Car rental from Vancouver to Seattle border crossing

[Krazeniq]

Hello everyone!

We are booked on a Pacific Coastal Cruise which will be concluding in Vancouver, where we plan to stay for a few days then rent a car to drive from Vancouver to Seattle. I was wondering if anyone has done this and if you have any advice for us. A few concerns are:

 

1) What do we need to know and/or do to cross the border from Canada into the states with a rental car?

2) Approximately how long can it take to get through the border? (We will be traveling on May 5th which is a Wednesday, early morning around 7am)

I should probably add that we will be leaving Vancouver and traveling to Seattle to catch a flight home. According to Google Maps, it estimates travel time to be about 3 hours from Vancouver to Seattle ... is that a fair estimate or does it take longer? One of our flights leaves at 12:55pm and based on this 3 hour estimate, we plan to leave Vancouver around 7am to make it to Sea Tac airport around 11 or 11:30am ish (giving ourselves an extra hour or so to acommadate for traffic, border crossing, etc) ... is this enough time?

 

I welcome any and all info, tips, suggestions, do's and don'ts ... whatever you have and would be so kind to share with me would GREATLY be appreciated! Thanks in advance to all who reply :)

[Putterdude]

All of the national car companies are in Vancouver and Avis, Budget and National/Alamo have kiosks at the pier as well as downtown offices. Crossing the border is done in rental cars 100's is not 1000's of time each day so the only thing you are going to need to re-enter the US is your passport, passport card or enhanced d.l.. You will be asked where you have been, who long you have been away, what are you bring back and the value of same....that's about it.

Mid-week, early May at 7:00 am your wait at the border should be less than 1/2 hr but as you are catching a flight from SEA then allow 2 hrs plus your 3 hr driving time and you should be just fine. Shortly after you leave Vancouver you will go into a tunnel that takes you under the Fraser river; at that time of the morning southbound traffic is reduced to 1 lane in the tunnel so that adds a few minutes to your drive and as SEA is at he south end of Seattle the traffic on the freeway going thru Seattle can be heavy on weekdays but your will miss the heavy commute traffic.

[Urban trekker]

Tune your radio to News 1130 or AM 730 - they have frequent traffic reports.

 

As PD states - you should be fine but keep in mind that if an increase in the security levels happens the wait times at the border could get longer as the procedures will be tightened.

 

Enjoy your cruise and our fair city.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[scottbee]

Hello everyone!

We are booked on a Pacific Coastal Cruise which will be concluding in Vancouver, where we plan to stay for a few days then rent a car to drive from Vancouver to Seattle. I was wondering if anyone has done this and if you have any advice for us. A few concerns are:

 

1) What do we need to know and/or do to cross the border from Canada into the states with a rental car?

2) Approximately how long can it take to get through the border? (We will be traveling on May 5th which is a Wednesday, early morning around 7am)

I should probably add that we will be leaving Vancouver and traveling to Seattle to catch a flight home. According to Google Maps, it estimates travel time to be about 3 hours from Vancouver to Seattle ... is that a fair estimate or does it take longer? One of our flights leaves at 12:55pm and based on this 3 hour estimate, we plan to leave Vancouver around 7am to make it to Sea Tac airport around 11 or 11:30am ish (giving ourselves an extra hour or so to acommadate for traffic, border crossing, etc) ... is this enough time?

 

I welcome any and all info, tips, suggestions, do's and don'ts ... whatever you have and would be so kind to share with me would GREATLY be appreciated! Thanks in advance to all who reply :)

 

 

1) not much, you'll need your passport to re-enter the United States. Generally mornings until 2-3pm are fairly quiet, especially mid-week.

