
The Great Ferry Race
The Great Ferry Race: a scenic ferry start, then hilly island half.
Race Date
Jun 7, 2026
Location
Bainbridge Island, WA
Quick facts
- Date
- Sunday, June 7, 2026
- Location
- Bainbridge Island, Washington
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi)
- Course
- Point to Point
- Terrain
- Mixed
- USATF certified
- Not listed
- Finishers on record
- 2,497
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Great Ferry Race begins where no other half marathon does: on a Washington State Ferry. Runners board in downtown Seattle, enjoy a 35-minute cruise across Puget Sound, then assemble on the car deck and walk onto Bainbridge Island. This isn’t a gimmick—it’s a seamlessly integrated start to a race that draws roughly 600 runners from 25 states each year, with about 16% returning for another ferry ride and run.
The course is a hilly tour of Bainbridge Island, running two-thirds on roads and one-third on groomed trails. The trails are non-technical but add a welcome change of surface, and the hills earn the event a reputation as a challenging course compared to other Orca Running races. After crossing the finish line on the ferry dock, runners enjoy a post-race festival before catching a return ferry—any sailing—back to Seattle. It’s a destination-worthy, one-of-a-kind experience.
Race-provided description
The Great Ferry Race is unlike any other race you’ve ever done. Participants will board the ferry in downtown Seattle by walking on, enjoy the scenic 35 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island, and then assemble on the car deck and walk off. This half marathon race will start on the ferry dock and take runners all around scenic Bainbridge Island. The course is approximately 2/3rds road and 1/3rd groomed trail. After the run, enjoy the post-race festival before picking a return ferry of your choosing back to Seattle. Please note that this is a hilly course, compared to most Orca Running events, and that approximately 1/3 of the course is on Bainbridge Island trails. The trails are not technical and do not require trail running experience, but runners that experience difficulty while running on trails should probably not run this race. Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County residents who don’t need to take the ferry are welcome to attend–please select the Bainbridge resident option when registering. Bainbridge Island residents - save $8 on your race registration (by choosing this option at checkout, you are agreeing that you live on Bainbridge Island and your registration will not include riding the ferry to the start line). Interested in signing up for more than one Orca Running race? Check out the Orca Running Bundle Options.
Logistics
Race Day
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Start Time
8:00 AM
Giveaway
Participant Shirt
Start Location
208 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110
Course Info
Course Type
Point to Point
Terrain
mixed
Scenery
Coastal, Small Town
Difficulty
Hilly
Net Drop/km
0 m (Flat)
Separation
0.0%
Quality Score
Standout666 years running
~522 finishers a year
growing or steady
16% returning runners
5 timing sources
runners from 25 states
winner 1:26:27
typical high 69°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
51°
Afternoon (High)
69°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
10 mph
Wind
70%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 2,497 finishers actually crossed the line across 5 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
2,497
Median time
2:20:55
Latest turnout
564
States
44
Turnout by year
2021–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the The Great Ferry Race?
The The Great Ferry Race is held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
Where does the The Great Ferry Race take place?
It takes place in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
What distances does the The Great Ferry Race offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles).
Is the The Great Ferry Race course flat and good for a PR?
The The Great Ferry Race is a hilly, point to point course.
How many people run the The Great Ferry Race?
HalfRuns has finish records for 2,497 runners who have completed the The Great Ferry Race.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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