How long does it take to drive from Seattle, WA to Nanaimo, BC?

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p_wabbit

you might find it faster to take a ferry from the States to Victoria and then drive to Nanaimo from there (about 2 hour drive):

your options include:
- Wa State Ferry - Car Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria
- Wa State Ferry - Car Ferry from Bellingham to Victoria via Anacortes

- Passenger Only fast ferry from Seattle to Victoria (The Clipper)

otherwise you will need to drive 1-5, to border to Canadian 99Hwy and through Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay that offers a direct car ferry to Nanaimo.. that drive could be lengthy depending on traffic.

the Tsawwassaen ferry (close to the US border) will only get you to Victoria

see below link for releveant ferry companies
have a great trip in our beautiful land.

Martin V

The best route is I5 to BC Ferries at Tsawwassen because these ferries are very frequent unlike the twice daily from Port Angeles. Border crossing time can not be estimated but the border to the ferry is less than an hour, then there is a ferry wait then 95 minute ferry to Nanaimo. You can also go to Victoria by ferry (same time) and drive north for a similar time.

jane d

* Start heading north on I-5 (will be on there for about 110 miles)

* I-5 becomes Provincial Route 99North (be on that for aabout 17 miles)

* Take the highway 17 exit--exit 28 toward RIVER ROAD/ TSAWWASSEN / FARRIES(less than half mile)

*Take the ramp towards TSAWWASSEN / FARRIES

* Turn left onto 62 B St / PROVINCIAL ROUTE 17S. Continue to follow PROVINCIAL ROUTE 17S

*Turn Slight right

*Turn right on to TSAWWASSEN - DUKE POINT FERRY (make sure you check ferrie schedule and fares)

* (TSAWWASSEN - DUKE POINT FERRY becomes an unnamed road)

* turn left on to PROVINCIAL ROUTE 19 / DUKE POINT HIGHWAY

* Merge on to PROVINCIAL ROUTE 1 N / PROVINCIAL ROUTE 19 / ISLAND HIGHWAY S / TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY N towards NAMAIMO / CAMPBELLS RIVER

* Stay left at the fork to go on PROVINCIAL ROUTE 1 N/ ISLAND HIGHWAY S / TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY N

* turn a sharp right

* turn a sharp left

*trun sharp left on to HALIBURTON ST.

* Turn right onto WOODHOUSE ST>

* WOODHOUSE ST becomes CENTER ST

*turn right on TOTEM ST

*Turn RIght

This should take you about 5 and a half hours to get there (depending where about in Seatlle you live and what time you leave. I know traffic can be a major pain the the @$$ there--{I used to live there} ) and about 185-190 miles depending on bathroom and lunch/dinner breaks.

Hope this helps you!!

elizabeth

Take the ferry from Seattle to Victoria approx time 3 hrs. When you get to Victoria take the island highway to Nanaimo approx 3 hrs. So in total it will take 6 hrs. Good luck on your trip. I really recommend you take a detour to Ucluelet and Tofino its worth the drive to see the west coast of the Island.

MED_SCHOOL

The best way to do it is to drive to the ferry from Seattle, take it to Victoria and go up island from there, it's about 3.5 to 4 hours total. An hour and a half from Seattle to the ferry, an hour on the boat, and anywhere from one to two hours to Nanimo depending on how traffic is and how fast you drive on the highway.

old lady

Can't be done. Seattle is on the mainland, Nanaimo is on Vancouver Island. You can either catch the Victoria ferry from Seattle and drive up the island to Nanaimo, or drive to Vancouver and catch the ferry to Nanaimo. Check out schedules with BCFerries.

Marie

go to yahoo maps and figure it out!

Dorkchop

i will not cheat and use programs to give directions. seattle is 3 hours from vancouver, you must then take a ferry from west vacnouver to nanaimo which is 20-30 minutes from vancouver and the ferry ride is about an hour, wait times vary based on time of departure

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