The SeaBus is the easiest way to reach Lonsdale Quay from downtown Vancouver. It crosses Burrard Inlet from Waterfront Station in about 12 minutes. By road the same trip is about 10 km and 20 minutes, depending on traffic and the bridge.
Crossing from Waterfront Station
The SeaBus leaves from the terminal at Waterfront Station on the Vancouver side and docks at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. TransLink runs it, and the fare is part of the regular transit system, so one fare covers a connecting bus on the same trip. Sailings run every 10 minutes at the busiest weekday times, roughly 7:15 to 9:45 a.m. and 3:15 to 6:45 p.m. The rest of the day the gap is 15 minutes.
Those figures can shift on evenings, weekends and holidays. The SeaBus page on the TransLink website lists the current timetable and any service alerts, so look there before you set out.
Buses from the Quay up Lonsdale
If you are already on the North Shore, you do not need the boat at all. Local buses serve the Quay from the surrounding neighbourhoods, and the right route depends on where you start. Put your address and Lonsdale Quay into the TransLink trip planner and it will show the routes and the walk to the stop.
Going the other way, from the Quay to somewhere in North Vancouver, the same planner works. It also shows whether a bus or the SeaBus connection gets you there sooner.
Driving or taking a taxi around the inlet
Driving means crossing one of the inlet bridges, and that is where the delays build at rush hour. Plan for more than 20 minutes if you leave downtown between about 3 and 6 p.m. Parking near the Quay is limited and rules change by lot, so check posted signs when you arrive.
A taxi suits a group, heavy bags, or a late night after the SeaBus has stopped for the evening. The taxi fare estimator gives a rough fare for the ride, and the Uber estimate calculator does the same for a rideshare. For pickups across the city, see the Vancouver taxi page. Fares move with traffic, so confirm the price when you book.