I live in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and love visiting Washington, USA. Simone Paget
I travel frequently between Canada and the United States, and recently took a route that involved car ferries.
The trip cost about $150 for two passengers and a car and took about five and a half hours.
I don't think having a car will make my trip any better, so I think I'll take a passenger ship next time.
Nearly 400,000 people travel between Canada and the United States every day, and one of the biggest benefits of living in Victoria, British Columbia is its relative proximity to Washington state.
Locals commonly spend weekends in Seattle to watch sports games, concerts, and cross-border shopping.
But even though the city is fairly close, getting there can be a headache if you don't know what you're doing. Victoria, British Columbia is on an island, so unless you're flying, you'll need to travel by boat.
In ideal conditions, it will take at least 4-5 hours to drive there. But when you factor in ferry times, potential weather delays, border waits, traffic, and refueling stops, it can easily become an eight-hour trip.
Recently, a friend and I took the car ferry from Victoria to Vancouver to go to Seattle. Here's what it's like and what you need to know before booking your trip.
There are several options for getting to mainland Washington from Victoria, British Columbia.
For this trip to Seattle, we chose the BC Ferries car ferry. Simone Paget
The Victoria Clipper offers the fastest non-stop service between Victoria and Seattle, but it is a passenger-only ferry.
If you prefer to drive, take the Blackball “Coho” ferry to Port Angeles, Washington, or BC Ferries to Vancouver, a two- to three-hour drive to Seattle.
On the way, I decided to stop at the Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip, Washington (about an hour from Seattle). And since we're in the States, we had a chance to stop by Trader Joe's and stock up on some of our favorite American snacks.
I decided to book my ticket on BC Ferries since having a car would make both pit stops easier.
Tickets vary depending on vehicle, number of passengers, and age. Vehicles under 20 feet cost CAD 67.40 each way, or about $49. However, that cost does not include the driver or other passengers.
The adult fare was CAD 19.10 each way, so the total one-way ferry cost was CAD 105.6.
If you're traveling on a weekend, make reservations and arrive early.
Ferries tend to sell out on weekends. Simone Paget
Since we were driving, we had to factor in the driving time to the ferry terminal at Swartz Bay on the outskirts of Victoria.
BC Ferries serves travelers from all over Vancouver Island and lower mainland British Columbia. Weekends are usually crowded and popular cruises may sell out.
Traffic can be heavy on weekends, so please arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow plenty of time.
We recommend booking online to ensure your spot on your specific cruise. There is an additional charge of $20 CAD for reservations, but I think it's well worth it.
Even if you have booked a ferry, please be aware that the ferry may be canceled or delayed due to weather conditions. In that case, you will be forced to board the next boat after 1-2 hours.
There are great views throughout the ride, which makes up for the lack of Wi-Fi.
The ferry ride from Victoria to Vancouver takes approximately 90 minutes. Simone Paget
One of my favorite things about the 90-minute boat ride from Victoria to Vancouver is the amazing scenery and ocean views. We recommend sitting outside if the weather is nice.
It has picturesque islands covered in lush forests, and if you're lucky, you might spot pods of whales and dolphins.
However, if you plan to watch your favorite shows, download the content before the ferry leaves. There was no Wi-Fi option on board.
Cell phone reception was also spotty, so I used offline apps to check on work progress and used my trips to take in the sights.
There is a restaurant on the ferry, which is actually decent.
There are always a lot of people in the ferry cafeteria. Simone Paget
The ship's cafeteria serves everything from coffee and desserts to local specialties like Nanaimo bars (B.C.'s traditional layered sweets) and White Spot burgers.
Surprisingly, food on ferries tends to be quite expensive, but I don't mind. If you don't know what to buy, skip the prepackaged salad and buy poutine.
At around $7-8 CAD, it's one of the cheapest things on the menu, and it's delicious and filling.
However, if you don't want to deal with lines or crowds, you'll need to bring your own food.
There is almost always a line in the cafeteria. On our last trip, he waited 30 minutes to order a hamburger and Diet Coke. The dining area is also crowded with tourists and has the feel of a food court in a crowded shopping mall by the sea.
The arrival process is very simple.
We headed back to the car before getting off the ferry. Simone Paget
Crew will announce to passengers to return to the vehicle 15 minutes before docking. It's usually when I sneak off to the bathroom last minute before going down to the deck of my car.
We waited in the car for about 10 minutes for the ship to arrive before departing.
We headed to the Peace Arch border crossing.
Since we entered the port of Vancouver, Canada, we still had to cross the border into the United States. Simone Paget
The ship docks in Tsawwassen, a small town outside of Vancouver, about a 40-minute drive to the Canada-US border.
This drive always makes me nervous because I can't predict how long the wait will be.
We were lucky and only had to wait about 20 minutes on this trip. But hours-long lines at the border are common, especially when Seattle hosts special events like a Taylor Swift concert or a Mariners game.
If possible, avoid driving into Seattle during rush hour.
Luckily I didn't run into any traffic on the way to Seattle. Simone Paget
Even though it should be a two-and-a-half hour drive from the border crossing to Seattle, traffic jams are common, especially as you get closer to the city.
On one of my previous trips, I was stuck in traffic and it took me 4 hours. Therefore, I always try my best to avoid arriving near rush hour.
We decided to stay in Seattle for one night.
I booked a room at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. Simone Paget
While it's technically possible to take a car ferry to Seattle for a day trip, we wanted to spend more than a few hours in the city before turning around and catching the final ferry home. at 10 p.m..
On this trip, we booked a one-night stay at The Edgewater. This is an iconic Seattle hotel with a storied history of hosting legendary musicians such as the Beatles, Red Zeppelin, and Pearl Jam.
Our room cost $329 CAD and we loved the great water views, central location, and easy access by car.
I wish I didn't have a car in Seattle.
Our hotel was within walking distance of Seattle's main drags. Simone Paget
We were staying in downtown Seattle, so we were within walking distance of Pike Place Market, Nordstrom's flagship store, and the lively eateries of Belltown.
We also spent an afternoon exploring the trendy Capitol Hill neighborhood, a 10-minute drive from downtown. But in the end, he decided to take an Uber because he knew it would be easier than finding parking on his own on the weekend.
The city is well-equipped with public transportation, including light rail, monorail, and trams, making it easy to get around even if you don't have a car.
Considering the time and money spent, I wish I had left my car at home.
I like to ride the Victoria Clipper passenger ferry to Seattle. Simone Paget
In addition to the round-trip ferry fare (including appropriate fees and taxes), my friend and I spent approximately CAD 82 on gas, bringing our total transportation costs for the weekend trip to CAD 323 (excluding hotel stay). I did.
I have taken the Victoria Clipper passenger ferry to Seattle in the past and found it to be a more relaxing experience, although more expensive (CAD 344 round trip per adult).
The car ferry trip took about 5 and a half hours from start to finish. However, the passenger ferry boarded the boat at 5pm and arrived at the hotel in Seattle by 8:15pm.
As a single woman who would rather spend the weekend exploring one of my favorite cities than sitting in traffic, passenger ferries are my preferred mode of transportation.
That being said, car ferries have their advantages.
If you're traveling as a family or group, it's significantly cheaper than passenger ferries. A round trip for a family of four on BC Ferries costs about CAD 231, while the same trip on the Victoria Clipper costs about CAD 866.
Additionally, if you plan on doing a lot of shopping or outdoor activities outside of Seattle, it usually makes sense to have a car.
