Travelling by Water...

With onboard restaurants and breath-taking scenery, taking the ferries is like going on a miniature cruise!

Bringing a vehicle to Vancouver Island is easy from either British Columbia's Mainland or Washington State. In British Columbia, BC Ferries runs scheduled trips between various location on the BC Mainland and Vancouver Island. Victoria Clipper (passengers only), MV Coho, and Washington State Ferries operate between Washington and Victoria. Crossing times are approximate.

BC Ferry Service

The crossings between Vancouver Island and B.C.'s Lower Mainlandcan last from about 95 minutes to two hours, depending on which route you take. There are three to choose from, including ourVancouver – Victoria service with frequent sailings every day of the year.

Mainland-Vancouver Island Routes
Vancouver-Victoria (Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay)
Vancouver-Nanaimo (Tsawwassen-Duke Point)
West Vancouver-Nanaimo (Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay)

Sunshine Coast Routes
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast (Horseshoe Bay-Langdale)
Sechelt Peninsula-Powell River (Earls Cove-Saltery Bay) 
Powell River-Comox (Westview-Little River)

If you're after more of a "cruise line" experience, consider a voyage through British Columbia's majestic Inside Passage. This one is particularly popular with international travellers, going from Port Hardy at the northern end of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, gateway to southeast Alaska.   

Inside Passage Spring–Summer Day Cruise

More BC Ferry Infomration
Driving instruction to BC Ferry Terminals

Washington State Ferries to Vancouver Island

MV Coho

Providing a scenic passage, linking Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula, Black Ball Ferry Line is a vehicle and passenger ferry, providing year round daily service. The MV Coho ferry carries vehicles and passengers between Port Angeles WA and Victoria BC.

Washington State Ferries

It's a beautiful journey aboard a Washington State Ferry as your car ferry sails from Anacortes through the San Juan Islands to Sidney, B.C. on Vancouver Island.. This 2-3 hour cruise provides beautiful scenery, picture opportunities and views of island living.

Victoria Clipper 

Your exhilarating Vancouver Island  vacation begins when you board a Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran at Pier 69 in downtown Seattle. As you travel through Puget Sound and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, your sights will be filled with the glorious Olympic mountains, quaint island villages, and blue skies! You'll arrive in downtown Victoria's Inner Harbour where the sightseeing begins as you step off the boat!

Click here for marinas and travel times »