Three Terminals, One Island
Salt Spring has three ferry terminals, which is convenient and also slightly confusing. Which one you use depends entirely on where you're coming from.
Coming From Vancouver
You've got two options from the mainland, and the one you choose mostly comes down to timing.
The first is the Tsawwassen to Long Harbour direct ferry. This is the one to take if you can make it work, because it's by far the fastest, cheapest, and most direct route from the city. The direct sailing are roughly 90 minutes, and goes straight to Salt Spring, and you don't have to think about connections. Some sailing make stops at other Gulf Islands en route, which can make the crossing take up to 3 hours. I usually just take the earliest direct sailing I can.
The second option is Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, then Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour. This route runs more frequently, which gives you more flexibility with timing, but it's two ferries instead of one. Budget an extra hour, factor in the connection, and just accept that it's a bit of an adventure.
The direct ferry makes a lot more sense 9 times out of 10, unless you have a really particular timing issue.
In the intro, I mentioned a common mix-up that happens where people go to Horse Shoe Bay only to realize that no ferries run between Horse Shoe Bay. It's true that there are no direct ferries between Salt Spring and Horse Shoe Bay, but technically, you could take the ferry across to Nanaimo, then drive down to Crofton and then cross over on the frequent sailing between Crofton to Vesuvius Bay.
This third option takes way longer and would be a lot more expensive. It would only make sense to do this if everything else was booked or if there were some stops between Nanaimo and Crofton that you have been curious about.
Bottom Line: The most common route from Vancouver is the direct ferry from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour. It's important to note that the sailing time is drastically different between departure times. Non-stop rides are about 1 hour and 25 minutes, but some sailings stop at multiple other Gulf Islands and make the sailing time as long as 3 hours. Take a look at the current seasonal schedule to try to strategize your plans.
Coming From Vancouver Island
This is actually the easiest way to get to Salt Spring.
Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour is 35 minutes with frequent sailings. If you're coming from Victoria or the South Island, this is your ferry. Simple, quick, done.
If you're coming from further up the island (Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan), the Crofton to Vesuvius Bay crossing is worth knowing about. It's only 20 minutes and runs very frequently, which makes it a genuinely great option that a lot of people overlook.
Do I Need A Reservation?
Summer weekends on BC Ferries are not a safe bet if you show up without a reservation. You will often need to wait through multiple sailings before securing a spot. The Long Harbour route especially fills up fast because there are fewer of them.
If you're heading back on a weekday in shoulder season, you might be fine with no reservation, but we generally always travel with a reservation since it is stress-free, and they are actually a lot more flexible than some people realize.
Below is a breakdown of BC Ferries' policies relevant to your reservation flexibility.
Prepaid Fares
- Changes: Allowed at no fee up to one hour prior to sailing (pay only for price differences if upgrading vehicle size).
- Cancellations (Day Before): $5 fee for cancellations made up to 11:59 PM the day before departure.
- Cancellations (Day Of): $15 fee for cancellations on the day of travel, up to one hour before the sailing.
- No-Shows: Automatically refunded, minus a $20 fee.
Saver Fares
- Changes: Can be changed 4 or more days before travel for a $5 change fee (plus any price difference).
- Cancellations: $5 fee if cancelled 4+ days before departure; $20 fee if cancelled 3 days to 1 hour before travel.
- No-Shows: Automatically refunded, minus a $30 fee.
Foot Passenger Bookings
- Less relevant: you rarely need a reservation as a foot passenger
- Changes: Can be changed online or through the call centre at no charge up to 2 hours before the booked departure.
- Cancellations: Not applicable, as foot passenger advance bookings are generally non-refundable.
Bottom Line: Book your ferry reservation as soon as you book your accommodation. Having no reservation might feel like it gives more room for spontaneity, but with how flexible BC Ferries is, it is harder to find accommodation to extend your stay than it is to change your ferry time.
Do You Need a Vehicle?
Yes, almost certainly, unless you're just planning on only exploring Ganges or Fulford. Salt Spring takes about 45 minutes to drive tip to tip, and there's no real public transit to speak of. If you're arriving as a foot passenger, you're largely limited to what's walkable from wherever you land, which mostly means Ganges if you come into Long Harbour or Fulford if you're coming over from Swartz Bay.
That said, Salt Spring is a surprisingly popular destination for bike packers. The last time we camped at Ruckle, nearly every second group had arrived by bike. So it's technically doable without a vehicle. Just know that the island is big and hilly, and this is enthusiastic cycling territory. It's not like some of the flatter Gulf Islands where you can throw a beach cruiser on the ferry and coast around all weekend. If you're on a nice bike with strong legs, go for it. Otherwise, bring the car.
Where to Base Yourself
Once you're on the island, where you stay shapes everything else about the trip. Ganges is the main town with most of the restaurants, shops, and the famous Saturday Market. It's the right call if you want convenience and don't want to drive everywhere. The south end near Fulford is quieter and puts you close to Ruckle Provincial Park. The north end around Vesuvius has beautiful ocean views and easy ferry access back to Crofton.
There is a huge range of accommodation styles on the island. You can check out our dedicated guide to Salt Spring accommodation if you need help choosing where to stay.
How Long Do You Need?
A weekend is enough to hit the highlights like the market, a hike, a good meal, and some beach time. But Salt Spring has a lot more to offer than you could do over a weekend. Three to five days is more realistic if you want to properly explore the island. And 1 week+ would give you time for a full exploration of the island, plus a few slow days at the beach or reading at camp.
You can check out our comprehensive guide on the things to do on Salt Spring, and it will help you get an understanding of what you want to prioritize on your trip and how much time you will need, and if you're hoping to camp at Ruckle Provincial Park, check out our detailed guide to help plan a smooth camping experience at one of the provinces best campsites.
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