Hello. I have a crew cab dually (about 22 feet) and a fifth wheel toy hauler (about 39 feet). We will be travelling in mid-August (two weeks from now) from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, and then to Victoria.Any advice on the least expensive method to get to Victoria? I have not found a bridge so it appears that we will have to take a ferry. But the cost looks to be around $300 each way (truck, trailer, wife + two kids). Is this right? I am looking at the fare schedule on bcferries.com for the route of TSAWWASSEN - SWARTZ BAY. I know almost nothing of the area and just took a guess at that route. I'm happy taking an entirely different route. We just want to go to Victoria.If my calculation on the route cost is correct does anyone know of an easy way to convert a toy hauler into a boat so I can sail myself across the sea. :-)Thanks,---RobertPortland, OR

Check out the Coho- Black ball ferry from Port Angeles,wa.Coho

You say you're headed for Victoria- is it your intention to stay on Vancouver Island for more than a day or so?I ask because you could easily do a day trip or two by walking on the Coho out of Port Angeles, which lands in downtown Victoria. There are some pretty good campgrounds on the U.S. side....and you could get a look at the Olympic Peninsula while you're at it.It wouldn't be much cheaper to take the fiver etc. by that route, though.

Thanks for the info. Coho seems to be about the same price as the other ferry I had looked at for taking the fiver across the sea. If we walk on the ferry then for the family the cost is $100 per roundtrip so the cost ends up being the same over the course of three days but then we don't have the fiver to camp in... more money to hotels.It seems that if I want to visit Victoria then it will be approx $600 whether we go there and back over three days and walk around ro take the fiver and truck with us.Please let me know if there is some part of this that I'm not getting. As I mentioned this is an area that I know nothing about.I truly appreciate any guidance.Thanks,---Robert

It's probably not worth taking the RV to Victoria unless you are planning on spending several weeks on Vancouver Island. Alternatively, take the RV on the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry (~$80), camp in Port Townsend , Sequim or Port Angeles while touring the Olympic Peninsula (Olympic Nat'l Park) and take a day trip to Victoria (with or without the truck). A lot of the attractions of Victoria don't require a vehicle.

BC ferries are just plain expensive. No way around it. Have you checked on the Washington State Ferry price from Anacortes to Sidney (Victoria)?Jim

Advice for ferry Vancouver BC to Victoria BC | Good Sam Community

BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Aug 14, 2013
Z-Peller wrote:
BC Ferries charges through the nose for non standard vehicles. Last time I went with my 25 foot TT I paid something like $215. each way.With RV I am overheight so get dinged for that too. I think my dually by itself is 69 bucks or something like that. I'm overheight without my TT, as I have a rack on the back.

Just to clarify, there is no overheight charge on BC ferries anymore. That changed over 3 years ago. Current fares on the main routes are "any" passenger vehicle up to 20 ft long =$51.25, then $5.85 per foot over 20 feet. This is vehicle fare only and does not include driver. People fares are $15.50 each adult (age 12 and up)... $7.75 each child (age 5 to 11)...

Gee Bill, didn't know that! And I travel the ferries all the time.

Maybe I just assumed I was still getting clipped for overheight.
I get to the point where I don't pay any attention to the ticket - I just hand them a fistful of cash or my credit card and go.

How bout that - learn something new every day!
Z-Peller
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
BC Ferries charges through the nose for non standard vehicles. Last time I went with my 25 foot TT I paid something like $215. each way.With RV I am overheight so get dinged for that too. I think my dually by itself is 69 bucks or something like that. I'm overheight without my TT, as I have a rack on the back.

Just to clarify, there is no overheight charge on BC ferries anymore. That changed over 3 years ago. Current fares on the main routes are "any" passenger vehicle up to 20 ft long =$51.25, then $5.85 per foot over 20 feet. This is vehicle fare only and does not include driver. People fares are $15.50 each adult (age 12 and up)... $7.75 each child (age 5 to 11)...

My truck & trailer as a unit is 47 ft long, so I pay $51.25 for first 20 ft, then $5.85 per ft for the remaining 27 ft, then $15.50 passenger fare for myself...(BC seniors do not have to pay passenger fare on BC Ferries for weekday travel Mon through Thur)
enblethen
Nomad
Aug 12, 2013
I am thinking the hotel is the Fairmont Empress.
Fairmont Empress
paulj
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2013
I think they'd enjoy Goldstream Provincial Park more, especially the trail to the visitor center

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/goldstream/goldstream_park_map.pdf

This trail has big trees, a stream, nature stuff at the centre, a highway underpass if you take the side trip to Niagara Falls.

The B Gardens are, if my memory is correct, too formal for most kids. My son, around 5th grade, enjoyed the Butterfly Gardens in Victoria more.
RedJeep
Explorer
Aug 12, 2013
Again, thanks everyone! I see lots of mentions of the gardens. Would these be fun for six year olds?
Islandman
Explorer
Aug 11, 2013
The old hotel in downtown Victoria is the Strathcona, good place to stay and see all the sights within easy walking distance. Make sure you visit the BC Museum, the Empress hotel, the IMAX theater, Butchart Gardens, and other places while in Victoria. The suggestions about spending the night are right on target, there's a lot to see and do in Victoria.....so spend the night there and enjoy yourself, your wife will love the gardens!
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Aug 10, 2013
Orion wrote:
The ferry ride is 95 minutes long, the only routes that are several hours long would be some of the ones up north.
AS for the hotel Bob, would it be the James Bay Inn. It's in the residential area behind the Legislature?

Brain lapse still exists! Sounds like the wrong name. I remember it was on a corner of 2 streets and it was 8 or 10 stories high I think.

But I believe it may have been the very first hotel to to be built in Victoria. It is very old. And no, it's not the Empress.

I asked my wife - she doesn't remember either. I just remember we had a very enjoyable stay there.

Sorry I can't be more help with that one!
paulj
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2013
From the time I'd leave a campground on the SW side of Vancouver to the time I'm parked near downtown Victoria, I'd count it taking 3 hrs - 90 min on boat, 30 min wait, 30km drive from ferry to town, etc.

A day trip from Vancouver would be a full one, starting as early in the morning as possible (7 ish), 10-2 in Victoria, afternoon at the Gardens, back on the ferry about 6pm. Breakfast and supper on the ferry, lunch in Victoria.
Orion
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
The ferry ride is 95 minutes long, the only routes that are several hours long would be some of the ones up north.
AS for the hotel Bob, would it be the James Bay Inn. It's in the residential area behind the Legislature?
JohnG3
Explorer II
Aug 09, 2013
Locals correct me if I'm wrong but, I went from Vancouver BC to Victoria and the ferry ride was several hours. Long enough that if you wanted to take a day trip you'd have just a few hours in Victoria.

One tip I was given was to take the bus from Vancouver to Victoria. No the bus doesn't float but it is first on and first off the ferry.