Vancouver to Vancouver Island Ferry: Which Route Should You Take?

On this page

1. Start with your destination, then your starting point
2. The two mainland terminals
3. The three island terminals
4. Match the route to your trip
5. Car or walk-on?
6. Reservations across the routes
7. Arriving by air
8. Before you go
9. Frequently asked questions

Start with your destination, then your starting point

“Vancouver to Vancouver Island” covers three different routes, and picking the wrong one can add an hour of driving at either end. The good news is that the decision is simple once you answer two questions: where on the island are you going, and where in Metro Vancouver are you starting?

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal1 Ferry Causeway, Delta, BC V4M 4G6 Google Maps Apple Maps

Horseshoe Bay6750 Keith Rd, West Vancouver, BC V7W 2V1 Google Maps Apple Maps

Route	Crossing	Serves	Best for
Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay	About 1 h 35 min	Victoria, Sidney, Saanich Peninsula	Victoria and the south island
Tsawwassen to Duke Point	2 h 00 min, 10 sailings a day	Nanaimo (south side)	Drivers heading up-island or south to Victoria by road; anyone from YVR, Richmond, or Delta
Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay	About 1 h 40 min	Nanaimo (city centre)	Downtown Vancouver, North Shore, Sea to Sky; walk-ons to Nanaimo

Crossing times for Swartz Bay and Departure Bay are commonly cited figures; check the current schedule for exact timings.

Which route?

1

Victoria via Swartz Bay

Time

About 1 h 35 min

Best for

Victoria, Sidney, Butchart Gardens, the Saanich Peninsula, the Southern Gulf Islands

1. Sail from Tsawwassen (Delta)
2. Land at Swartz Bay, about 30 min north of downtown Victoria

The only mainland route to the Victoria area.

2

Nanaimo via Duke Point

Time

2 h 00 min, 10 sailings a day

Best for

Drivers from YVR, Richmond, or Delta heading up-island, or south to Victoria by road

1. Sail from Tsawwassen (Delta)
2. Land at Duke Point, about 20 min south of Nanaimo centre, minutes from the highway

Limited transit at Duke Point; walk-ons need a pickup or taxi.

3

Nanaimo via Departure Bay

Time

About 1 h 40 min

Best for

Downtown Vancouver, the North Shore, the Sea to Sky; walk-ons staying in Nanaimo

1. Sail from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver)
2. Land at Departure Bay, about 5 min from downtown Nanaimo

Small holding area at Horseshoe Bay; queues spill onto the highway on busy days.

The two mainland terminals

Tsawwassen is at 1 Ferry Causeway in Delta, at the south end of Highway 17 near the US border. It is about 36 km from downtown Vancouver, 24 km from Richmond Centre, and 29 km from YVR, roughly 27 minutes from the airport by car.

Two of the three island routes leave from here, which makes it the default terminal for anyone south of the Fraser River or arriving by air. The YVR to Tsawwassen ferry page covers the airport connection by car, taxi, and the direct 620 bus from Bridgeport Station.

Horseshoe Bay is at 6750 Keith Road in West Vancouver, about 25 minutes from downtown over the Lions Gate Bridge. It serves Nanaimo (and the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island, which are not covered here).

The three island terminals

Swartz Bay is at the top of the Saanich Peninsula in Sidney, about 31 km and roughly 30 minutes by road from downtown Victoria. Public transit and taxis connect to the city. If Victoria is your destination, this is your terminal; the full walkthrough is on the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria page.

Duke Point is on an industrial peninsula south of Nanaimo, about 20 minutes from the city centre by road. It is unremarkable as a place but excellent as a road junction: the highway north to Parksville, Tofino, Courtenay, and Campbell River, and south to Duncan and Victoria, is a few minutes away. Public transit is limited, so walk-ons should plan a pickup or taxi.

Departure Bay is on the Trans-Canada Highway on the north side of downtown Nanaimo, about 5 minutes from the centre. It is the better landing for foot passengers and for anyone staying in Nanaimo itself.