 

2) Change your flight, there's not a hope in heck you'll make a 12:55pm flight leaving at 07:00. Let me put it in perspective

 

Get your rental car paperwork, luggage loaded etc: 07:00

Drive to border: 08:00 (remember, it's rush hour, and the tunnel on Hwy 99 will be three lanes into Vancouver one lane out -- it backs up)

Cross the border: 08:10

Drive to SEATAC: 10:40 (it's the far side of Seattle)

Return rental car: 11:00

 

Assuming all of the ideal conditions, that's still cutting it pretty close

[Langley Cruisers]

Have you checked into the rates yet? I worked for five years in a rental car office in Victoria, B.C. We charged $150.00 as a drop fee to leave a car in Seattle; this was because each city is franchised and owns their own cars. A rental car sitting in Seattle potentially for days or weeks (as a worst-case scenario) is obviously not making any revenue. Now, occasionally there are "out of town" cars in the city you are renting in; these can be rented back to their home city without a drop charge because they belong there. BUT, you have no way of knowing this until you are standing right at the counter.

 

I also agree with scottbee; leaving at 7 am may seem reasonable but I don't think it's early enough. I'd much rather spend time sitting in the Seattle airport if I had to, as opposed to freaking out about missing my flight while sitting in traffic at the border or on either side of said border.

 

Come back and let us know what your thoughts are. :)

[Putterdude]

I don't disagree that leaving a little before 7 am is a good idea but it is a domestic flight with Sky Caps etc so arriving an hour before flight time should be plenty of time.

[LeftcoastBC]

I too don't disagree that 7 might do it as your flt is domestic. I assume if you are leaving at 7 your rental car is from the day before so leaving earlier would be a good idea.

Traffic through Seattle can be a bit of a problem also so make sure you tune in down there. You will have two choices I-5 straight through or 405 kinda around. Only the day in question will afford you the best way listen to the radio there also.

Rentals back and forth from Seattle have had no drop off charge for a long time now when in season. Check your provider to make sure.

[Krazeniq]

Thank you everyone for your advice I appreciate it IMMENSELY! I value all of your input especially since I have never been to Canada, let alone crossed the border back into the states, and have never been to or driven through or around Seattle so this is all foriegn to me :o

 

I suppose I should've been a bit more clear on our plans, I apologize ... We will already have the rental car for 3 days before we make our way to Seattle (we have it reserved for the day our ship drops us off in Vancouver so we have transportation during our post cruise stay in Vancouver) so we will definitely have the van packed and ready to go the night before we leave for Seattle. So when I say "leave by 7am" I mean that we will literally be on the road and enroute by 7am. We are a group of 6, 3 are flying home from Seattle to Iowa with a departing flight at 12:55pm and the rest of us will be driving home to California from Seattle (after dropping the others off at Sea Tac), so we will not be returning the rental car at Sea TAC rather we will be returning it in California once we arrive home.

 

Thanks again to all who have replied and to all who may reply ... you have no idea how thankful I am to get such great advice :)

[Earl Rosebery]

Hello everyone!

I welcome any and all info, tips, suggestions, do's and don'ts ... whatever you have and would be so kind to share with me would GREATLY be appreciated! Thanks in advance to all who reply :)

 

Just be aware that the US Border Guards can be extremely demanding. (Rude?) Don't argue and have all your passports

[scottbee]

I don't disagree that leaving a little before 7 am is a good idea but it is a domestic flight with Sky Caps etc so arriving an hour before flight time should be plenty of time.

 

Unfortunately, the days of checking in with bags, less than an hour before departure are slim. Alaska (SEA's biggest carrier) say 40 minutes, but I doubt your bags would make it at 40 minutes, and WN/Southwest suggest arriving at the airport 1½ hrs before departure.

[Langley Cruisers]

... so we will not be returning the rental car at Sea TAC rather we will be returning it in California once we arrive home.

 

 

Wow. Mind if I ask you what this little gem is costing? I can't even imagine the drop charge for a Canadian rental car to drop in California. Ooof! :eek:

 

I still think you should leave earlier. Like I said, better for your friends to be safely through the border and through security at the airport and waiting, than you rushing or them (or their luggage) not make it. Just sayin'.

[Putterdude]

Unfortunately, the days of checking in with bags, less than an hour before departure are slim. Alaska (SEA's biggest carrier) say 40 minutes, but I doubt your bags would make it at 40 minutes, and WN/Southwest suggest arriving at the airport 1½ hrs before departure.

