Downtown Seattle > Vitoria > Vancouver

[tvisser]

We are driving from Seattle to Vancouver but want to take the ferry to Victoria on the way and then Victoria to Vancouver. We will be in a van so the ferry will have to transport the van. What are our options from Downtown Seattle to Victoria via ferry and then Victoria to Vancouver? How long does it take?

 

Thanks,

 

Tim

[coolcanuck]

Hi Tim,

 

You'll have a great trip to Vancouver via Ferry. Options from Seattle include the Victoria Clipper (which is passenger only) or Washington State Ferries (which will take your vehicle as well). Both have websites with details. Crossing time approx. 1 1/2 hours.

 

From Victoria to Vancouver - BC Ferries runs daily, every hour in the summer. It's approx. and hour and half crossing. BC Ferries website will also have schedules, fares, etc.

 

Keep in mind that in Victoria and Vancouver the Ferry terminals may not be right downtown. ie) Victoria clipper does take you right to the Inner-Harbour in Victoria (downtown), but Washington State Ferry may use the Sydney Harbour - about half hour out of the city. BC Ferries used the Swartz Bay Terminal - approx. 1/2 hour out of the city. Victoria is very easy to get around and that 1/2 hour is an easy drive.

 

I like your plans to go this route - and I know you'll really enjoy Victoria too - what a beautiful City and area! Be sure and check out Butchart Gardens while on the Island too. Your plans are SO much better than simply driving direct from Seattle to Vancouver. On the Interstate 5, you miss all the scenery and adventure.

 

Have a wonderful trip!

Doug

[scottbee]

We are driving from Seattle to Vancouver but want to take the ferry to Victoria on the way and then Victoria to Vancouver. We will be in a van so the ferry will have to transport the van. What are our options from Downtown Seattle to Victoria via ferry and then Victoria to Vancouver? How long does it take?

 

I'll start with the easy part.

Victoria -> Vancouver. BC Ferries operate up to 16x/day from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal 32km north of Victoria to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, 37km south of Vancouver. Crossing time is 1 hour and 35 minutes, Cost will be about C$80-90 for a minivan and 2 people. If you have a choice, take an 'odd hour' ferry, as these are operated by the two largest (2000 passenger/400+ cars), nicest ships in the fleet, the Spirit of British Columbia and Spirit of Vancouver Island.

 

For Seattle -> Victoria you have Two choices;

The Washington State ferries operate from Anacortes (110km north of Seattle) to Victoria. There's only one ferry/day and it stops in Friday Harbour/San Juan Island. The Victoria side terminal is in Sidney, about 27km north of downtown Victoria. Crossing time is a little over 3 hours. I haven't taken the Anacortes ferry in a long long time, so can't tell you what it costs.

 

Blackball transport operate the 'Coho' from Port Angeles, WA (125km NW of Seattle) to downtown Victoria. In the summer, 3x sailings/day IIRC and the cost is comparible to BCFerries. Be sure to check out the "Barbara Streisand room' on board (cute story).

 

For getting to Victoria from WA state by car, the Coho is the way to go. If you didn't have your car with you, QX/Horizon Air (part of the Alaska Air Group) fly 5x daily SEA-YYJ/Victoria Intl, as well as a couple of float plane like Kenmore Air.

 

Given all of this, you'll find it's cheaper to drive to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal from Seattle, park there, walk on the ferry to Victoria (given there is often a 2-3 sailing wait for cars if it's busy) and ride the bus or coach into downtown Victoria and reverse the procedure when you're done. Also, there are 16x/day Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, vs 4x/day Port Angeles-Victoria and 1x/day Anacortes-Victoria

[whimseysgirl]

A bit more to add to the fabulous info already given:

 

The Washington State ferries only come to Victoria part of the year late spring to early fall), so it depends on when you're traveling.

 

The Coho, which I agree is a great way to go, since you get your border crossing over and done as you're getting on the ferry, is a bit of a drive from Seattle. You can make reservations (for a fee, of course), which is not a bad idea since it doesn't run as often. And its a bonus because it sails right into the Inner Harbour of Victoria, which is a different way to see the city, and saves you the 35 + minute drive into town.

 

You can also reserve for the BC ferries (again, for a fee), but its tricky, since it can be hard to predict how long the border waits are. Going back to Vancouver, it might be useful. Usually there isn't more than a one sailing wait, 2 if it's a holiday. When the ferries run every hour, that's not too bad...it sucks when they're only every 2 hours, though. I think it is the prettiest crossing as well, between the Islands at Active Pass especially.

 

All three have comprehensive websites, so you can compare and see what looks best for you.