Most Victoria residents take the odd trip to Seattle every now and then and must decide – should I take the Coho or BC Ferries for getting to Seattle? The simple answer is: it depends. There are many factors you will need to consider if you’re travelling to Seattle. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each.
Cost of Ferry
It was not too long ago when BC Ferries was the undisputed cheaper option. Thanks to increasing ferry rates and a stronger Canadian dollar, rates are negligible with the Coho Ferry being slightly more affordable when factoring in reservations. Here is an overview of current rates (at the time of writing):
- The Coho costs $60.50 for a passenger and driver. Reservations are a bargain at just $16 for a round trip (compared to $37 on BC Ferries). The Coho costs $17 for each additional adult and $8.50 for kids. Coho fares include taxes.
- BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen charges $51.25 for a vehicle (without driver). Adults are $15.50 each and kids are $7.75. Reservations are a whopping $18.50 each way! Ouch.
For my family (2 adults, 3 children), a round trip on the Coho in a standard vehicle with reservations will cost $222 USD. If you are comparing apples to apples, this works out to around $236 CAD when you factor in the exchange rate (which varies) and the typical 2.5% exchange rate fee that most credit cards charge. BC Ferries will cost me $246 CAD + 5% GST = $258. Overall, the Coho Ferry is the cheaper option by around 10%.
Travel Time
Travelers heading to anywhere north of Seattle will definitely save time taking the BC Ferries from Victoria to the mainland and then heading south on the I-5, even at the worst of border congestion… except, of course, in a few rare extreme cases. For purposes of comparing the Coho Ferry to BC Ferries, I’m using Seattle as a destination point and seeing which method takes longer. I’m also assuming that the traveller is leaving from a central point that is equidistant between Swartz Bay and the downtown inner harbour of Victoria.
Victoria to Seattle via the Coho: Except for the earliest sailing, the Coho requires passengers to arrive 90 minutes early. The trip takes 90 minutes, and I’m assuming an extra 15 minutes for offloading and customs. From Port Angeles to Seattle, the drive is about 2.5 hours (according to Google maps). Total travel time from Victoria to Seattle via the Coho is about 6 hours.
Victoria to Seattle via BC Ferries: A reservation on the BC Ferries requires arrival 30 minutes prior to departure. Unlike the Coho, there is a strict cut-off time, so I’m adding 10 minutes for safe measure. Off-loading takes an extra 15 minutes, and the border wait time can vary from 5 minutes to 90 minutes. For purposes of this example, I’m using a 30 minute border wait time which, based on my experiences, is typical. From Victoria to Seattle, the total travel duration is around 5 hours.
For travel time, it looks like you can shave off a bit of time taking the BC Ferries. However, it is worth noting a couple of things. First, the border wait time can very significantly at the Peace Arch. Chances are you will save time but it could be eaten up by a lengthy delay at the border.
Travelers heading anywhere south of Seattle (say Portland, the Great Bear Lodge, etc), will likely save a bit of time going the Port Angeles route since you can avoid most of the congestion through Seattle and Tacoma, which can get pretty bad at peak hours. The SeaTac airport seems to be about equidistant, taking about 5.5 hours whichever way you go.
Schedule and Convenience
A slight edge goes to BC Ferries for their regular sailings every hour during peak season and every other hour during their non-peak season. If you plan on arriving without a reservation, BC Ferries is a good choice since you can show up and usually only have to wait a maximum of 1 sailing. The Coho is great during peak season with their early 6:10 a.m. departure, but during the off season, their limited number of sails per day can be difficult to plan around. Due to their schedule, I strongly recommend reservations whenever you are using the Coho
Summary: Coho Ferry or BC Ferries for Traveling to Seattle
In determining how to get to Seattle from Victoria, we looked at 3 factors: cost, travel time, and schedule / convenience. Like most things, there is no clear winner here. It really depends on your situation:
- Generally, the Coho is slightly cheaper than BC Ferries but not by a significant amount, and it really depends on your situation: vehicle size, number of guests, etc. If you want to save 10%, use the Coho.
- Getting to Seattle can be quicker via BC Ferries to Tsawwassen, but only slightly. Its also riskier since travel times can vary depending on the border wait time and Seattle traffic. If you are heading anywhere south of SeaTac, the Coho will save you some time.
- BC Ferries is generally more convenient, except for those wanting to get a very early start by taking the 6:10 a.m. ferry during the summer months.
Travelling to Seattle? Did you know that high end hotels like the Westin or Sheraton often go for less than $100 per night? Find out what hotels people are getting in the Hotwire and Priceline discussion forum.