I'm a little confused about logistics on an upcoming trip to Seattle area, with post extension to Victoria and Vancouver. After a week or ten days in the Seattle area with family and friends, we wish to strike out on our own for Victoria and Vancouver.. The dates for the post extension will be appox Aug 9 to maybe Aug 16-17. We will be renting a car in Seattle, as much of our time there will be out in Suncadia, and around. After saying goodbye to family, we would make our way north through the Skagit Valley. At that point, I'm a little fuzzy on what to do next. Do I go all the way into Vancouver? Is there a way to go direct to Victoria, where we have reservations for 4 nights at the Fairmont Empress.. Do I dump the car north of Seattle, rent another in Victoria? I'm pretty sure we would want one there, to see the various sights. I understand there is sometimes an expensive fee for one way rental out of US to Canada. How do we get back to Vancouver, where we will fly back to our home; vacation over? Thanks for any comments.

Hi Bill—

There is a boat, the Victoria Clipper, that goes from downtown Seattle to Victoria. I took it a number of years ago and it’s a nice ride along the Puget Sound and over the Juan de Fuca strait, and fun to arrive in Victoria Harbour with their charming cylindrical boats and the beautiful BC Legislature visible. There are other options but that might be a fun one if you want to drop off the rental in Seattle, picking up a new one in Victoria.

All the best. Daniel

Since it sounds you'll be coming from Suncadia, I'd drop the Seattle car and take the train to Vancouver (two departures daily, early morning and early evening, inexpensive, 4 hours and quite scenic.) I'd get another car in Vancouver and use it to get to Vancouver Island and back, then drop it when it's time to fly home.

This will save on high one-way fees for the car and will make getting to Vancouver Island more convenient compared to the limited options to get to Victoria from Washington State.

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Thank you. I had not found the Victoria Clipper on my own. Thanks for that. Basic fare is $132, with several upgrades available, looks interesting. Train, plane, boat. Lots of options. Appreciate this forum.

I’m puzzled, beginning and end will help. Also, do you want to visit Victoria AND Vancouver?

Are you flying into SEA and if so, where are you departing from?

If you need to return to SEA, then keep the car, travel from Suncadia to Port Angeles and take the car ferry to Victoria. Cross over to Vancouver and back to SEA.

Or to answer your question about getting from the Skagit Valley to Victoria, it will depend where you cross the border. If Sumas, take Highway 1 to 17 to Tsawwassen. If Blaine, take high 99 to 17 and on to Tsawwassen. Ferry reservations are essential.

The suggestion of the Clipper from Seattle is a good one.

I have taken a float plane between Seattle and Victoria. That was a fun experience. It was several years ago but I recall it was kind of expensive- but I found a weekly special they offered.
the most scenic way to do it is take the Ferry from Tsawwassen.- which is in Canada and just south of Vancouver You will ride through the islands, see other boats and ferrys and is more leisurely than the clipper. I don't know about rental cars as I have always had my own.

Check out website "Hello BC" for much info on BC.

We normally take our rental car on the ferry, either from Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay (both BC). Or, the Black Ball ferry from Port Angeles. The latter will drop you right in Victoria. The first two BC ferries drop you a bit north of Victoria (maybe 30 minutes). The BC ferries are nicer, IMO. You could take Black Ball one way and a BC ferry the other, depending on whether you plan to visit Vancouver before or after Victoria.

If you are renting car in Seattle, you MUST ask the car company IF it can be taken into Canada. If yes, you must carry the rental papers with you because you will be asked at the border (I-5, Peace Arch) if it is a rental, and who owns it. Happened to me 2 weeks ago. If renting in Victoria and driving to Vancouver, you will be in Canada the whole time, so travel up Vancouver Island to Sidney to return to Tsawwassen and Vancouver. This works well if you take the Clipper over from Seattle to Victoria, and very fun.

Note that the Black Ball ferry has announced summer sailing cutbacks to/from Victoria due to the highly reduced traffic from Canada. One sailing per day has been cut, as least for now.

A note about taking a U.S. rental into Canada - when you reserve your car, check to ensure that the terms allow you to cross into Canada (most do, at least majors - we normally use Budget). Then, while at the rental counter, advise them you'll be bringing the car into Canada; they will provide you with a document that you might need. It's normally all standard stuff, but these days especially you should make sure to have all your ducks in a row. For what it's worth, we've never had an issue and have done this many times.

The OP seemed confused about getting back and forth between Seattle-Vancouver-Victoria. I was making the point that one shouldn't make it worse by thinking you can just zip across the border(s) without the proper paperwork or asking those questions. It's still two countries.

I've decided not to drive a rental across into Canada. I can fly from SEA to Vic or Van cheaper than the drop surcharge for dropping the car in Canada. If I need a car in Canada, can rent one there.