What's the drive like from Seattle to Victoria/Vancouver?

Question

We're debating whether to fly straight into BC from Washington DC or fly to Seattle and drive up to Victoria/Vancouver. It's a $160 difference -- is it worth it? (Pretend you're frugal, but it's your honeymoon)

Answer 1

Basically it is a pretty easy drive. The traffic can get a little ugly, and sometimes there is a wait at the border, but it can definitly be done in about half a day (minus ferry to 1 hour and 20 min ferry to Victoria).

It is a lovely drive and if you have never been to the westcoast i would actually encourage this route. And the ferry ride to Victoria from Vancouver is also a great way to see the sites.

You do have a second option, you can take the Clipper (passanger ferry) directly from Seattle to Victoria Inner Harbour. A quick route and very affordable. the website below has all the information about it
http://www.clippervacations.com/

Also, if you are honeymooning in Victoria, make sure you let the hotel know, as most of the hotels in Victoria offer free honeymoon gifts

Feel free to email me if you have more questions
Ally

Answer 2

The drive from Seattle to Victoria is wet, unless you take the ferry. Victoria is on Vancouver Island. Vancouver is on the mainland, so you can do a triangle run from Seattle to Vancouver, after spending some time in Vancouver, head to Twsawwassen and take the ferry to Vancouver Island, enjoy Victoria then take the ferry back to Seattle.
Whoops! I just re-read your question, and you're starting from Washington DC, not the state of Washington. Okay. Fly to Seattle, take the ferry to Victoria (you can walk-on and rent a vehicle in Victoria) You can take the ferry from Victoria to Vancouver and depending on how long you plan to stay in Vancouver, you can either rent a car or use local transit.
Seattle is a fun place to visit - it's got a great waterfront, interesting little shops and malls, and lots of things to see and do. Whether it's worth the $160 to make a side trip is up to you -- and it depends, too, on how long overall you have for your travels. It takes three hours to drive from Seattle to Vancouver, but if there are lineups at the border, and there often are, it can take hours and hours to get through.
Enjoy your trip, and happy honeymoon!

Answer 3

To Vancouver the drive for the most part (the Washington State part) is attractive but not in any way breathtaking, No tall mountains hanging over the Interstate or cliff views of the Pacific or the like. Worth the $160 savings? We think so and so when we want to fly to Vancouver (from Montréal) we will do so via Southwest flights to Seattle from Albany, NY or Manchester, NH.

To Victoria (a most lovely and distinct little city!) from Seattle is not really impressive and worth the extra ferry fare unless you take a day or two to visit Olympic National Park.

By the way, whilst in B.C. enjoy the wines! Almost unavailable in the USA at any price (those that make it are incredulously marked up) some of them - like AOC Okanagan pinot gris - are among the world's best.

Answer 4

The drive from SEATAC (Seattle Airport) to Vancouver should take you a little over three hours, dependant upon wait time at the border. The drive from the airport to the Everett area can be pretty hectic (depends on whether your doing it during rush hour.) After that Interstate 5 to the Canadian border is a snap and takes you some beautiful countryside

On crossing the border I 5 becomes Hwy 99 (it's about 27 miles to Vancouver from that point.) Keep an eye out for hawks and eagles sitting in the trees alongside the highway.

It's certainly worth saving the $160.

PS Fill your gas tank in Blaine, WA to save a bundle.

Answer 5

The drive to Vancouver from Seattle is pretty easy. Traffic can be ugly until you get through Everett then it's pretty smooth. About 2 hours. To get to Victoria from Seattle, you have to take a ferry which will cost some extra. You would have to do some online research to see what the difference in cost would be to ferry from Vancouver versus Seattle.

Answer 6

Distance From Seattle To Vancouver

Answer 7

Well, you can't exactly drive from Seattle to Victoria, since Victoria is on an island. I think your best bet would be to drive from Seattle to Vancouver and then take the ferry to Victoria. Or if it's rainy and cold you should take the clipper straight to Victoria.

Answer 8

Seattle To Victoria

Answer 9

With its mountain background and metropolitan beaches, Vancouver gets the rightly gained trustworthiness of being one of the very lovely cities in the world, with hotelbye you could have the opportunity to see this amazing city. Among the places you need to see in Vancouver may be the Downtown Vancouver. Downtown Vancouver is wonderfully based on a peninsula in the Strait of Georgia bounded to the south by the delta of the Fraser River and to the north by a strong fiord hitting far inland. Here you can also begin to see the usually snow-covered stages of the Coast Mountains. Stanley Park is one of the most visited parks. Is really a rich Peninsula Park of large woods surrounding to Downtown Vancouver. A paved seawall journey encircles the natural space, and many readers take the time to discover on foot or by bicycle. Inland, the park offers a lot of things to complete, and guests may spend the full time discovering attractions which range from the totem poles at Brockton Point to the west shore sea living at the Vancouver Aquarium. Magnificent views really are a typical throughout the park.

Answer 10

it is very beautiful. theres a lot of trees and mountains and thats mostly it besides the border, but if you like scenery then its gorgrous. I've experienced the drive and its just mostly greens all the way through!

it does take a while though, so if youre the type of person who doesnt care much for trees and mountains, the drive isnt for you.