Planning Your Visit
From Washington
Passport?
US Citizen? Not required if you are traveling by car or ferry, but you'll need one if you are returning to the States by air. For more information see http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
From Port Angeles, Washington
By Ferry
COHO Ferry crossing time is 1.5 hours and the Victoria Express (passenger only) ferry crossing time is 1 hour.
Port Angeles is 84 miles from Seattle with a driving time of approximately 2.5 hours. (A ferry crossing from Edmonds to Kingston is required and ferry waits will affect travel time.) The alternative and longer routing (142 miles) is to take the I-5 going south and turn right onto Hwy 101.
After you disembark the COHO or Victoria Express ferry in Victoria, turn left onto Belleville Street. Follow it to Blanshard Street which will become Hwy 17 and leads to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. You will pass Elk Lake, visible on your left. After passing the lake, you will go straight through a set of traffic lights. After these traffic lights, you have several kilometres to move into the left, inside lane. Eighteen kilometres (18 km/11 mi) from Victoria, turn left off Hwy 17 (Exit 18) onto Keating X Road. Continue straight along Keating X Road. You will pass through 4 sets of traffic lights. Keating X Road becomes Benvenuto Avenue and leads directly into The Gardens. Our street address is 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay.
For information on Coho Ferry schedules to Victoria.
For information on Victoria Express schedule and public transportation info.
From Bellingham, Washington
By Ferry
The passenger only Victoria San Juan Cruises crossing time is 3 hours, arriving and departing from the Belleville Street terminal in Victoria's Inner Harbour.
For information on Victoria San Juan Cruises Ferry schedules to Victoria.
From Anacortes, Washington
By Ferry
Schedule information on Anacortes Ferry . Ferry crossing time is 3 hours, 25 minutes. Anacortes is 1.5 hours (81 miles) north of Seattle.
By Foot
After exiting the ferry terminal in Sidney, turn left.
Proceed to stop sign and turn left onto Lochside Drive. You will find the bus stop on the same side of the road as the seasonal Visitor Centre.
Public Transit to The Butchart Gardens
By Car
After exiting the terminal, turn left. Proceed to stop sign and turn left onto Lochside Drive. Continue along the waterfront. Turn right on to McTavish Road and cross highway #17. When McTavish Rd. ends (you will have passed through one 4-way stop), turn left onto West Saanich Road (Hwy #17A). Continue along West Saanich Rd. for 8.5 km (5.5 mi) and at the second set of traffic lights turn right onto Benvenuto Ave. Benvenuto Ave. leads directly into The Gardens. Our street address is 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay.
By Bicycle
Follow the vehicles, then pick up the cycle route. MAP: To/From Swartz Bay ferry terminal (in printer friendly format)
From Seattle, Washington
By Air
Kenmore Air offers direct scheduled flights from Lake Union and Kenmore terminals. They also offer charter flights direct to The Gardens marine entrance on Tod Inlet. Horizon Air offers flights from SeaTac International Airport (SEA) to Victoria International Airport (YYJ), located to our north.
By Car
You have 3 main choices to reach us. As we are on Vancouver Island, each choice involves travel by ferry. You may arrive via two points in Washington State: Port Angeles (84 miles from Seattle) and Anacortes (81 miles from Seattle), or one from Canada at Tsawwassen (135 miles from Seattle and south of Vancouver, near, but on the Canadian side of the border crossing.) Crossing from either U.S. point has the advantage of Customs & Immigration knowing, in advance, the volume of traffic and then staffing accordingly.
By Foot
The Victoria Clipper travels from downtown Seattle pier to downtown Victoria. Trip takes about 2 hours, foot passengers only. Once in Victoria there are several bus companies including Gray Line West that regularly come out to The Gardens, as well as Public Transit.