It’s that time of summer again: The last colossal crush of ferry travelers will jam aboard Washington ferries for the Labor Day weekend.

If you go, you certainly won’t be sailing solo. Washington State Ferries said it expects a half-million people to take a ferry between Thursday, Aug. 29, and Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Travelers headed out for the Labor Day weekend should plan ahead for potential backups and delays.

Waits may be lengthy during the last long weekend of the peak ferry travel season, and transportation officials suggest leaving the car at home, if possible, and walking on the ferry. Drivers can also avoid long waits by taking an early morning or late evening sailing.

WSF expects many holiday weekend travelers to sail westbound today, Aug. 29, through Saturday, Aug. 31, and then eastbound Sunday, Sept. 1 through Tuesday, Sept. 3, as they return from their Labor Day getaways.

On Labor Day, the Bainbridge Island-Seattle route will operate on a weekend timetable that day.

Ridership is expected to drop 20 percent after Labor Day, officials said.