Vancouver Island

Travel Directions

Travelling to Vancouver Island BC and want some tips and tricks for getting here? Sure you can use Google to find what you want but we can offer a local’s insight. Check out the information we compiled and feel free to contact us if you have questions!

Victoria | Vancouver Island | Sooke | Tofino | Vancouver | Whistler

Rathtrevor Beach

Directions to Vancouver Island British Columbia

Getting to Vancouver Island:

Maps Directions – By Car:

Click on the links below to jump to the corresponding information on this page:

Seattle to Vancouver Island Via Anacortes WA

Travel Time: approximately 3.5 – 4 hours

The trip from Seattle WA to Anacortes WA takes about 1 and a half hours. The ferry ride to Sidney BC on Vancouver Island then takes approximately 2 hours. Be aware that there are only 2 ferry departures per day for this ferry.

For more information on travelling from Seattle to Victoria Via the Anacortes ferry route you can visit the Washington State Ferries web site for more information on the Anacortes Washington to Sidney British Columbia Ferry service.

Directions to Anacortes Terminal

Equally distanced between Seattle to the south and Vancouver, B.C. to the north (approximately 85 miles from each), Anacortes rests on the waters of the Pacific Ocean on beautiful Fidalgo Island.

From the North

Take I-5 South
Take exit 230
Merge right onto Peterson Rd.
At first light take a left onto Highway 20
Follow Highway 20 to Anacortes
Once you reach Anacortes merge right onto Commercial Avenue to reach the central business district.
Take a left at 12th St and follow signs to the ferry terminal.


From the South

Take I-5 North
Take exit 230
At first light take a left onto Highway 20
Follow Highway 20 to Anacortes
Once you reach Anacortes merge right onto Commercial Avenue to reach the central business district.
Take a left at 12th St and follow signs to the ferry terminal.
Once you have left the Anacortes Ferry on Vancouver Island, follow the signs to Hwy 17 and Victoria. When you reach the intersection with Hwy 17, turn left and follow it until you reach Victoria BC.

Seattle to Vancouver Island Via Port Angeles WA

Travel Time: approximately 4 – 5 hours

The ferry service from Port Angeles enables you to arrive in downtown Victoria BC in the heart of the beautiful Inner Harbour, right in front of such famous landmarks as the Empress Hotel and the British Columbia Legislature. For more information on travelling from Seattle to Victoria Via the Port Angeles ferry route you can visit the Coho Ferry web site for more information on the Port Angeles Washington to Victoria British Columbia Ferry service.

Directions to Port Angeles

It is easy to get to Port Angeles from Seattle and other Puget Sound locations.

From Seattle via the Bainbridge Ferry.

Follow highway 305 to highway 3. Exit highway 3 onto highway 104, then take that to highway 101 west around Sequim. Port Angeles is 15 miles west of Sequim on highway 101. Travel Time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes

Directions from Seattle via Interstate 5

Take Interstate 5 North to the Bremerton Exit (highway 16 North) through Bremerton; past Bremerton take highway 3 to 104 to 101 around Sequim. Port Angeles is 15 miles west of Sequim on highway 101.

Directions from the West

From Forks, or Aberdeen follow highway 101 into Port Angeles. Travel time from Forks is approximately 1 hour.

Directions From Clallam Bay/Sekiu

Follow highway 112 to 101 into Port Angeles. Travel time is approximately 1 hour.

Seattle to Vancouver Island Via Vancouver

Travel Time: approximately 5.5 – 6 hours

Directions:

Travel on I-5 North to the Canadian border. Once in Canada, after going through the Douglas Border crossing, I-5 becomes Highway 99 which travels north into Vancouver. Take Highway 99 North till you reach Highway 10. Go West on Hwy 10 to Hwy 17. Travel Southwest on Hwy 17 till you reach the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

You will need to board a BC Ferries ship to travel the 1 hour and 45 minutes trip across to Vancouver Island. You can check the schedule of these ferry sailings by clicking this link.

