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Kingston is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, set on the eastern shore of the Kitsap Peninsula facing Puget Sound. Originally known as Appletree Cove, it is a small town of about 2,500 people whose identity is inseparable from the water. Kingston's ferry terminal is the western end of the Edmonds–Kingston route, a Washington State Ferries crossing that has connected the peninsula to the Seattle-area mainland for more than a century, with ferry service on the route dating to the early 1920s. The ferry has shaped Kingston's economy and character, making it a gateway community and a practical home base for people who work or study on the east side of Puget Sound. The village clusters around the terminal, the Village Green Community Center, and the Kingston Library, which together provide the civic heart of the town. Small shops and services serve both residents and the steady flow of ferry travelers passing through. Kingston is served by the North Kitsap School District, which operates schools across the northern peninsula, and the community hosts North Kitsap Options, a public K-8 school. Recreation is closely tied to the landscape: Mike Wallace Park offers shoreline views and community space, Heronswood Garden is a celebrated botanical destination, and North Kitsap Heritage Park provides forested trails. Eglon Beach and other shoreline spots extend access to the water. State Route 104 links Kingston to the rest of the Kitsap Peninsula, including nearby Poulsbo and the Hood Canal Bridge to the west. The combination of ferry access, waterfront living, and a small, community-centered atmosphere makes Kingston an appealing place for those who want a Puget Sound lifestyle with a direct connection to the greater Seattle area.

Population 2,515

County Kitsap

Active Listings 92

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kingston, Washington known for?

Kingston is best known for its Washington State Ferries terminal on Puget Sound, the western end of the Edmonds–Kingston ferry route. The crossing has connected the Kitsap Peninsula to the Seattle area for more than a century.

What county is Kingston, Washington in?

Kingston is in Kitsap County, Washington, on the eastern shore of the Kitsap Peninsula. It sits across Puget Sound from Edmonds, with the state ferry providing a direct water link to the Seattle metropolitan area.

What school district serves Kingston, Washington?

Kingston is served by the North Kitsap School District, which operates schools across the northern Kitsap Peninsula. The community is also home to North Kitsap Options, a public K-8 school located in Kingston.

Where does the Kingston ferry go?

The Kingston ferry terminal connects to Edmonds, Washington, on the east side of Puget Sound. The Edmonds–Kingston route is operated by Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States.

What is the population of Kingston, Washington?

Kingston's population was 2,515 at the 2020 census. It is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, and was originally known as Appletree Cove before taking its present name.

City Guide

About Kingston

Real Estate & Housing

Kingston's housing reflects its evolution from a small cove settlement into a ferry-served Puget Sound community. The housing stock includes older homes near the waterfront and village center, mid-century and newer single-family residences on wooded lots, and a share of shoreline properties along Appletree Cove and the Sound. Because Kingston is unincorporated, residential patterns are varied rather than shaped by a single municipal plan, mixing compact in-town streets with larger rural parcels on the surrounding hillsides. The community appeals to those seeking waterfront proximity and a small-town setting, often at a remove from the higher-density housing of the Seattle side of the Sound.

Neighborhoods

Kingston is a compact community organized around its ferry terminal and village core, with residential areas spreading outward into the wooded hillsides and along the shoreline. The area near the ferry dock, Mike Wallace Park, and the Village Green functions as the town center, while quieter streets climb away from the water toward rural residential tracts. Shoreline properties line Appletree Cove and the adjoining Sound. Beyond the immediate village, the broader North Kitsap countryside offers acreage and more secluded homes, with the surrounding communities of the Kitsap Peninsula reachable by State Route 104 and local roads.

Lifestyle in Kingston

Kingston offers a maritime small-town lifestyle shaped by its ferry terminal and waterfront setting. The daily rhythm is tied to the Sound — ferry sailings, harbor activity, and shoreline parks set the tone. The village center around the ferry dock and Village Green provides a community hub, with the library, community center, and local gathering spots anchoring civic life. Residents enjoy a quieter, outdoors-oriented pace than the urban centers across the water, yet the Edmonds ferry keeps Seattle-area jobs and culture within reach. The blend of shoreline access, community institutions, and ferry connectivity gives Kingston a distinctive Puget Sound character.

Schools & Education

Kingston is part of the North Kitsap School District, which serves the northern Kitsap Peninsula and includes elementary, middle, and high schools across the region. Within Kingston itself, North Kitsap Options provides a public K-8 school option for local families. The Kingston Library, located within the Village Green Community Center, supplements education with programs and resources for children and adults. Families also have access to preschool programs, community organizations, and youth activities through facilities such as the Boys & Girls Club of North Kitsap, reinforcing the town's family-oriented character and its ties to the broader North Kitsap community.

Getting Around

Kingston's transportation centerpiece is its Washington State Ferries terminal, offering regular sailings across Puget Sound to Edmonds and a direct link to the Seattle metropolitan area. State Route 104 runs through the community, connecting westward toward Poulsbo, the Hood Canal Bridge, and the Olympic Peninsula, and eastward to the ferry dock. The ferry route is part of the state highway system and serves as the primary commuting and travel artery for residents. While the automobile and ferry dominate travel, the compact village center around the terminal and Village Green is walkable for everyday errands.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Kingston is anchored by its shoreline and parks. Mike Wallace Park, near the ferry terminal, offers waterfront views, a breakwater for sunset walks, and community gathering space. Heronswood Garden, a renowned botanical garden, is a draw for plant enthusiasts and seasonal blooms. North Kitsap Heritage Park provides forested trails for hiking and nature walks, while Eglon Beach offers shoreline access for beachcombing and winter-wave watching. The Village Green adds community trails and green space in the town center. With Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and the Kitsap Peninsula's trail network nearby, outdoor recreation is woven into daily life.

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