 

Just flew LAS to FLL and return....no problem at all. Sky Caped it both ways and was done in minutes. Remember things are a bit differnt flying domestic in the US.

[LeftcoastBC]

If you are just dropping folks at seatac you should be just fine.

[Krazeniq]

Thanks Everyone! Wonderful feedback! Exactly what I wanted to know :)

[Krazeniq]

Wow. Mind if I ask you what this little gem is costing? I can't even imagine the drop charge for a Canadian rental car to drop in California. Ooof! :eek:

 

I still think you should leave earlier. Like I said, better for your friends to be safely through the border and through security at the airport and waiting, than you rushing or them (or their luggage) not make it. Just sayin'.

 

The drop fee is $500 ...

Originally we were going to drop the rental in Seattle but quickly learned that the drop fee was the same so we figured why not take the scenic drive home and extend our vacation by a few more days since the price is the same, always wanted to do the drive anyways, now we have a reason and the opportunity :D

[Langley Cruisers]

...so we figured why not take the scenic drive home and extend our vacation by a few more days since the price is the same, always wanted to do the drive anyways, now we have a reason and the opportunity :D

 

Yes, indeed. Are you driving down the Oregon coast, by chance? It is absolutely gorgeous, highly recommended for everyone at least once in their lifetime! You can cross over to I-5 almost at any given time, but I strongly encourage you to take Hwy.101 along the coast, at least as far down as Florence, Oregon. It is absolutely stunning.

 

Have fun on your cruise and your drive home. :)

[Krazeniq]

Yes, indeed. Are you driving down the Oregon coast, by chance? It is absolutely gorgeous, highly recommended for everyone at least once in their lifetime! You can cross over to I-5 almost at any given time, but I strongly encourage you to take Hwy.101 along the coast, at least as far down as Florence, Oregon. It is absolutely stunning.

 

Have fun on your cruise and your drive home. :)

 

Thank you :) We are very excited for the drive home, almost as much as the cruise ;) We do intend on taking the 101 all the way ... I love the coast and I just know that it will be an amazing drive, a perfect end to our vacation ...

[audacity]

I would advise to drop the car in Vancouver and take the shuttle bus. You can get the bus at the airport, or Canada Place. This is how most cruisers to/from Alaska do it. This is a large. comfortable tour bus. They load your luggage, border crossing is easy and fast. And, they drop you off, at your airline. I do this, returing from Alaska, take the train, going to Vancouver. Log onto SeaTac website, click transportation, all info is there, for to/from the airport.

[Langley Cruisers]

^ Actually, OP has already made the plans. Ya gotta read the whole thread, friend! :D ;) :D

[Fit S600]

On your drive from Vancouver to the Border you may experience traffic back up to get through the tunnel (as already been mentioned) but your van will have many people in it so find the HOV Lane and use it. HOV High occupancy vehicle.

[benjispice]

Some car companies don't allow one way rentals from Canada-US or vice versa...and as you've seen, the drop fee can be outrageous.

 

Since you want scenery, and are obviously already fine with boating, how about taking the Clipper? I've done it twice now and it was great!

 

http://www.clippervacations.com/ferry/ferryschedule

[benjispice]

Some car companies don't allow one way rentals from Canada-US or vice versa...and as you've seen, the drop fee can be outrageous.

 

Since you want scenery, and are obviously already fine with boating, how about taking the Clipper? I've done it twice now and it was great!

 

http://www.clippervacations.com/ferry/ferryschedule

 

Sorry, just clued in you said Vancouver, not Victoria....please disregard!! :(

[BCHappyGal]

We live in Surrey which is a southern suburb to Vancouver and right on the US border ..

We fly out of Seattle often and I find it is more like a 3.hour drive by the time you do customs and the Seattle traffic even using the HOV lanes.. You have to drive all the dway through Seattle as the airport is on the south side of Seattle.

