Drive from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada (Everett, Bellingham: how much, felony, live) - Washington (WA) - City-Data Forum

vampmiller · 01-30-2008, 02:35 PM

Curious to know how long it takes to drive from Seattle to Vancouver and whether it's an easy, pleasant drive or a treacherous, windy path and long hold-ups at the border with nasty guards hunting down illegal Canadian immigrant wannabees.

seattlerain · 01-30-2008, 02:42 PM

It takes roughly three hours and it's an easy drive. Unless you have any sort of felony conviction you shouldn't have any problems getting into Canada, it's returning to the US that can be a pain.

remcycle · 01-30-2008, 02:44 PM

Second that; it was always pretty easy for us. Takes about three hours to Vancouver proper.

Watch for speedtraps in Bellingham and Mount Vernon.

Coming back can be a pain, but just keep your head straight. Many a Seattle-ite has been held up on the way back because they go up north, get horrendously wasted down in Gastown somewhere, and decide to make the trip back in the middle of the night.

Pittgal · 01-30-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seattlerain

It takes roughly three hours and it's an easy drive. Unless you have any sort of felony conviction you shouldn't have any problems getting into Canada, it's returning to the US that can be a pain.

Why is it such a pain? We crossed over and back on the east coast and had no problems....what's different out here?

seattlerain · 01-30-2008, 04:57 PM

pittgall, how long ago did you cross the border back east?

Out here security has gotten a lot more strict since 9/11, and border crossing delays longer and longer.

mishigas73 · 01-30-2008, 05:09 PM

From Seattle to Vancouver (barring any real delays at the border) is 3 hours.

DEFINITELY watch out for cops.

I travel from Everett to Richmond (just south of Vancouver) about every weekend. The border can be a bit of a hassle, but all in all, it's not that bad, either way. *If* you go at off times, which is pretty much not going south on Friday evenings or coming north on Sunday evenings, you're looking at about a 30 minute wait, maximum (and quite often far less).

cobolt · 01-30-2008, 05:24 PM

Coming back to the WA from BC...whether it be on the road or the ferry to Victoria (I've done both) the US Border patrol is very strict and vigilant. Going across to the BC side is easy. Coming back...well, the attitude is sort of like you have to prove you belong....even with a passport. Even with proper ID. Just strict like that

Pittgal · 01-30-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seattlerain

pittgall, how long ago did you cross the border back east?

Out here security has gotten a lot more strict since 9/11, and border crossing delays longer and longer.

We went to Niagara Falls in October of '05...so way after 9/11. All we had to do was show ID and thru we went....took all of 30 seconds.

mishigas73 · 01-30-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobolt

Going across to the BC side is easy. Coming back...well, the attitude is sort of like you have to prove you belong....even with a passport. Even with proper ID. Just strict like that

Honestly, from what I've seen, it depends on the day, and which border official you get.

I've gotten some severe hassles going north, and I've also had cases where they didn't even look at my passport. Coming south has never been a more than 30 second process. (Except for this past Monday, I got the "trainee"...yes, this is where I live....no, I'm not bringing anything across the border...)

From what I've seen, I don't think any blanket statements can be made about either side.

mishigas73 · 01-30-2008, 05:46 PM

How much of a delay you have also depends on what has happened at the border recently. If, say, in the past week, they've had a drug bust, you can expect a WAY longer wait, and a lot more vigilance.