absolutely nothing like the Port Aransas ferry (been on it, too). That's a little puddle jumper!

Plan to spend at least a few days in the Port Townsend area. It's a very neat place. If you can get a reservations at Fort Worden's waterside sites you'll absolutely love it - guaranteed.

Enjoy your trip - your routing is perfect. :)

Thanks for the fare links. Very helpful. It does look like the longer route is cheaper.

It looks like WA-20 is the route to go, no matter how we get there. Of course, there's also the I-90 option but that's a bit far south for us to "jump off" into Canada for a visit. I hate having to make all the decisions! But I'm sure glad you all are here to help.

Winds would have to be blowing pretty hard - from the south in a major wind/rain storm - to rock the ferry on either run. That's a late fall kind of storm.

Traffic on the Kingston/Edmonds route is mainly commuter, to Seattle in the AM, back in the PM, with another peak around the weekend as city people head out of town, and back. That pattern isn't a strong on the PT/Coupeville, though to be honest, I've only taken that boat late morning/early afternoon, as part of a 1-2 day vacation loop.

A nice day's drive would start at one of the state parks near Port Townsend (Ft Worden, Ft Flagger), take the ferry, visit Coupville, and Depeception Pass, and end up at Rasar State Park east of Seedro-Woolley (or maybe the Newhalem NP campground). Then give yourself the next day to pass through the Nat Park, camping somewhere on the east side (Winthrop/Twisp) (state parks or Forest Service campgrounds).

PennyPA wrote:
But that looks like a LONG ferry ride...and I get seasick! Reservations would be nice, though. I also think it's more expensive. Guess I'll go to the website and compare.

Port Townsend to Coupeville crossing time is five minutes longer than Edmonds/Kingston...but from what I can see at the fares pages, it's also CHEAPER!?!?

Check out length-based fares at these pages:
Edmonds Fares
Port Townsend Fares

Also:

If you decide to drive around via Tacoma, there's an axle-based toll on the Narrows bridge. ($11.00 for four axles)

x2 for the Bull Rider - at least his route. WE love the top end of the Olympic Peninsula and the N. Cascades N.P. (highway 20. have taken the Pt T.- Whidbey Island ferry (Both ways) several times. You will enjoy it!
Also coming up 101 - just north out of Forks take the route west to La Push. There is a great RV park there overlooking the beach/bay/surf!

I'd opt for the Port Townsend/Coupeville run too. Port Townsend to Whidbey Island isn't that far. Then head north up Whidbey Island on SR 20, over the Deception Pass Bridge and then east on 20 and over the North Cascades Highway.

A beautiful drive. Many great towns and stops.

You could continue east on 20, or drop down and go east on State Route 2 into Spokane.

We've traveled all over that area over the years. Enjoy.