Once you have left the BC Ferry on Vancouver Island you will be travelling South into Victoria on Hwy 17 from Sidney BC. Continue on this Hwy until you reach Victoria.

Vancouver to Vancouver Island

Travel Time: approximately 3 – 3 1/2 hours

There are two ways to get to Vancouver Island BC from Vancouver BC. You have a choice of taking two basic routes, travelling to Victoria BC or to Nanaimo BC.

While in Vancouver travel South on Oak Street till it intersects with Highway 99. Take Highway 99 South to Highway 17. Travel Southwest on Highway 17 to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. At the Tsawwassen ferry terminal you are presented with a choice of travelling by ferry to either Victoria BC or to Nanaimo BC. If you are looking for the most direct route, take the ferry to Nanaimo. If you with to do a little sightseeing on the way in Victoria and points between such as Ladysmith BC or Crofton BC, then take the Victoria Swartz Bay ferry on Vancouver Island.

Directions (via the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal):

If you are in North Vancouver and plan to travel to Vancouver Island on the Horseshoe Bay ferry, this is also a very good route from Whistler BC or any point North of Vancouver BC. You must keep in mind that there is no ferry service to Victoria from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, only to Nanaimo BC.

Winter Driving

As the weather conditions for Southern Vancouver Island and the Vancouver mainland are mild and temperate, be prepared for heavy rain and wind in winter to cause poor driving conditions. In a very rare case will there possibly be snow, though it does not snow every winter.

Highway Regulations

Use of seat belts in BC by drivers and passengers is mandatory. Use of headlights during daylight on all vehicles is highly recommended. The maximum speed limit on Highway 99 is 80 km per hour with many slower areas along the way.

Metric Equivalents

All highway signs are posted in metric (kilometres per hour).
30 mph = 50 km/h, 50 mph = 80 km/h.

Gasoline is sold in litres: 1 US gallon = 3.78 litres

1 kilometre = 5/8 or .621 miles; 1 mile = 1 2/3 or 1.6 kilometres.

Traveling Information – By Bus:

From Vancouver International Airport and Vancouver Bus Depot
Pacific Coach Lines
  • Reservations and info available at the following numbers
  • Vancouver local (604) 662-7575
  • Toll Free 1 (800) 661-1725 (USA & CANADA)
  • Scheduled service of motor coaches from the Vancouver International Airport and Vancouver Bus Depot to Victoria BC.
  • Shuttle drops passengers directly at many stops on the way to Victoria as well as the main bus terminal in downtown Victoria.
  • round-trip service provided
  • website: Pacific Coach Lines – airport schedule
  • website:Pacific Coach Lines – Vancouver Bus Depot schedule

Traveling Information – By Plane:

Air Canada – Air BC
  • reservations required
  • call 1-888-247-2262
  • Flights to and from all major local, national and international destinations
  • Website: Air Canada
Alaska & Horizon Airlines
  • reservations required
  • Phone: 1-(800) 547-9308
  • Flights from Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle with connections to other regular domestic and International flights.
  • Website: Alaska Air
Air Speed Aviation
  • Flights to Victoria from Abbotsford BC
  • call Vancouver 1-(604) 852-9245 Victoria 1-(250) 655-4300
  • Website: Air Speed Aviation
Harbour Air
  • Daily scheduled Float Plane service from Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Gulf Islands, and Queen Charlotte Islands.
  • Phone: 1-(250) 384-2215 Toll-free 1-(800) 665-0212
  • Website: Harbour Air
Kenmore Air
  • As the largest seaplane based airline in the world, they feature scheduled flights, charter service and packaged excursions. Daily schedyuled flights from Vancouver, Seattle and many other smaller locations.
  • Phone: 1-(800) 543-9595 or 1-(206) 486-1257
  • Website: Kenmore Air

Traveling Information – By Helijet:
Helijet Airways
  • Helijet offers daily scheduled service in British Columbia between Vancouver, Abbotsford and Victoria BC
  • Phone: 1-(800) 665-4354 Vancouver 1-(604) 273-1414 Victoria 1-(250) 382-6222
  • Website: Helijet Airways

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