Lummi Island Ferry riders have one more punch card sale opportunity this weekend. The Whatcom County Ferry Division is holding a multi-ride punch card sale and exchange event on Saturday, August 22, from 6:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. at the Lummi Island Ferry Office on the island-side terminal. If you use the ferry regularly, this is a chance to stock up or swap out existing punch cards.
How the Sale Works
Punch card sales are scheduled events, not something you can do on any given sailing day. The ferry system sets specific dates and times during the quarter when passengers can purchase multi-ride cards or exchange unused ones. Saturday's event runs from the first sailing of the morning at 6:50 a.m. through mid-afternoon at 3:20 p.m., giving most riders a reasonable window to stop by without rearranging their entire day around the trip.
Payment can be made by check, valid U.S. money order, or credit card. Cash is not accepted, so leave the wallet at home and bring a card or checkbook. Multi-ride punch card exchanges, meaning turning in partially used or expiring cards for credit or replacement, can only be completed in person at these scheduled exchange events. There is no mail-in or online option for exchanges, so if you have old cards sitting in a drawer, this weekend is the time to dig them out and bring them along.
The ferry office on the island side is at the Lummi Island terminal, which sits at the water's edge on the island rather than at the Gooseberry Point mainland dock. If you are traveling from the mainland for the sole purpose of attending the sale, you will need to factor in your ferry crossing time and fare. The mainland terminal sits at the end of Nugent Road on the Lummi Peninsula, with the water crossing taking approximately five to seven minutes each way. Plan accordingly if you are making a dedicated trip, particularly if you want to catch the early part of the sale window.
Multi-ride punch cards offer a practical advantage for regular riders. Rather than paying per-crossing fares every time you board, punch cards allow you to prepay a block of rides at a set rate. For island residents who commute to Bellingham for work, medical appointments, or errands, the savings across a month or quarter can be meaningful. The structure also reduces the time spent at the fare booth on busy sailing days, which helps keep the boarding process moving.
More Dates Coming in September
If Saturday does not work for your schedule, there is one additional third-quarter punch card sale on the calendar: Wednesday, September 9, from 5:40 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. That morning window opens early enough to catch residents commuting off the island before work, making it a practical option for people who cannot get away on a weekend. The early start time reflects the reality that Lummi Island's year-round residents often need to be on the mainland for jobs or school runs well before most businesses open.
The third-quarter sales and exchange schedule covers the July through September period. After September, punch card sales shift to a fourth-quarter schedule with different dates. The Whatcom County Ferry Division publishes all upcoming sale dates on the county's website, so riders who want to plan ahead can check there for fall and winter dates as they are announced. It is worth bookmarking that page if you rely on the ferry regularly and do not want to miss a sale window.
About the Lummi Island Ferry
The Whatcom Chief is the county-operated ferry connecting Gooseberry Point on the Lummi Peninsula to Lummi Island, home to several hundred year-round residents and a much larger seasonal population drawn by the island's farms, beaches, and recreational opportunities. The crossing is short in distance but essential in function: the ferry is not just a convenience for island residents, it is their primary link to the mainland for groceries, medical appointments, school transportation, and employment. Without reliable ferry service, basic daily life on Lummi Island becomes dramatically more complicated.
The Whatcom Chief has been the subject of significant operational planning in 2026. A dry dock outage is scheduled for September 12 through October 4, a roughly three-week window when the vessel will be out of service for maintenance. That timing sits just weeks after the September 9 punch card sale, so riders who stock up in early September should be aware that the cards will need to hold them through the dry dock disruption and whatever service arrangements the county puts in place during that period. The county has previously published information about contingency arrangements during dry dock periods, and updated logistics information is expected closer to the September 12 start date.
The dry dock was originally scheduled for an earlier period in 2026 but was postponed to fall, which is why the county published a dedicated logistics and information page in late July to help riders prepare. Island residents who depend on the ferry for medical care, employment, or deliveries typically need to make advance arrangements during dry dock periods, sometimes relying on private boat transportation or temporarily staying on the mainland.
The ferry operates under the Whatcom County Public Works department, which also manages county roads and related transportation infrastructure. For questions about Saturday's punch card sale or to reach the Ferry Division directly, contact information is available at whatcomcounty.us or by emailing the Ferry Division at the address listed on the county website. For related local infrastructure news, the story of Highway 20's extended closure illustrates how transportation disruptions shape daily life across Whatcom County communities.