The two Nanaimo options are compared in detail on the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo page.

Match the route to your trip

• Victoria, Butchart Gardens, Sidney, or the Southern Gulf Islands: Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. No real alternative.
• Nanaimo for its own sake: Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay if you are north of the Fraser, Tsawwassen to Duke Point if you are south of it.
• Tofino, Ucluelet, Parksville, Qualicum, Comox, Campbell River: either Nanaimo route. From YVR or south of the Fraser, take Duke Point; from downtown or the North Shore, take Horseshoe Bay.
• A loop: many visitors go over to Swartz Bay, drive up-island, and return from Duke Point or Departure Bay. Both Tsawwassen routes make a tidy loop with a single mainland terminal, and you can park or stay in Tsawwassen at both ends.
• Cowichan Valley and Duncan: roughly equidistant. Swartz Bay involves the Malahat; Duke Point avoids it.

Car or walk-on?

Every route carries vehicles and foot passengers. Take the car if you are going beyond the island’s cities, travelling as a family, or staying more than a couple of nights.

Walk on if you are heading to downtown Victoria or Nanaimo for a short stay; you save the vehicle fare and can leave the car in the long-term lot at Tsawwassen. The Tsawwassen ferry parking page explains the lots, current rates, and how to pay.

Reservations across the routes

Vehicle reservations are worth having for Friday and Sunday afternoons from May to September, all long weekends, and any sailing tied to a flight or booking. On the two Tsawwassen routes, Saver fares (from $49 one way on select sailings) and Prepaid fares ($110 for a car and driver, all sailings) include a guaranteed spot.

Arriving by air

If you are flying into YVR and continuing to the island, Tsawwassen is the obvious terminal for both Victoria and Nanaimo.

There is a hotel near Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in town, and for a group our private 3-bedroom suite (the upper level of a hillside home, with its own private entrance — a short uphill walk and a few steps from the driveway, then everything inside is on one level) sleeps 6, with free driveway parking and a full kitchen, about 30 minutes (26 km) from YVR and about 10 minutes by car from the terminal. See the 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen page.

Before you go

• Confirm your island destination before choosing a terminal; Victoria and Nanaimo are two hours apart by road.
• Check the schedule for the specific route and date; sailing counts change by season.
• Reserve a vehicle for weekend, holiday, and flight-connected sailings.
• From YVR or south of the Fraser, default to Tsawwassen; from downtown or the North Shore, consider Horseshoe Bay for Nanaimo.
• Plan onward transport at Duke Point if you are walking on.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Vancouver to Vancouver Island?

By vehicle ferry from Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay, by float plane or helicopter from the harbour, or by air from YVR. For most people with a car or luggage, the ferry is the practical choice, and this guide covers the three ferry routes.

Which ferry to Vancouver Island is closest to downtown Vancouver?

Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver is about 25 minutes from downtown and serves Nanaimo. Tsawwassen is about 36 minutes south and serves both Victoria and Nanaimo.

Which ferry should I take from Vancouver to Victoria?

Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. It is the only mainland route to the Victoria area; Swartz Bay is about 30 minutes north of downtown Victoria by road.

Which ferry should I take to Tofino or Parksville?

Either Nanaimo route. Tsawwassen to Duke Point drops you straight onto the highway north, and Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay lands closer to downtown Nanaimo. Pick by which mainland terminal is closer to you.

Can I walk on the ferry to Vancouver Island?

Yes, on all three routes. Walk-ons pay a lower fare, board separately, and can leave a car at the terminal. Swartz Bay and Departure Bay have reasonable transit connections; Duke Point has limited public transit, so plan a pickup or taxi there.

How long does it take to get from Vancouver to Vancouver Island by ferry?

Crossings range from about 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours. Add 25 to 40 minutes to reach the mainland terminal, time at the terminal before sailing, and 5 to 30 minutes from the island terminal to town, for a total of roughly three to four hours door to door.

Last updated August 28, 2026. Schedules, fares, and parking rates change — confirm with the operator before you travel.