To take an RV from Vancouver to Victoria, drive to the Tsawwassen terminal in Delta and sail to Swartz Bay, north of Victoria. The crossing takes about 1 hour 35 minutes, and with a booking you must check in between 60 and 30 minutes before departure. Book ahead, arrive early, close your propane before boarding and expect crew to guide you onto the deck.
This guide covers the day itself: which terminal, how to time it around a motorhome pick-up, and what happens at the booth, in the lanes and on board. For fares, length rules and reservation types, see our separate guide to BC Ferries with a motorhome.
Choosing the terminal
BC Ferries runs three main mainland to Vancouver Island routes. For Victoria, Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is the obvious choice; the other two make sense only if your island plans start further north.
| Route | Lands at | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay | Swartz Bay, at the end of Highway 17 north of Victoria | Victoria, Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula are your first stops |
| Tsawwassen to Duke Point | South of Nanaimo | You are heading up-island first, or Swartz Bay sailings are full |
| Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay | Nanaimo | You are coming from the North Shore or Whistler |
According to BC Ferries, the Tsawwassen terminal is about 36 km from downtown Vancouver at the southwest end of Highway 17 in Delta, and it also serves Duke Point, Departure Bay and the Southern Gulf Islands. Follow the overhead signs carefully on the causeway so you end up in the Swartz Bay lanes. BC Ferries has also added a direct Tsawwassen to Departure Bay sailing, so check which routes appear when you search.
Timing the sailing around your pick-up
Many Vancouver depots hand over motorhomes in the late morning or early afternoon after a walk-through. That makes an early sailing on pick-up day unrealistic. A plan that works:
- Book a mid-afternoon or early-evening sailing on pick-up day, or stay the first night on the mainland and sail the next morning.
- Allow time for groceries before you reach the terminal. The Tsawwassen terminal has food options and Tsawwassen has shopping nearby, but a stocked fridge makes the first night easier.
- Plan the drive at a motorhome pace. Getting out of the city towards Highway 17 can be slow at rush hour, so avoid weekday late afternoons if you can.
- Book your first Vancouver Island campground within an hour of Swartz Bay so you are not driving unfamiliar roads late.
Popular sailings fill up. BC Ferries' vehicle travel page lists holiday weekends, Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings, and Sunday afternoons as the times to book ahead. Without a reservation, vehicles load in order of arrival and you may wait for a later sailing.
At the terminal: check-in and lanes
Check-in times are strict on this route. From Tsawwassen, BC Ferries says booking check-in opens 60 minutes before the scheduled departure and closes 30 minutes before. Arrive earlier than the window and your booking is not honoured; you travel in order of arrival instead. The same 60 to 30 minute window applies on the return from Swartz Bay. Without a booking, vehicle ticket sales close five minutes before departure.
- Have ready: your booking reference or the phone number used for the booking.
- At the booth: the ticket agent checks you in and assigns a vehicle lane. Your booking should already show the motorhome's real height and length.
- In the lane: switch off the engine, set the parking brake and stay close by. You can use the terminal facilities while you wait, but be back at the vehicle well before loading starts.
Before you drive aboard: a quick RV checklist
Run through this in the lane rather than on the ramp:
- Propane off. BC Ferries' dangerous goods rules allow motorhomes up to two propane cylinders with a combined capacity of 65 litres, none over 46 litres, and say all tanks must be closed and tagged before boarding, upright and securely attached. Close the main valve and ask the crew at the booth if they need to see it.
- Fridge and appliances: switch the fridge off or to battery mode if your rental supports it, and turn off the furnace and water heater.
- Slide-outs in, steps up, roof vents closed and the TV antenna down.
- Inside secured: latch cupboards and the fridge door and stow loose items so nothing shifts on the ramps or during the crossing.
- Carry-on bag: jacket, snacks, water bottles, medications and anything you want during the crossing.
Loading and the crossing
Crew will wave you on in turn. Drive slowly, follow hand signals rather than the vehicle in front, and do not worry about the overhangs: crew guide large vehicles onto these decks every sailing. Once parked, set the parking brake, turn off the engine and leave it in gear or park.
Deck placement matters for what happens next. BC Ferries places over-height vehicles on the main or upper deck depending on bookings and traffic, and upper deck placement cannot be guaranteed. Under Transport Canada rules, passengers cannot stay in vehicles on an enclosed lower deck while the ship is under way, so you may have to go upstairs. You can stay in the motorhome only if it is placed on the upper vehicle deck.
The crossing itself is one of the best ferry rides on the coast. Tourism Victoria notes the route weaves through the Southern Gulf Islands; go out on deck for the narrow passages between the islands.
Arriving at Swartz Bay
Return to the vehicle when the announcement is made, not before. Start the engine only when the vehicles ahead begin to move, and follow the crew off the ramp. From Swartz Bay, Highway 17 runs south past Sidney to Victoria, roughly 30 km to downtown.
- Turn the propane back on once you are parked at your campground, not at the terminal.
- Downtown Victoria has narrow streets and limited RV parking. We suggest leaving the motorhome at the campground and using transit, a bike or a taxi for the inner harbour.
- Sidney, a few minutes from the terminal, is a quiet first stop for groceries and a waterfront walk.
If you would rather avoid the ferry on day one, consider picking up on the island. Our Victoria RV pick-up guide explains what that looks like.
Planning notes
Book the ferry as soon as your motorhome dates are confirmed, using the exact length and height from the rental company, and choose a sailing at least two to three hours after your scheduled pick-up. Read picking up a motorhome in Vancouver for the depot side of the day. Far & Away Adventures, based in Sidney a few minutes from Swartz Bay, can line up the rental, sailings and first campground for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in my motorhome during the crossing?
Only if crew place it on the upper vehicle deck. On an enclosed lower deck, Transport Canada rules require passengers to leave their vehicles while the ship is under way.
What happens if I miss the check-in window?
BC Ferries says your reservation is forfeited and you are placed on the next available sailing based on your order of arrival at the terminal.
Is Duke Point a good alternative for Victoria?
It works if Swartz Bay sailings are full, but it lands south of Nanaimo, so you add a drive of more than 100 km down the Island Highway to reach Victoria.
Use this guide for trip ideas, not a current quotation or a guarantee of access, safety, inclusions or availability. Confirm the requirements and conditions for your dates, destination and provider before booking.