Vancouver to Seattle
 

I will go to Vancouver about 4 days in May 2001 and then take a cruise to Alaska. I like to go to Seattle one of those days in a tour or rent a car. How much time it takes? What is the best route ( beautiful and fastest, if possible). Does anyone knows about a day tour if I decide don't rent a car? <BR>Thank you.

From downtown Vancouver to the USA-Canada border, if you left early in the morning, it shouldn't take you any more than 40 minutes to one hour to drive there (assuming you weren't driving in rush hour). From the USA-Canada border to downtown Seattle, it can take about 2 hours of straight driving. The border (depending on how long the lineups are), can take anywhere from 5 minutes to over an hour. <BR> <BR>All in all, if you plan to drive, expect it to get to Seattle in 3-4 hours. <BR> <BR>I don't know of any tours, but you might want to look at Quick Shuttle. They're a shuttle bus company that travels from downtown Vancouver, to the Vancouver airport, to downtown Seattle, to the Seattle (Sea-Tac) airport back and forth across the border several times a day. It's hassle free, and you can reserve by phone/online ahead of time so you're guaranteed a spot on the bus. I took that bus from downtown Vancouver to the Sea-Tac airport back in April, and including the border crossing, it took exactly 4 hours. (and that includes the bus stopping off at the other destinations). <BR> <BR>Hopefully this helps!

You can also take Amtrak down to Seattle from the main terminal station in Vancouver (10 mins from downtown by taxi) if you care to go by train. <BR> <BR>Taking the train would be less hassle and you will be able to get some views in as well. Approx. time of travel is 3 hours 45 minutes. A direct link to their Seattle route: <BR> <BR>http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/pubtran/amtr...ns/seattle.htm <BR> <BR>0r: www.amtrak.com <BR> <BR>

The train is an option, however, you need to be aware that the train from Vancouver to Seattle goes at night (6 PM) and returns to Vancouver first thing in the morning (7 AM). So you'd actually have to spend two nights in Seattle in order to have any time here (but on the plus side you'd also have a full day here rather than just a matter of hours). Note that the other departures listed on the Amtrak website are by bus. <BR> <BR>

Thanks so much to all of you!!! Your options are so useful.

About the train....There's a bus provided by Amtrak from Vancouver at about 10 am to Bellingham in Washington State. From here you can take the train to Seattle....This might be good if you like to get in the views. <BR> It's true the Vancouver to Seattle run on train only is in the evening. However, with the bus connection you can be able to catch a train in the morning...