Erik

Two questions. First, if headed to Nanaimo from Vancouver, is it better to depart from Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwssen?

Second, if we plan to leave late morning on Friday, do you think we'll have trouble getting on with a car?

Thanks.

gary

The trip from Horseshoe Bay is about 40 minutes shorter and they are more frequent than from Tsawassen. On a regular Friday you might have a one sailing wait. If it's the Friday before Labour Day it may be two or three waits. The way around this is to reserve space which will cost you $15 extra.

Erik

Thanks. Are both departure points roughly equidistant from downtown Vancouver?

gary

Horseshoe Bay is actually about half the distance from downtown as Tsawassen. The Lions Gate Bridge can be a bottleneck but outside of rush hours it should be OK.

Julia

Hi!

Be absolutely sure to make a reservation for the sailing of your preferred time at http://www.bcferries.ca - save yourself endless hours in summer ferry lines. I've personally used the service and it is MORE than worth the minor financial investment.
I have been on both the Horseshoe Bay run and the Tsawassen runs more times than I can count.... If you are coming from the U.S., use Tsawassen (said Tuh-wahssen) on Highway 1. Horseshoe Bay is a hassle because you have to drive through Vancouver - either by the Upper Levels Highway or the Lions Gate Bridge via downtown via Stanley Park. The roads are narrow, so not many lanes to accommodate all of the traffic into West Van and North Van and on into Whistler.

Horseshoe Bay is a cute little hamlet, but it gets crowded with the ferry traffic. Tsawassen has a major interstate entrance to the ferry terminal is much more hospitable. The Nanaimo Bars are a divine treat and the buffets on the ferries have been a very reasonably priced meal with quiet from the crowds. The late morning sailings are very nice.

Have fun - the scenery is gorgeous! Julia

Bob Brown

Nanaimo to Tsawwassen is a long diagonal route.
So the trip from Horseshoe Bay is shorter in terms of time and distance as already said.
I think you need to consider where your drive to the ferry originates and then decide. The cruise is fun, so I enjoyed the long diagonal route.
Because I was headed to Seattle, the route I took was in my best interest.