How early to arrive for BC Ferries
With a booked vehicle, be at the BC Ferries terminal 30 to 90 minutes before departure, depending on the route. Walk-on passengers: 30 minutes.
Arrival times by route
Minutes before the scheduled departure. Cutoffs stay put when the ferry runs late.
| Route | Car, booked | Car, no booking | On foot or bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bella Bella to Port Hardy | Not published | First come | Not published |
| Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay | No reservations | Check-in closes 5 min before | Check-in closes 5 min before |
| Campbell River to Quadra Island/Quathiaski Cove | No reservations | Check-in closes 3 min before | Check-in closes 3 min before |
BC Ferries arrival questions
30 to 90 minutes before the scheduled departure, depending on the route (see the table above). Arrive after that and your booking can be released, leaving you on standby.
30 minutes before departure, and no earlier than 60.
No. The cutoff counts back from the scheduled departure time, not from when the ferry actually leaves, so arrive by the timetable time even when the sailing is reported late.