Seattle is close enough to Vancouver and Victoria for a long weekend, and there are several ways to make the trip. The first decision is which city you're heading to: Vancouver is reached by road or rail, while Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is reached by water or air. The second is what you need to cross the border.

Choose your city first

  • Vancouver: road and rail both run directly. A good choice for a city break, families with a car, or a trip that continues to Whistler or the islands.
  • Victoria: a passenger ferry runs from downtown Seattle to Victoria's Inner Harbour. A good choice for a harbour-city weekend without a car.
  • Both: combine them with a crossing between Vancouver and Victoria in the middle. See Vancouver to Victoria compared.

Seattle to Vancouver

Option Arrives Notes
Driving Wherever you're staying Several land border crossings; wait times vary by day and time
Train (Amtrak Cascades) Vancouver Check Amtrak for current schedules, border procedures and luggage rules
Intercity bus Downtown Vancouver area Several operators; check each
Flights (SEA–YVR) Vancouver International Airport Then the Canada Line into the city

Seattle to Victoria

Option Arrives Notes
Victoria Clipper passenger ferry Victoria's Inner Harbour (Steamship Terminal, 470 Belleville Street) FRS Clipper describes year-round service, typically one round trip a day, excluding a winter dry-dock period
Driving with ferries Victoria via Washington and BC ferry routes Longer; plan ferry reservations
Flights Victoria International Airport, north of the city Then a taxi or bus into town

Seasonal seaplanes

Harbour Air's 2026 route guide listed two cross-border seasonal routes:

  • Vancouver Harbour–Seattle (Lake Union): April 13 to October 13, 2026
  • Victoria Harbour–Seattle (Lake Union): June 11 to September 30, 2026

Both seasons have ended, and Harbour Air hadn't published 2027 dates when we checked on November 9, 2026. If service returns, the flights connect Seattle's Lake Union, near downtown Seattle, with the downtown harbours in Vancouver and Victoria. For international flights, Harbour Air recommends arriving at least 60 minutes before departure, with check-in closing 25 minutes before.

Planning for next season? Check Harbour Air's route information (opens Harbour Air's help centre)

What runs outside summer?

Road, rail, bus and scheduled flights run year-round, though frequency can change. The Victoria Clipper runs year-round apart from its winter dry-dock period. Harbour Air's cross-border seaplanes have been seasonal.

A note on time zones

British Columbia now stays on Pacific Time (UTC-7) year-round, after adopting permanent daylight saving time in 2026. Washington State still changes its clocks. From early November to mid-March, Vancouver and Victoria are one hour ahead of Seattle. Check whether timetables show local times on each side, especially for departures in winter.

Documents: check before you go

Border rules are set by governments and can change. Check the official sources well before travelling:

  • Entering Canada: the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) lists acceptable travel and identification documents. A passport is the most widely accepted document. US citizens may be able to use certain other documents for land or water crossings; check CBSA's list for your mode of travel.
  • International visitors (not US citizens or permanent residents): you may need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visa to enter Canada, as well as the right documents to return to the US.
  • Travelling with children: CBSA recommends carrying identification for each child and, if a child is travelling with only one parent or with other adults, a consent letter.
  • Returning to the US: check US Customs and Border Protection requirements.

Family group logistics

For a larger family, such as six people:

  • Driving keeps everyone and the luggage together, if your vehicle fits the group. Factor in border waits and parking costs in the city.
  • Train or bus avoids parking but means managing luggage through stations and at the border.
  • The Clipper to Victoria suits families who'll stay in walkable downtown Victoria.
  • Seaplanes, when they operate, have small cabins and weight-based baggage allowances. Check capacity and allowances for a group.

Luggage

Rail, bus and ferry operators set their own luggage limits. Seaplanes count every item towards a fare-based weight allowance and carry bags in the hold. See packing for a seaplane trip.

A local itinerary once you arrive

Plan a backup for weather and border delays; see weather changes and flexible coastal travel.

FAQs

Which option works for a family group? Driving or the train to Vancouver, or the Clipper to Victoria, depending on your base and luggage.

Where does each service arrive? Road and rail reach Vancouver; the Clipper reaches Victoria's Inner Harbour; flights arrive at YVR or YYJ; seasonal seaplanes, when operating, use the downtown harbours.

What runs outside summer? Road, rail, bus, flights and (apart from dry dock) the Clipper. Seaplane routes are seasonal.

Sources