Salt Spring Island can be reached by either ferry or floatplane. We highly recommend bringing a car so you can easily explore. Taxis and buses are very limited, and much of the fun comes from driving around and discovering the island at your own pace.
🚗 Don't have access to a car? Compare car rental rates.Read ahead to see how to get to Salt Spring Island from Vancouver, Victoria or Nanaimo.
Getting to Salt Spring Island |
How to get to Salt Spring Island from Vancouver
By Ferry
- Give yourself 45 minutes (60 minutes if rush hour) to get from Vancouver to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal by car.
- The ferry from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring Island takes 1.5-3 hours depending on which ferry you take. Some ferries are non-stop and others include additional stops at islands along the way. Reservations are highly recommended during peak summer times.
- If you have a reservation you need to be at the ferry terminal at least 40 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you don't have a reservation, you should still arrive early to get a spot on the ferry.
By Float Plane
If you're coming from the Lower Mainland, opting for the floatplane over the ferry can save you a lot of time. The flight is just 35 minutes from Vancouver Harbour or 25 minutes from YVR South, making it a quick and scenic journey. Harbour Air and Seair both offer flights to Salt Spring.
We only recommend taking the float plane if you're meeting up with friends who have a car, or if you're renting a car, scooter or e-bike on Salt Spring.
How to get to Salt Spring Island from Victoria
- It takes around 30-50 minutes depending on traffic to get from downtown Victoria to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal by car.
- The ferry from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island takes 35 minutes. Ferry times change throughout the season - check the schedule.
- This route doesn't take reservations, so during peak summer times, we recommend arriving 45 minutes to 1 hour before the ferry departs.
✔️ Top Tip: Don't miss Rock Salt Cafe next to the Fulford ferry terminal. They offer delicious bites to-go, like stuffed cheese sticks and samosas.
By Float Plane
Harbour Air now offers flights during summer from Victoria to Salt Spring Island. The flight is just 20 minutes.
How to get to Salt Spring Island from Nanaimo
- It takes about 35-50 minutes depending on traffic to get from downtown Nanaimo to the Crofton ferry terminal by car.
- The ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island takes 25 minutes - see scheduled times.
- This route doesn't take reservations, so during peak times we recommend arriving 45 minutes before the ferry departs.
Enjoy your trip to Salt Spring!
Don't miss our other Salt Spring Island guides:
- 26 Top restaurants on Salt Spring Island
- 33 Unique things to do on Salt Spring
- Salt Spring Island weekend itinerary
- Ultimate Salt Spring day trip
- Where to stay on Salt Spring Island
Get started on planning your trip to Salt Spring Island
- 🛌 Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- ⛴ Book your ferry: BC Ferries
- 🚗 Car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.