Tsawwassen Ferry Parking: Lots, Rates, and How to Pay

On this page

1. Where the parking lots are
2. Current rates
3. How to pay
4. Walk-on versus driving on
5. Practical tips
6. Alternatives to terminal parking
7. Frequently asked questions

Where the parking lots are

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal sits at the end of a 2 km causeway that runs out into the Strait of Georgia from the Tsawwassen First Nation lands in Delta. The parking lots are on the terminal itself, at the end of the causeway — not in town.

Follow Highway 17 all the way to the terminal. The lots are signposted before the vehicle ticket booths.

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal1 Ferry Causeway, Delta, BC V4M 4G6 Google Maps Apple Maps

There are two lots:

• Short-term lot — beside the foot-passenger building. Use it for pick-ups, drop-offs, and quick trips to the terminal shops. It is metered at $0.75 per 15 minutes with a 2-hour maximum, or $23.25 for a full day.
• Long-term lot — for walk-on passengers leaving a car while they travel to Victoria, Nanaimo, or the Southern Gulf Islands. This is the lot most people mean by “Tsawwassen ferry parking”.

Both lots are operated by a third-party parking company on behalf of the ferry operator. Parking questions and disputes go to the parking operator, not the ferry company.

Current rates

Lot	Rate (before tax)
Short-term	$0.75 per 15 min, 2-hour max · $23.25 per day
Long-term, up to 6 hours	$11.00
Long-term, 24 hours	$19.25
Each additional 12 hours	$9.60

Rates were checked against the terminal’s official page in August 2026.

How to pay

Payment is by licence plate, so there is nothing to display on the dashboard.

1. Pay at the meter with coins or a card. Enter your plate and choose the duration.
2. PayByPhone — enter the lot’s location code, your plate, and the duration. You can extend from the ferry if your return sailing is delayed.
3. hangTag — the same idea, through the operator’s own app.

Walk-on versus driving on

Parking only matters if you are leaving the car behind. Before you decide, compare the two options:

• Drive on. No parking cost, and you have the car on the island. The vehicle fare is the main cost, and on summer weekends and holiday Fridays you should reserve.
• Walk on and park. Cheaper for a short trip to Victoria if you will not need a car there. Add the parking cost plus transit or taxi from Swartz Bay into Victoria (about 30 minutes by road).

A rough rule: for one or two nights in downtown Victoria without side trips, walking on and parking usually wins. For anything longer, or if you plan to explore beyond Victoria, take the car.

Practical tips

Walk-on with a parked car: sample timing for a 9:00 sailing

1. 8:05 Turn onto the causewayFollow signs for parking, not the vehicle ticket booths.
2. 8:15 Park in the long-term lotPhotograph your spot and pay by plate at the meter or in the app.
3. 8:25 Walk to the foot-passenger buildingA few minutes with luggage.
4. 8:30 Buy your ticket, check in
5. 8:50 Ticket sales closeAfter this you are on the next sailing.
6. 9:00 Sailing departs

• Arrive earlier than you think on summer weekends. The long-term lot fills on peak days and there is no overflow. If the lot is full you will be turned back down the causeway.
• Photograph your parking spot and plate entry. It makes extending or disputing a charge much easier.
• Foot passengers check in early. Ticket sales for walk-ons close 10 minutes before departure, and the walk from the long-term lot to the foot-passenger building takes a few minutes with luggage. Aim to be parked 30–40 minutes before sailing.
• Coming from YVR? You may not need to park at all. See YVR to Tsawwassen ferry for transit and taxi options that drop you at the foot-passenger doors.
• Early sailing? Parking is straightforward at 5 a.m., but the drive from Vancouver is not. Many travellers on the first sailing stay in Tsawwassen the night before and get dropped off, avoiding both the parking fee and the pre-dawn drive.

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal 1 Ferry Causeway, Delta, BC V4M 4G6 Show interactive map Loads Google Maps when tapped

Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps

Alternatives to terminal parking

• Stay nearby and get dropped off. A suite or hotel in Tsawwassen with free parking lets you leave the car and take a short taxi or lift to the terminal. For a week away this can cost less than the long-term lot.
• Park in Tsawwassen town centre and bus in. The 620 bus runs from Bridgeport Station via Tsawwassen to the terminal. Check street-parking limits before leaving a car for several days.
• Transit from Vancouver. Canada Line to Bridgeport, then the 620 to the terminal. No parking at all, and the bus stops at the foot-passenger building.

Frequently asked questions

Can I reserve parking at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal?

No. Parking at the terminal is first come, first served and paid on arrival. You can reserve a spot on the ferry itself, but that does not include a parking space.

How much is long-term parking at Tsawwassen?

At the time of writing, long-term parking is $11.00 for up to 6 hours, $19.25 for 24 hours, and $9.60 for each additional 12-hour block, before tax. Rates are set by the parking operator and change periodically, so check the terminal page before you go.

Is Tsawwassen ferry parking safe to leave a car for a week?

The long-term lot is a paved, lit lot in regular use by walk-on passengers to Victoria and the Gulf Islands. As with any public lot, leave nothing visible in the car. The parking operator, not the ferry company, is responsible for the lot.

Does the parking fee include tax?

No. Posted rates are before a transit tax and GST, so the amount charged will be higher than the headline figure. Apps show the full amount before you confirm.

Where do I pick up or drop off a walk-on passenger?

Use the short-term lot near the foot-passenger building. Stopping on the causeway or in the vehicle holding aisles is not allowed.

Is there free parking near Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal?

There is no free public parking at the terminal. Some travellers park in Tsawwassen town and take the bus or a taxi to the terminal, or stay overnight nearby and get dropped off at the foot-passenger entrance.

Last updated August 28, 2026. Schedules, fares, and parking rates change — confirm with the operator before you travel.