HalfRuns
The Great Ferry Race

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

Standout66

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

Destination Worthy

Atmosphere

Party FinishLocal CommunityGreat Post Race

Course

Scenic Route

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

Directions

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

Standout66
Methodology
Heritage12/20

6 years running

Size14/15

~522 finishers a year

Momentum5/5

growing or steady

Loyalty16/20

16% returning runners

Course & details5/15

5 timing sources

National draw8/10

runners from 25 states

Front-pack speed1/5

winner 1:26:27

Weather5/10

typical high 69°F

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (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

10%
25%
75%
90%
1:20p50 median ≈ 2:154:30

Turnout by year

20212025

'21'22'23'24'25
See full results

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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