 

As you will be in downtown Vancouver and leaving right in rush hour you will need to add another 45 minutes to that 3 hour time frame in my estimation. As using the highway 99 (which connects with Interstate 5 ) at that time of day will be very slow as they convert 1 lane to north bound for rush hour traffic heading into the city leaving only 1 lane thru the tunnel ... I would use highway 1 out of the city over the Port Mann Bridge - great HOV lanes and will be much faster at that time of day. Once over the Port Mann Bridge you would take the 176th Street exit onto Highway 15 - Highway 15 is the truck route over the border and will take you right to the truck crossing as we call it. Always faster than the Peace Arch Crossing and after you are over the border you continue straight and it feeds you right back onto Interstate 5 in about 15 blocks (2 traffic lights). This is the route I would take out of Vancouver not the Highway 99 given your time frame. I also would leave your downtown hotel a little earlier.

 

Another option might be to check out of your Vancouver hotel the day before and move to a hotel in Surrey or Langley both are right on the border and then your 7am time frame is perfect and you avoid Vancouver's rush hour traffic. In Surrey I would suggest the Sheraton on 104 Ave In Langley they have several that are good the Best WEstern on the Bypass, Hampton Suites on the Bypass, and probably the best would be the hotel that is part of the Langley Casino complex called the Coast hotel & Convention Center http://www.coasthotels.com or 800 663 1144 and while you are out in the Fraser Valley (suburbs to Vancovuer) check out Fort Langley the original settlement and first capital of BC, we also are home to the Mountainview Conservation & Breeding Center (a internationally recognized center for the breeding of nearly extinct animals to release back into the wild), The Vancouver Zoo, many wineries all offering tastings, White Rock with its miles of beach and beach front walk + pier and of course dozens of top notch restaurants.

 

Enjoy Vancouver and its many options

 

Ann

 

 

Enjoy your stay in Vancouver.

 

I will be home from my vacation in Florida on Wed and will post my list of fun things to do in and around Vancouver.

[BCHappyGal]

Info on Vancouver from a local!

 

My favorite must do attractions are

 

1) Grouse Mountain – http://www.grousemountain.com – this is a wonderful scenic mountain only about 15 mins from downtown Vancouver. Ride the airtram to the top for lots of fun activities that include a loggers show, birds of prey show, 2 movies (1 about the Vancouver area and 1 about the 2 Grizzly Bears who make their home on Grouse Mtn) ride a chair lift and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Enjoy a meal in any of the restaurants. Caveat only spend the money to go up on a clear day.

2) Capilano Suspension Bridge – http://www.capbridge.com – this is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction and I still enjoy visiting it! Located on Capilano Road just before you reach the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Walk across a suspension Bridge over the Capilano Gorge, wonder the trails thru the rain forest, walk thru the treetops on the new Tree Top Adventure, visit the trading post for a huge selection of souvenirs, watch native weavers and/or carvers at work.

3) Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located on Capilano Road and is a great place to view salmon jumping up the fish ladders to get around the Cleveland Dam. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge is also located in North Vancouver and is much less touristy than Capilano but it also is not as spectacular. The bridge is slightly higher above the water but much shorter in span. Located in a Provincial Park this bridge comes with some nice hiking trails and you will find an ecology centre in the park as well as picnic tables and a food concession outlet. Should you choose to enjoy the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge always cross the suspension bridge first and then hike down the trail to the lower (Twin Falls wooden) bridge to cross back over the Lynn Valley River and return to your car – that way you are hiking downhill rather than uphill. http://www.lynncanyonparkguide.bc.ca It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/stanley/ - is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. As one of North America's largest urban parks, covering over a 1000 acres and offering an abundance of activities. Enjoy the totem pole collection near the Brockton Point Light House, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – many view points, and several restaurants. During the summer months there is a free shuttle bus that you can ride around the park on.

6) Gas Town – the location where Vancouver originated. The name is derived from a very colorful character named Gassy Jack who was one of the first settlers in the area and a salon keeper – while in Gas Town don’t miss your photo op with the statue of Gassy Jack and by the Steam Clock.

7) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower http://www.vancouverlookout.com a great spot to start your tour of Vancouver with a birds eye view of the city. Either take the elevator up to the lookout level or go to the top and enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant.

