Getting to Hornby Island

Hornby Island is situated between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island, approximately 80 miles north-west of Vancouver.

 

Directions to

Hornby Island, BC

Canada

NOTE: A passport is required for travel to Canada.

The quickest way to Hornby Island

Traveling by this route from eastern North America is strongly recommended for those who can only stay a few days:

Fly to Comox, BC- a town 30 minutes from the ferry to Hornby Island. See below for airlines that provide service from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. This route will allow you to get to Hornby in about 8-9 hours from the east coast of North Anerica. To avoid riding the ferry there is also the option of catching a water taxi from the Comox Wharf which will get you to Hornby in a quick 50 minutes.

      Pacific Coastal Airline http://www.pacific-coastal.com/index.php flies from Vancouver (YVR) to Comox (YQQ)

      Central Mountain Air www.flycma.com flies from Vancouver (YVR) to Comox (YQQ)

      West Jet www.westjet.com flies from Calgary (YYC) and Edmonton (YEG) to Comox (YQQ)

1. Fly to Vancouver or Calgary

2. Fly by connecting flight to Comox

3. Rent car and drive to Buckley Bay

OR catch Island Link Shuttle Bus   www.islandlinkbus.com 
1-877-954-3556 ( reservations required) to Buckley Bay and go to step 4.

OR take taxi to Comox Wharf and take a water taxi to Hornby Island. Cost $175CAN for up to 6 passengers with baggage call for reservations (250-335-2996).

4. From Buckley Bay buy a through ticket to Hornby Island. Follow the line of traffic across Denman Island on the 15 minute drive to the Hornby Island ferry OR if you walked on the ferry you will need to ask for a ride across Denman Island. Ask cars in the left lane of the ferry line up as they are all going to Hornby Island. 

5. Eat unique ice cream from vendor while waiting for Hornby ferry. (Summer time only)

6. Arrive on Hornby! You will be on Central Road- the main road on Hornby.

 

The next most direct route- this takes about 5 hours from Vancouver:

Fly to Vancouver, BC-

By Car from Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Hornby:

1. From the airport go to the Tsawwassen ferry. If you are driving or renting a car it is recommended that you get a reservation on this ferry to ensure that you will get on without a long wait. This is easy and well worth it since you avoid the ferry line-up. https://welcome.bcferries.com/rbi/index.asp?RT=V-VI

 

Driving Directions from Vancouver Airport to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal:

1.   Look for destination signs leaving the airport terminal and follow Highway 99 South to Highway 17

2.   Follow Highway 17 to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal

·   Total estimated driving time: about 25 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

2. Take Tsawwassen Ferry to Duke Point on Vancouver Island. See schedule through this link http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/tsdp-current.html. This ferry crossing takes about 2 hours and it is highly recommended that you catch a ferry that leaves Tsawwassen no later than 1pm. On this very large ferry you have a chance to bask in the sun on the top deck, have lunch in the restaurant, watch for Orcas swimming in the channel and gaze at the snowcapped mountains far off in the distance. It is a beautiful ride.

   A map view of the route and area is available here http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/maps/maps-mainland.html

3. From Duke Point drive north on the Island Highway 1 for 1 ½ hours. Follow the directions for Campbell River (north of your destination)

4. Take exit 101 to Buckley Bay & Denman/Hornby Ferry. Buy a through ticket to Hornby Island. A map view and the links to the ferry schedule is available here .http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/northern/. For ferry schedule click Buckley Bay-Denman- there is connecting service to Hornby Island.

• Note: The Denman/Hornby ferry runs every hour on the hour. The last connecting ferry to Hornby Island leaves Buckley Bay at 6pm- so aiming for an earlier ferry eases anxious travels.  If you do miss the last ferry from Denman Island to Hornby Island call the water taxi. ($60)
  Water Taxi  250-335-2996

5. Eat unique ice cream from vendor while waiting for Hornby ferry.

6. Arrive on Hornby! You will be on Central Road- the main road on Hornby.

By Car from SeaTac Airport to Hornby:

Allow 2 ½ -4 hours to drive into Canada and to the Tsawwassen Ferry which is near the border and south of the city of Vancouver. You cross at Douglas (Peace Arch) driving from Seattle into Canada and you can check if there are delays at the border at this link http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html. At the border there can be a wait- that is why the driving time can vary.

1. General Driving Directions from SeaTac to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal:

   a.   I-5 North to the Canadian border

   b.   In British Columbia, I-5 becomes Highway 99

   c.   Highway 99 to Highway 17 (Exit 28)  

   d.   Southwest on Highway 17 to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal

   OR Mapquest directions available here Driving Directions from Seattle, WA to BC Ferries - Tsawwassen Terminal, 1 Ferry Causeway, Delta, BC

2. The Tsawwassen ferry takes you to Duke Point on Vancouver Island (catch the 1pm so that there is ample time to reach the Denman/Hornby Ferry before 6pm). Highly recommended to make reservation – ensures a place on the ferry and avoids waiting. The ferry crossing time is 1 hour 45 minutes.

See ferry schedule http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/

Make reservations https://welcome.bcferries.com/rbi/index.asp?RT=V-VI

Click Tsawwassen-Duke Point

3. Take the Island Highway 1 North for 1 ½ hours and take Exit 101 to Buckley Bay &Denman/Hornby Ferry

4. Catch the Denman/Hornby Ferry from Buckley Bay follow traffic across Denman island to the Hornby Ferry.

5. Eat unique ice cream from vendor while waiting for Hornby ferry.

6. Arrive on Hornby! You will be on Central Road- the main road on Hornby.