Directions

Vancouver Island is accessed from mainland British Columbia and Washington State in the U.S. by ferry service. BC Ferries provides year round vehicle and walk-on ferry service. There are three options for ferry routes to the Island from Vancouver.

From Vancouver, ferries go to either Victoria or Nanaimo. Nanaimo is closer to Ucluelet. There are 2 ferry terminals in both Vancouver and Nanaimo. If you are traveling from south of Vancouver take the Tsawwassen – Duke Point (South of Nanaimo) route, which has a sailing time of approximatley 2 hours. If you are coming through Vancouver (or from North of Vancouver), take the Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay (North of Nanaimo) route, which has a sailing time of approximatley 1 hour and 35 minutes. If you want to come into Victoria rather than Nanaimo take the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay (Victoria) route which has a sailing time of approximatley 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Sailing times and schedules can be found on the BC Ferries website.  

If you are travelling from the USA you can take ferries from Anacortes, Port Angeles and Seattle, WA to Victoria, BC. Victoria is on the south end of Vancouver island.Departing from Port Angeles you can take the The MV Coho which is a car and walk-on ferry that runs year round. From Anacortes you can take the year round vehicle and passenger ferry. From Seattle you can take the Victoria Clipper year round passenger only ferry.

Travel Directions from Vancouver by bus to Ucluelet – Updated March 2016
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Two ways to get to Ucluelet from Vancouver Airport.
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Option 1: Sky train from Vancouver Airport to bus station Vancouver. Take the bus from Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay across on the Ferry to Nanaimo, it continues on to Ucluelet.
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Catch the Tofino Bus at the Vancouver bus station.
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Meet the bus at Vancouver Bus Station it takes you across on the Ferry to Nanaimo and then on to arrive in Ucluelet. Check the schedule – this only goes a few times per week. You could stay overnight in Nanaimo or Port Alberni and catch the bus the next day.
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Option 2: Taxi from Vancouver Airport to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, costs about $50.00. There is always a lineup of taxi’s waiting at the airport.
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Take the Tsawwassen Ferry to Duke Point Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo. Take a shuttle into the bus station/Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo. Take the bus to Ucluelet.
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Ferry Departure times from Tsawwassen to Duke Point (check your dates on the schedule here)
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Click here to reserve the Shuttle from Duke Point to bus station/ferry terminal in Nanaimo, do this in advance.Bus departure times from Nanaimo bus/Departure Bay ferry terminal to Port Alberni and Ucluelet. (Click here to see the schedule)

Ucluelet is 182 km (113 miles) from Nanaimo on highway 4, approximately a 2.5-3 hour drive. Ucluelet is 293km (182miles) from Victoria on highway 1 and then highway 4, approximatley a 4-5 hour drive.

Some of the towns along the way are Parksville, Coombs, and Port Alberni. Drive through Port Alberni on Johnstone Road, go to the end of Johnstone Road and turn right on River Road. You can fuel up at the Petro Canada or the Tempo on River Road. The last full service station and store between Port Alberni and Ucluelet is the Tseshaht Market, where you can fill-up, pick up supplies, and grab a bite to eat. They also have a picnic and rest area, and a Tseshaht First Nation Totem Pole Garden.