8) China Town is only about 6 blocks over from Gas Town and is the largest China Town north of San Francisco. While in China Town enjoy a visit to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens http://www.classicalchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

9) Granville Island – http://www.granvilleisland.com – is a huge public market area which not only sells fruit & veggies but you can also buy frozen fish to be shipped to your home. May artists make this their home and you can watch them at work in their studios – making this a great place to buy unique souvenirs. The Granville Island Brewery is also located here and you can stop in for a free tour & tastes. There are theatres for live performances and many fine restaurants. A fun way to get to Granville Island is via the Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com

10) Burnaby Village Museum – http://www.city.burnaby.bc.ca – is an open air museum with over 30 restored homes, shops, school, church and a 1912 carousel situated on 10 acres

11) Gulf of Georgia Cannery – http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com – is a restored fishing cannery located in the historic fishing village of Steveston (part of Richmond). Here you see exhibits that showcase the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia. Once finished in the museum it is great fun to walk along the fishing docks and see the fishing boats which are selling their catch. There are also some excellent restaurants located here.

12) The Vancouver Maritime Museum located on the shore of English Bay is fun for the whole family with lots of hands on exhibits for the kid in all of us. Here to you will find the ship St Roch which the RCMP sailed from Vancouver to Halifax via the Northwest Passage and then completed the return journey in 1944. You actually get to tour this ship. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

13) Queen Elizabeth Park – http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/QEPark01.htm -The 130 acre (52 hectare) park is one of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world. Second only to Stanley Park in annual visitations, it receives nearly 6 million people a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings.

The park was originally quarried for its rock which served to build Vancouver's first roadways. In 1929 the Board proceeded to acquire the property which had become an abandoned eyesore but still served as the site for two holding reservoirs for the City's drinking water. Dedicated as a park by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the present Queen's mother) on their much lauded visit to Vancouver in 1939.

14) Fort Langley is the restored wooden fort built by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post. It is the origin of British Columbia and was the first capital. This Fort is operated by the Federal Parks Board. http://www.pc,qc.ca/fortlangley

15) If you are a wine lover you might want to rent a car and spend a day visiting a few of the many excellent wineries located in the Fraser Valley only about a 1 hour drive from your hotel. Almost all of the wineries offer free tastes & tours.

16) If you are a real animal lover than don’t miss “Mountain View Conservation & Breeding Centre” It is located in Fort Langley about an hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre is a leading non-profit Canadian facility that breeds endangered species in family groups for re-introduction back into their natural habitat in Canada and around the world. This facility is not a zoo their goal is to breed rare and endangered wildlife and re-introduce these animals back into their natural habitats. Presently Mountainview hosts over 50 species of the world’s most threatened animals and birds. See animals such as the spotted dog from Africa, Giraffes, and much much more. Here you do not wonder around as in a zoo rather you are given a guided tour with commentary on each animal group. Check it out at http://www.mtnviewconservation.org

17) VanDusen Botanical Garden is a scenic 55- acre garden of international renown – a living museum of plants collected from around the world and artistically displayed amidst rolling lawns, woodlands and five tranquil lakes, all in the heart of Vancouver and just 15 minutes from downtown.

Due to Vancouver’s mild climate, plants bloom at the Garden year-round. This same climate creates a unique environment where plants from varying climate regions thrive and grow – at VanDusen you will see plants from the southern hemisphere, tropical areas and the high Arctic tundra along side native species. The Elizabethan Maze (one of only six in North America) provides year-round fun.

18) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org

19) Dazzle your senses when you visit Minter Gardens nestled against 7000 foot Mt. Cheam in beautiful 'Super Natural' British Columbia. One of the most spectacular show gardens in the world! Eleven themed gardens are designed to dazzle the senses with massive displays of artistic floral designs.

Minter Gardens is located 90 minutes east of downtown Vancouver just off the Trans-Canada Hwy. #1 at exit #135. http://www.gardeningbc.com

[Luckysll]

On your drive from Vancouver to the Border you may experience traffic back up to get through the tunnel (as already been mentioned) but your van will have many people in it so find the HOV Lane and use it. HOV High occupancy vehicle.

 

There will also be an HOV lane as you get closer to Seattle (if I recall, it starts near Everett).