Ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo: Duke Point or Departure Bay?

On this page

1. Two routes, two very different terminals
2. Tsawwassen to Duke Point
3. Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay
4. Which one from where you are
5. Reservations and check-in
6. Leaving the car at Tsawwassen
7. Catching the 05:15
8. Before you go
9. Frequently asked questions

Two routes, two very different terminals

Nanaimo is the only Vancouver Island city served by two mainland ferry routes, and they leave from opposite ends of Metro Vancouver. That is the whole question: which terminal is easier to reach from where you are, and which Nanaimo terminal suits where you are going.

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal1 Ferry Causeway, Delta, BC V4M 4G6 Google Maps Apple Maps

Horseshoe Bay6750 Keith Rd, West Vancouver, BC V7W 2V1 Google Maps Apple Maps

	Tsawwassen to Duke Point	Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay
Mainland terminal	Tsawwassen, Delta (south)	Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver (north)
Crossing time	2 h 00 min	About 1 h 40 min
Sailings per day	10	Check the current schedule
First / last sailing	05:15 / 22:45	Check the current schedule
Island terminal	Duke Point, south of the city	Departure Bay, north edge of downtown
Terminal to Nanaimo centre	About 20 min	About 5 min
Mainland terminal from downtown Vancouver	About 36 km, roughly 36 min	About 25 min
Prepaid / Saver fares	Yes	Not confirmed

Both routes carry cars and foot passengers. The differences are in geography and timing.

Tsawwassen–Duke Point or Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay?

1

Tsawwassen to Duke Point

Time

2 h 00 min crossing

Best for

YVR, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, the Fraser Valley; drivers heading up-island or south to Victoria by road

1. Highway 17 to Tsawwassen (about 27 min from YVR, about 36 min from downtown)
2. 10 sailings a day, 05:15 to 22:45
3. Land at Duke Point and join the highway within minutes

Saver and Prepaid fares available. Limited transit at Duke Point, so walk-ons need a pickup or taxi.

2

Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay

Time

About 1 h 40 min crossing

Best for

Downtown Vancouver, the North Shore, Whistler and the Sea to Sky; foot passengers going into Nanaimo

1. Lions Gate Bridge and Upper Levels Highway to Horseshoe Bay (about 25 min from downtown)
2. Check the current schedule for sailing times
3. Land at Departure Bay, about 5 minutes from downtown Nanaimo

Small holding area; busy-day queues back up onto the highway.

Tsawwassen to Duke Point

Duke Point is the workhorse route for people arriving from the south side of the region. It sails 10 times a day, from 05:15 in the morning to 22:45 at night, and the two-hour crossing runs through the Gulf Islands and across the open Strait of Georgia.

The terminal on the island side is at 400 Duke Point Highway on an industrial peninsula south of Nanaimo. It is not somewhere you would walk to town from, but it is very well placed for drivers: the terminal road joins the highway almost immediately. You can turn north towards Parksville, Tofino, or Campbell River, or south towards Ladysmith, Duncan, and the Malahat to Victoria, without touching city traffic.

The Tsawwassen to Nanaimo ferry page covers this route in more depth, including the 05:15 sailing and what to expect at Duke Point.

Choose this route if you are starting from:

• YVR — about 27 minutes by road, with a direct bus via Bridgeport Station. See YVR to Tsawwassen ferry.
• Richmond, Delta, Surrey, White Rock, or the US border — Tsawwassen is on your side of the Fraser.
• Anywhere, if you want the earliest or latest sailing — 05:15 and 22:45 give the Duke Point route the longest operating day to Nanaimo.
• A trip that continues south to Victoria by road — Duke Point puts you on the highway heading the right way.

Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay

Horseshoe Bay is at the western end of West Vancouver, about 25 minutes from downtown over the Lions Gate Bridge and along the Upper Levels Highway. The crossing is about 1 hour 40 minutes, and Departure Bay terminal is on the Trans-Canada Highway on the north side of downtown Nanaimo, roughly 5 minutes from the centre.

