Seattle to Vancouver
 

we are planning a trip for mid September and are currently thinking about a variety of ways to go. We will be in Seattle and plan to spend about 5-6 days in Vancouver. What is the driving time ? If we want to stop in Salt Spring Island do we have to take ferries from Sydney of is there another way to go? Thanks.

There are three ferries to Salt Spring Island, one from the Tswassen (sp)terminal south of vancouver, one from Swartz Bay (near Victoria) and also from Crofton (also on Vancouver Island between Duncan & Nanaimo). The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is approximately 3 hrs?

I would estimate a little over 2 hours from Seattle to Vancouver (assuming nothing goes wrong or and the completely unexpected doesn't happen). It's a nothing drive.

2-3 hours from seattle to vancouver, straight up I5. Time depends on border crossing waits. <BR><BR>from vancouver, take ferry from tswassan to victoria (sydney) (90 min) and then take smaller ferry to saltspring (10 min). www.bcferries.com for info and pricing/routes.

The drive from Seattle to the USA-Canada border takes approximately 2 hours, assuming it's not rush hour. If it's rush hour in Seattle, tack on an extra hour! Once you get through the border (which can take as little as 5 minutes on a good day, or as long an hour on a bad day), it takes one hour to drive from the USA-Canada border into downtown Vancouver. Technically, as soon as you cross into Canada from I-5, you're in Greater Vancouver. <BR><BR>However, if you wanted to get to Saltspring Island, you don't have to go to Vancouver Island (Sidney) at all! There are direct sailings to Saltspring Island from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (which is located a 20 minute drive away from the Canada-USA border, or a 30 minute drive south of downtown Vancouver). <BR><BR>The ferry routes are all displayed out on www.bcferries.bc.ca<BR><BR>So, in other words... the driving time between Seattle and Vancouver is about 3 hours, give or take. To get to Saltspring Island from Vancouver, you would use the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, and you would buy a direct ticket to Saltspring Island.

yes there is direct service from tswwassen to saltspring, but unless you are travelling on a friday, sat, or sunday/holiday (when the trip is non-stop on some schedules) the trip may have up to three stops at other islands and take up to 3 hours! If you can't get a non stop ferry, then i would go to victoria (swartz bay) on the big ferry, and then take the 10 min hop over to saltspring on the little ferry. <BR><BR>oh and if you hit the rush hour once you cross the border into canada, the 1 hour trip to downtown can turn into 1.5-2. Easy solution - leave seattle in the late morning and then get to vancouver in the early afternoon before the rush starts!<BR><BR>