YVR to Tsawwassen Ferry: Drive, Taxi, or Transit

On this page

1. Three ways to get from YVR to the ferry
2. Timing: landing to sailing
3. Landing in the evening? Stay near the terminal
4. Before you go
5. Frequently asked questions

Three ways to get from YVR to the ferry

Vancouver International Airport sits on Sea Island in Richmond, and Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is due south of it at the end of a causeway in Delta. The two are about 29 km apart by road, and there is no airport shuttle between them.

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

You have three realistic options: drive, take a taxi or rideshare, or use public transit.

Three ways from YVR to the terminal

1

Drive

Time

About 27 min outside rush hour

Cost

Fuel, plus the vehicle fare on the ferry

Best for

Anyone taking a car to the island

1. Collect the rental car and join Highway 99 south
2. Through the George Massey Tunnel
3. Highway 17 exit for the ferry terminal
4. Follow signs to the vehicle ticket booths

The tunnel is the pinch point; weekday afternoons and summer Fridays can add half an hour.

2

Taxi or rideshare

Time

About 30 min outside rush hour

Cost

Budget roughly $50–65 one way

Best for

Groups, lots of luggage, tight timing

1. Taxis wait outside arrivals; rideshare has a signed pick-up area
2. Ask for the foot-passenger drop-off at the terminal
3. Walk in, buy or check in your ticket

Surge pricing and traffic push the fare higher.

3

Transit

Time

About 1 hour

Cost

Standard Compass zone fare per person

Best for

Solo travellers and couples walking on

1. Canada Line from YVR–Airport
2. Change at Bridgeport Station
3. Bus 620 express to the terminal
4. Bus stops at the foot-passenger building

Add time if you just miss a bus; the 620 runs roughly every half hour.

All three options arrive at the same place. Drivers follow the signs to the vehicle ticket booths; taxis and the 620 bus drop you at the foot-passenger building. From there you buy or check in your ticket and wait for the sailing to either Victoria (Swartz Bay) or Nanaimo (Duke Point).

Driving from YVR

Collect the rental car, leave the airport on Grant McConachie Way, and join Highway 99 southbound. Stay on Highway 99 through the George Massey Tunnel, then take the Highway 17 exit signed for the ferry terminal. Highway 17 runs straight to the terminal, past Tsawwassen Mills, and onto the causeway.

Outside rush hour the trip is about 27 minutes. The tunnel is the pinch point, and weekday afternoons and summer Fridays can add half an hour.

If you are driving the car onto the ferry, you do not need to park. If someone in your group is walking on while you return the car, see Tsawwassen ferry parking for the short-term lot and drop-off arrangements.

Taxi or rideshare

Taxis wait outside the arrivals halls at both terminals, and rideshare pick-ups have a signed area. Tell the driver “Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, foot-passenger drop-off”. Budget roughly $50–65 for the trip; surge pricing and traffic push it higher.

Transit: Canada Line and the 620 bus

This is the cheapest route and reliable if you are not in a hurry.

1. From either YVR terminal, follow the signs to the YVR–Airport Canada Line station. Trains run frequently.
2. Ride to Bridgeport Station in Richmond, a short trip of a few stops.
3. At Bridgeport, go down to the bus bays and board the 620 Tsawwassen Ferry / Bridgeport Station Express. It runs roughly every half hour and goes non-stop down Highway 99 and Highway 17 to the terminal.
4. The bus stops at the foot-passenger building. Walk in, buy or check in your ticket, and go through to the waiting area.

Allow about an hour all-in, more if you just miss a bus. Fares are the standard Compass zone fare; tap a Compass card or a contactless credit card at the station gates and again on the bus.

Timing: landing to sailing

Work backward from your sailing and be honest about each step.

