I am totally confused whether this option still exists. Reading the Internet it seems there were cutbacks. I called the Port Townsend transportation people and they told me you take the Bainbridge ferry from Seattle and then buses to Port Townsend?
Is that correct?
Is there direct ferry service this summer from from Seattle to Port Townsend?

I don't think there is--that was a temporary service only while the Whidbey/Pt Townsend ferry was out.

Are you visiting Seattle? Your best bet is probably to rent a car for a day if you don't want to take the bus from Bainbridge as suggested.

There is no ferry between Seattle and Port Townsend.

We take the ferry to Bainbridge Island and drive the rest of the way.

Or, you could take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, and drive. This route would take you through the historic town of Port Gamble.

There is no ferry service from Seattle to Port Townsend and has not been as long as I have been here (six years). The only ferry to Port Townsend is from Keystone on Whidbey Island. (This is the service that you heard was cut back.)

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/

It looks like Olympic buslines may provide this service.

http://www.olympicbuslines.com/

You might want to double check with the Port Townsend people on the details for catching the bus.

Orcas, there actually was service directly between Seattle and Pt Townsend for a few months this winter on a passenger only ferry.

Thanks for the info. I knew the Whidbey ferry was down but I didn't know that. That would have been a fun trip.

Thanks for the info, actually I have a young son in Seattle for the summer without a car. He probably could rent one but we were hoping for a direct ferry trip out of Seattle.
How far to keystone?
If he takes the ferry to Bainbridge is there anything to see there?

Thanks

Bainbridge Island has a small main street about a 10 min. walk from the ferry terminal. A few places to eat, a few shops, a bit of a path along the water.

Where is your son trying to go? What are his interests? Does he bike? There are lots of groups of people taking trips together from Seattle, enjoying biking, hiking, kayaking, etc all summer long. He can hook up with a group by looking at opportunities in the Thursday edition of the newspaper. There are lots of wonderful activities all summer, and he wouldn't need a car to participate.

To answer your questions directly, the Keystone ferry is on Whidbey Island. To get there, one has to drive aways up I-5 and catch a ferry to Whidbey Island, then go aways on Whidbey Island.

Your son can take the ferry to Bainbridge Island and enjoy the little town of Winslow, which is right there. He can also take a bus to the ferry at Fauntleroy, in W. Seattle and go to Vashon or Southworth and bicycle there.