This is the natural choice for:

• Downtown Vancouver, the West End, or the North Shore — Horseshoe Bay is closer and you avoid the George Massey Tunnel entirely.
• Foot passengers heading into Nanaimo — Departure Bay is walkable to accommodation and has better transit links than Duke Point.
• Travellers coming from Whistler or the Sea to Sky — Horseshoe Bay is on the way.

Which one from where you are

Starting from	Take	Why
YVR airport	Tsawwassen to Duke Point	Shorter drive, direct bus, no city crossing
Richmond or Delta	Tsawwassen to Duke Point	Same side of the Fraser River
Surrey, Langley, or the Fraser Valley	Tsawwassen to Duke Point	Highway 99 south is simpler than the bridges into North Vancouver
Downtown Vancouver	Either; Horseshoe Bay is slightly closer	25 minutes versus about 36, but check tunnel and bridge traffic
North Vancouver or West Vancouver	Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay	On your doorstep
Whistler or Squamish	Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay	Sea to Sky Highway ends at the terminal

Reservations and check-in

On both routes, reserve a vehicle spot for Friday and Sunday afternoons between May and September and for all long weekends. On the Duke Point route, Saver fares from $49 one way on select sailings and Prepaid fares at $110 for a car and driver on all sailings include a guaranteed spot.

With a reservation, vehicle check-in at Tsawwassen opens 60 minutes and closes 30 minutes before departure. Without one, vehicle ticket sales close 5 minutes before and walk-on sales 10 minutes before, but on a busy day you should be there far earlier than that to have a realistic chance of boarding.

Leaving the car at Tsawwassen

Walk-on passengers using the Duke Point route can park in the long-term lot at Tsawwassen; the Tsawwassen ferry parking guide lists rates and how to pay.

Catching the 05:15

The early sailing from Tsawwassen is popular with people who want a full day on the island, but it means leaving Vancouver around 4 a.m. An alternative is to stay in Tsawwassen the night before and drive ten minutes to the terminal instead of an hour.

There is a hotel near Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in the town centre, and for families or groups our private 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen (the upper level of a hillside home, with its own private entrance — a short uphill walk and a few steps from the driveway, then everything inside is on one level) sleeps 6, with free driveway parking and a full kitchen, about 10 minutes by car from the terminal. See the 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen page for details.

Before you go

• Decide on the terminal by your starting point, not by the crossing time.
• Check the schedule for both routes; Departure Bay times vary by season.
• Reserve a vehicle for weekend and holiday sailings on either route.
• Walk-ons landing at Duke Point: arrange onward transport before you sail.
• Heading to Tofino? Fuel and stock up in Nanaimo either way; the road west is long.

Frequently asked questions

Which ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo is faster?

Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay is the shorter crossing at about 1 hour 40 minutes, versus 2 hours from Tsawwassen to Duke Point. The drive to the terminal usually matters more than the 20-minute difference on the water.

Which Nanaimo ferry should I take from YVR?

Tsawwassen to Duke Point. The airport is about 27 minutes from Tsawwassen by car and there is a direct bus, whereas Horseshoe Bay means crossing the whole city and the Lions Gate Bridge.

Is Duke Point in Nanaimo?

Duke Point is within the City of Nanaimo but sits on an industrial peninsula south of the centre, about 20 minutes by road from downtown. Departure Bay is the terminal closest to downtown Nanaimo.

Do I need to reserve the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo?

Vehicle reservations are recommended on both routes for Friday and Sunday afternoons in summer and on long weekends. Prepaid and Saver fares on the Duke Point route include a guaranteed spot.

Can I take the Vancouver to Nanaimo ferry as a foot passenger?

Yes on both routes. Departure Bay is more convenient for walk-ons because it is close to downtown Nanaimo. Duke Point has limited public transit, so plan a pickup or taxi if you walk on there.

How early is the first ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo?

The first sailing from Tsawwassen to Duke Point leaves at 05:15. Check the current schedule for Horseshoe Bay, as first-sailing times vary by season.

Which ferry is better for driving to Tofino?

Either works, since both land in Nanaimo and the highway to Tofino runs north from there. Duke Point puts you directly onto the highway, while Departure Bay is quicker if you are already on the North Shore.

Last updated August 28, 2026. Schedules, fares, and parking rates change — confirm with the operator before you travel.