Step	Allow
Deplane and collect checked bags (domestic)	30–45 min
Deplane, customs, and bags (international)	60–90 min
Rental car pick-up	20–40 min
Travel to the terminal	30 min by car or taxi; 60 min by transit
Buffer for traffic and the tunnel	15–30 min
Be at check-in before the cut-off	30 min before sailing for reserved vehicles and walk-ons

Example: landing at 14:00, aiming for a 17:00 sailing

1. 14:00 Wheels down at YVR
2. 14:45 Bags collected30–45 min domestic; 60–90 min international with customs.
3. 15:15 Rental car picked up20–40 min at the counter and lot.
4. 15:50 Arrive at the terminalAbout 30 min by car or taxi; about 60 min by transit. Keep 15–30 min buffer for the tunnel.
5. 16:00 Reserved check-in opens60 min before sailing.
6. 16:30 Reserved check-in closes30 min before sailing for reserved vehicles and walk-ons. Unreserved walk-on ticket sales close at 16:50.
7. 17:00 Sailing departs

The full picture is in how early to arrive at Tsawwassen ferry.

Adding it up, a domestic arrival with a rental car needs about two hours between wheels-down and sailing. An international arrival needs closer to three. If that does not fit the sailing you had in mind, book a later one rather than gamble.

Landing in the evening? Stay near the terminal

Evening flights from the east and from Europe arrive at YVR late, and by the time you have your bags and a car, the remaining sailings are thin. Chasing the last boat after a long flight, then driving in the dark on the island side, is not a good start to a holiday.

The alternative is simple: stay in Tsawwassen overnight and take a morning sailing. The town is about 30 minutes from the airport and about 10 minutes from the terminal, so you can sleep properly, eat breakfast, and still be on an early boat.

Our private 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen has free driveway parking, so the rental car is off the street and you can walk on or drive on the next morning. See where to stay before the Tsawwassen ferry for the options, or go straight to the 3-bedroom suite in Tsawwassen.

Going the other way is the same trip in reverse: the 620 waits outside the foot-passenger building for Bridgeport, and drivers take Highway 17 to Highway 99 north.

Before you go

• Book the ferry before you land. Vehicle reservations are strongly recommended on summer weekends, and a reservation gives you a fixed check-in window instead of a queue.
• Have a Compass card or contactless card ready if you are taking transit; it works on the Canada Line and the 620.
• Know your ferry. Victoria is via Swartz Bay; Nanaimo is via Duke Point. Both leave from the same terminal but use different berths.
• Arriving with time to spare? There are places to eat and walk within a few minutes of the causeway; see things to do near Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.
• Landing late? Do not push it. Stay the night ten minutes from the terminal and take the first comfortable sailing in the morning.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal from Vancouver Airport?

About 29 km. In light traffic the drive takes around 27 minutes via Highway 99 south and Highway 17. Add 15–30 minutes in weekday rush hour or on summer Friday afternoons.

Is there a bus from YVR to Tsawwassen ferry?

Not a direct one. Take the Canada Line from YVR–Airport to Bridgeport Station, then the 620 bus, which runs express to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and stops at the foot-passenger building. The whole trip takes about an hour.

How much is a taxi from Vancouver Airport to Tsawwassen ferry?

Budget roughly $50–65 for a taxi or rideshare, more with surge pricing or heavy traffic. The trip takes about half an hour outside rush hour.

How long should I allow between landing at YVR and my ferry?

At least two hours for a domestic arrival with checked bags, and three hours for an international arrival with customs. That covers baggage, getting to the terminal, and being at check-in before the cut-off.

Can I take a rental car on the ferry?

Yes, most major rental companies allow their cars on BC Ferries within British Columbia. Confirm with your rental company, and reserve a vehicle spot on the ferry for summer weekends.

What if my flight lands in the evening?

Sailings run into the late evening, but a delayed flight can leave you chasing the last boat. Many travellers stay in Tsawwassen instead, about 30 minutes from the airport and 10 from the terminal, and take an unhurried morning sailing.

Which ferry from Tsawwassen goes to Victoria?

The Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay route. Swartz Bay is about 31 km north of downtown Victoria, roughly half an hour by road or transit.

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