Plan ahead for ferry on Labor Day holiday

If you're planning to travel by ferry over the Labor Day holiday weekend, planning ahead is a good idea.

The state's ferry division says the longest backups at ferry terminals are expected the Friday before the holiday, Aug. 29, particularly between 3 and 7 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 31, during the afternoon and evening, and the morning of Labor Day, Sept. 1.

If traditional traffic patterns hold, returning traffic may be heaviest on Aug. 31 during the afternoon and evening, and the morning and early afternoon hours on Labor Day.

State ferries between Seattle and Bainbridge, Point Defiance and Tahlequah, and the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run will be sailing on a holiday schedule on Labor Day. Other routes, including Seattle-Bremerton, Anacortes-San Juan Islands, Port Townsend-Keystone, Mukilteo-Clinton and Edmonds-Kingston will be on regular weekday schedules.

Reservations are strongly recommended for the Port Townsend-Keystone route. (Call 888-808-7977, or go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.) There'll be no Seattle-Vashon passenger-only service on Labor Day.