Fast Facts for ferries leaving Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver):

• • Foot Passengers Load (typically) from Waiting Room A in parallel with cars.
  • Ferries run about every 70minutes & late into the night (11:30pm).
  • Ferry takes 20minutes to cross
  • You only pay one way. The return trip is free.
  • There are no reservations for cars or passengers.
  • Overloads DO occur so mind the cutoff’s (next section) and general utilization of the ferry terminals (see cutoffs).

Ferry Cutoff & Busier Ferries from Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver):

• • Officially it’s 10minute cutoff; but you should show up 15-20minutes before the sailing is set to depart
  • The 3:55pm & 5:20pm ferry shuttle more Local Commuters than the others. Arrive 20-40minutes before or take other ferries to ensure you get on.
  • Weekends are busy in the summer. Show up 20-40minutes before for walk ons.

Drivers in the Summer time:

It’s true, we’re biased, and we do not recommend driving on in the summertime, and especially on summertime weekends. Here’s why:

• • It’s a long lineup to leave the island (you may miss your ferry and have to get on the next one)
  • Ferries do cancel/ shutdown 2-3 times in the summer (3 times in 2026), and you will have to leave your vehicle on Bowen Island. Ferries do provide water taxi’s to shuttle everyone off island that needs to get off.
  • Saturday nights there is no 8:55pm, God knows why they decided to cancel a sailing on the busiest night of the year; but there is a massive line to leave the island for the 7:50pm or 10:00pm Saturdays in the Summertime. We recommend getting into lineup an hour before the ferry leaves Summers in the evening.