Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal is at the west end of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) in West Vancouver, so getting onto the highway is a matter of leaving the terminal and following the Highway 1 signs. The terminal is about a 25 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, outside of heavy traffic.
Leaving the terminal for Highway 1
The highway ends at Horseshoe Bay, which means there is only one direction to go: away from the water, along the highway toward Vancouver. Follow the highway signs as you leave the terminal area and stay in the lane that the signs mark for Highway 1. Taylor Way meets the Trans-Canada Highway farther along, in West Vancouver, and it is one of the exits you will pass on the way east.
Roads around the terminal get busy when a sailing unloads, particularly on summer weekends and holidays. A map app with live traffic is a good second opinion, and the BC Ferries site posts travel advisories for the terminal on busy days.
Parking if you leave the car behind
BC Ferries runs parking at Horseshoe Bay for foot passengers. Rates, rules and how long you may stay change over time, so read the Horseshoe Bay terminal page on the BC Ferries website before a longer trip. Arrive early on peak days, since lots can fill.
Without a car
If you walk on and off the ferry, you will not need the highway yourself. A taxi or ride from the terminal can take you into West Vancouver or on to the city. The Uber estimate calculator gives a rough idea of the price, and the Vancouver taxi page lists local companies. Transit options from the terminal are on the TransLink trip planner.
Going the other way, to Nanaimo, is a separate trip. Vehicles on the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route need to be booked and paid for in advance, because drive up fares are no longer offered, and the crossing takes about 1 hour 40 minutes.