How to Go to Victoria From Vancouver by Car

The Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry route carries more than eight million passengers annually, making it one of the busiest vehicle ferry crossings in North America. The twin-terminal system handles commercial trucks, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and passenger cars on vessels holding up to 470 vehicles per sailing. The drive begins 27 kilometers south of downtown Vancouver at 1 Ferry Causeway in Tsawwassen, where Highway 17 ends at the BC Ferries terminal. Travelers driving from the city center typically allow 40 minutes via Highway 99 through the George Massey Tunnel. Advance reservations—available online up to two months ahead—lock in departure times and eliminate the risk of sailings filling during peak travel windows. Walk-up vehicle spaces are first-come, first-served and often sell out by mid-morning on summer Fridays and holiday long weekends. Boarding closes 10 minutes before departure. Once the vessel docks at Swartz Bay terminal, the final leg follows Highway 17 south through Saanich Peninsula farmland and suburban corridors into Victoria's downtown core. The highway transitions into Blanshard Street at the city boundary. Total driving distance from Tsawwassen terminal to Victoria's Inner Harbour measures 64 kilometers, roughly 45 minutes without traffic. Rush-hour congestion between 4 PM and 6 PM can add 20 minutes near downtown interchanges. Ferry schedules run year-round with hourly departures during daylight and reduced frequency after 9 PM. Sailing capacity tightens during summer months and statutory holidays, when recreational traffic doubles baseline demand. Off-peak crossings—mid-morning on Tuesdays through Thursdays—board within 30 minutes of arrival at Tsawwassen. The route delivers reliable service in all weather, though high winds occasionally delay departures by 15 to 30 minutes during winter storm systems crossing the Strait of Georgia.