The simplest way from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to downtown Vancouver is TransLink Route 257, the Horseshoe Bay Express. By road the trip is about 22 km and 35 minutes, and a taxi follows the same road.
Route 257 and Route 250
Two TransLink routes leave from the ferry terminal toward Vancouver. Route 257 is the express, with limited stops between Horseshoe Bay and downtown. Route 250 also heads to Vancouver but stops along the way in West Vancouver, so it is slower and suits people going to neighbourhoods like Dundarave. TransLink has added service on the 257 in past years, but frequency changes, so open the TransLink trip planner and enter your ferry arrival time rather than counting on a fixed interval.
Fares, transfers and the Compass system are explained on the TransLink website. Check there before you buy anything, since fare rules get updated.
Taxi from the terminal
A taxi makes sense with heavy bags, a group, or a late sailing when you would rather not wait at a bus stop. The terminal is roughly 20 km northwest of downtown, so the ride is a proper highway trip rather than a short hop. The taxi fare estimator gives a ballpark number, and the Uber estimate calculator lets you compare it with a rideshare. If you want a local company, the Vancouver taxi page lists options.
Reading the ferry and bus schedules together
Horseshoe Bay is the terminal for sailings to Departure Bay in Nanaimo, to Langdale on the Sunshine Coast and to Snug Cove on Bowen Island. Because ferries can run late, it is wise to leave a buffer between your docking time and any appointment in the city.
- Look at the BC Ferries site for your sailing’s actual arrival time.
- Use the TransLink trip planner for the next 257 or 250 departure.
- Allow extra time in the afternoon rush, when road traffic into the city is slower.
- Decide before you walk off the ferry if you are taking the bus or a taxi.
A short plan made on the car deck saves a lot of standing around once you are ashore.