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paul373's avatar
paul373
Explorer
Jul 05, 2016

Overnight at BC Ferry Terminal in Prince Rupert

We are taking our Class C motorhome on the BC ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert later this month. The ferry gets into Prince Rupert ~11:30 pm. Given the late arrival hour, my preference would be to overnight at the ferry terminal. The BC ferry website says that passengers who are departing on the morning ferry can overnight in their RV at the terminal, but does not say whether arriving passengers/RVs can overnight. Does anyone know if arriving RVs can overnight at the terminal? I see there is a commercial campground close to the ferry terminal, so I guess that would be my best bet if overnighting at the ferry terminal is not possible.
  • We stay at the Olive Lake roadside area located about 10 km East of Prince Rupert. Actually stayed 3 days one year waiting on the AK ferry. Never had the RCMP stop by. The site is busy during the day with folks stopping to use the outhouse or to run their dogs at the lake. At night it's relatively quite with minimal traffic on the highway. Still people stop for potty breaks. We used the area because the commercial campground about a km from the ferry was closed for the season.

    P.S. The outhouse has never been very clean.
  • Safeway, or upper Wal-Mart parking lot. Or, drive about 10 k's out of town and a rest area just before the bridge in Port Edwards. Or just drive down into Cow Bay and road park. No one is going to bother you. If you want a great spot...as you drive thru Rupert from the ferry, getting to the T in town..go right..then follow the signage for the seaplane base..it'll take you maybe 5 minutes to get there. Huge big parking lot on the your left...empty building. Right at the base...pretty morning waters.




    Gary Haupt


    Just an added note..northern BC is one big boondocking spot. Between Rest areas, logging roads, old side roads. No one is going to yell at you or bother you in any way. Even the signs at some rest areas that say No Overnight Stopping or Camping? Again...no one is going to tell you to move on. Those are there to allow the RCMP to move someone on if they are taking up residence or establishing a fishing/hinting base camp.

    If you ask? I or others will tell you where you can overnight most anywhere in BC.
  • Depending upon the size of your rig, you could park in the widened area directly across from the campground at the top of the hill (where the signs are). Could also check out the hospital parking lot. BC Ferries is on too much of a hill to be comfortable. You also won't be getting that much sleep, so set your alarm!
  • When we made the same trip a few years ago, there was no overnighting for those getting off the ferry. We stayed at the nearby commercial campground that stays open late to welcome RVers coming off the ferry. It was about a three minute drive.