Historic Plover Ferry

Updated June 11, 2025

## Historic Plover Ferry (Blaine, Washington): What It Is, How It Works, and How to Plan a Smooth Ride

If you’re in Blaine and want a low-effort, high-payoff way to get out on the water, the Historic Plover Ferry is one of the most distinctive options in town. It’s a foot-passenger ferry that runs a short route across Semiahmoo Bay between Blaine Harbor and Semiahmoo Resort—simple, scenic, and surprisingly historic for something that feels this casual. By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

Before we dive in, one data-quality note: your provided “city” field shows Simao, but the ferry departure point and attraction listing are clearly tied to Blaine, Washington at 235 Marine Drive (Visitor’s Dock, Gate II / Gate 2). Treat that “Simao” value as incorrect/outdated metadata.

—

## Quick facts you can rely on

– Name: Historic Plover Ferry / Plover Passenger Ferry
– Where you board in Blaine: Blaine Boating Center / Blaine Harbor Visitor’s Dock, Gate II (Gate 2), 235 Marine Dr, Blaine, WA 98230
– Route: Blaine Harbor ↔ Semiahmoo Resort Wharf Dock (Semiahmoo) By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!
– Type: Foot-passenger ferry (not a car ferry)
– Heritage: Described as Washington’s oldest foot passenger ferry and noted as listed on the National Register of Historic Places by at least one regional listing.

—

## Where exactly to go (and why “Gate II” matters)

The most common first-time mistake is arriving at “the marina” and assuming it’s obvious where the ferry boards. The Plover departure point is specifically called out as:

– Visitor’s Dock, Gate II (Gate 2) at the Blaine Boating Center / Blaine Harbor
– Address used publicly: 235 Marine Dr, Blaine, WA 98230 By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

That “Gate II” detail is not decorative—it’s how you avoid wandering docks and asking strangers which finger pier you need.

—

## How the schedule works (and what changes year to year)

What’s consistent across sources is the shape of the season:

– The ferry is described as operating on summer weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

What’s not consistent (and can change) is the exact daily timing:

– One official tourism page notes: “Hours vary, check ticketing App.” By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!
– A city document (agreement language) describes a general operating window that includes Friday/Saturday afternoons into evening and Sunday daytime—useful as a baseline, but not a promise for your specific date.
– The same tourism page spells out the cadence:
– Departs on the hour from Blaine (Gate II / Gate 2)
– Departs on the half-hour from Semiahmoo By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

### Outdated-data flag (important)
You’ll see older pages mentioning service interruptions (for example, non-operation in 2021) which is obviously not current guidance for planning today. Don’t use legacy season notes as proof of current operations—use the current ticketing/check-in instructions instead. By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

—

## What the ride is like (set expectations correctly)

This is not commuter transit. It’s a short, experience-forward crossing that’s appealing because:

– You’re on a small vessel with close water-level views of the harbor and bay.
– It’s a straightforward way to get between Blaine Harbor and Semiahmoo Resort without driving around. By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

You may also see traveler comments describing an interactive, friendly crew experience (including the idea of getting to “drive the boat” in some form). Treat that as anecdotal rather than guaranteed—crew policies and safety rules can vary by day and operator.

—

## Tickets, pricing, and donations

Some visitor-facing pages reference a suggested donation model (example amounts like $5 adult / $1 child have been published). Because pricing models change easily, use donation figures as a planning hint, not a locked-in truth—confirm via the current ticketing flow. Bay

—

## Accessibility, inclusivity, and who this works best for

What we can say with confidence from how it’s described: this is for foot passengers. That’s great if you’re traveling without a car, biking around, or want a low-barrier outing.

What you should verify on the day (because it’s not consistently stated in the sources above):
– Wheelchair or mobility-device boarding procedures
– Stroller handling
– Pet policies
– Bike capacity rules

If your group includes anyone with mobility constraints, arrive early and ask staff at the dock before boarding. That’s not just courtesy—it avoids stressful last-minute improvisation on a small vessel.

—

## A practical, low-friction itinerary (Blaine-side focus)

### 1) Start at Blaine Harbor and find Gate II
Use the 235 Marine Dr harbor address, then follow harbor signage toward the Visitor’s Dock / Gate II area.

### 2) Time your arrival around the departure rhythm
Because the ferry commonly runs on a predictable “hour / half-hour” cadence, showing up 10–20 minutes before a likely departure protects you from:
– the “I’m at the right marina but wrong dock” problem
– last-minute capacity limits By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

### 3) Ride to Semiahmoo Resort, then do one simple thing
Even if you don’t have a full plan at Semiahmoo, the point is the crossing. If you do want to make it feel like more than a loop:
– walk the waterfront near the resort docks
– grab a drink/meal on property (check hours independently)

### 4) Return the opposite direction on the half-hour
Semiahmoo departures are described as on the half-hour. By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!

—

## Two smart internal links for trip-planning context

If you’re building a Blaine-area day that includes the border region, these two RealJourneyTravels resources connect naturally:

– Planning to cross into Canada or driving around the border area? Read: Border Crossing Requirements in USA Canada by Car Journey Tours & Travels
– Pair the ferry with a nearby landmark stop: Peace Arch Provincial Park Journey Tours & Travels

—

## Final checks before you go (the “avoid wasted time” list)

– Confirm season status (many pages explicitly note the ferry closes for the season). By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!
– Use the official departure guidance: Blaine departs on the hour; Semiahmoo on the half-hour (then verify day-of). By The Sea | Voyagers Welcome!
– Navigate to Visitor’s Dock, Gate II / Gate 2 at 235 Marine Dr—don’t rely on “marina” as a destination.

If you want, paste the exact date you plan to go (just the date), and I’ll convert the schedule language into a tight, step-by-step timing plan without guessing anything not supported by a source.

Key Highlights

Historic Plover Ferry

Location

Places to Stay Near Historic Plover Ferry"You can get a chance to drive the boat and receive a capt."

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides