A Family Day Trip to Victoria, BC, From Port Angeles by Ferry

One of the best parts of traveling full-time is being able to take advantage of experiences we may never have planned an entire trip around. While staying in Port Angeles, Washington, we realized we were only a ferry ride away from Victoria, British Columbia.

A spontaneous international day trip? We were absolutely in.

We took the Black Ball Ferry Line from downtown Port Angeles to Victoria aboard the M.V. Coho in the middle of May 2026. We brought our electric bikes, carried the kids on the back, explored as much of Victoria as we could in about four and a half hours, ate some incredible fish and chips, and returned to Port Angeles that evening.

Our day was slightly rushed and a little rainy, but it ended up being one of our favorite experiences during our time on the Olympic Peninsula.

Taking the Black Ball Ferry From Port Angeles

We reserved our ferry tickets online ahead of time, which was an easy process. Once we arrived at the terminal, we checked in and picked up our tickets.

There were quite a few people waiting, but the process moved smoothly. We arrived early and had plenty of time to check in, complete the necessary customs paperwork and prepare our bikes for boarding.

Black Ball currently recommends that walk-on passengers and cyclists arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Bicycles board through the passenger terminal and travel for free aboard the M.V. Coho. 

Parking at the Port Angeles Ferry Terminal

The ferry terminal does not have its own large passenger parking lot. Instead, there are privately operated paid lots within one or two blocks.

We found a spot almost directly across from the terminal and had no trouble parking our F-350 dually. I believe we paid somewhere between $12 and $15 for the day.

Even with our large truck and oversized electric bikes, getting parked, unloaded and over to the terminal was surprisingly easy.

Bringing Our Electric Bikes on the Ferry

Bringing our e-bikes was one of the best decisions we made.

Black Ball allows bicycles onboard for free, and the ferry had plenty of space for our unusually large electric cargo bikes. The bikes were stored in racks near the front of the ship. 

The kids did not ride individual bikes. Our e-bikes are built to carry passengers, so two children rode with me and one rode with Eli.

Technically, we could have explored the downtown area on foot. However, I would not have wanted to follow our entire route with three kids and only a few hours available. The bikes allowed us to cover approximately six to eight miles without exhausting everyone before the end of the day.

Victoria was also one of the easiest cities we have biked through as a family. We found bike racks at most of our stops and had no trouble locking the bikes. At Beacon Hill Park, we secured them to a picnic table.

We brought only one backpack with our regular necessities and a few snacks for the kids. We intentionally packed light and planned to purchase our main meal in Victoria.

Can You Bring a Dog to Victoria?

The ferry is pet-friendly, and we could have brought Willie with us.

However, we did not know whether dogs would be allowed inside all the attractions and restaurants we wanted to visit. Because we only had a few hours to explore, we decided it would be easier to leave him at the campground.

Thankfully, our camp host at RV @ Olympic was able to take Willie outside several times while we were gone.

Traveling with a pet across an international border can involve additional rules, paperwork and restrictions. Anyone planning to bring a dog should carefully review the current ferry and customs information before traveling.

What Documents Do You Need?

This is an international border crossing, so a standard REAL ID is not enough by itself.

We traveled with passports. Depending on the traveler, other qualifying documents may include a passport card or an enhanced driver’s license. Families should verify the current requirements for every adult and child before booking.

We completed a customs form for our family. Be sure to include the names of every child traveling with you. Because we have three children, we needed an additional customs form since they would not all fit on the first one.

The customs process was extremely easy in both directions. We rolled our bikes through, answered a few questions and were cleared within minutes.

After arriving in Victoria at approximately 2:15 p.m., we were already exploring by about 2:30.

Our Family Bike Route Through Victoria

Our route formed a convenient loop through several of Victoria’s most recognizable areas:

Inner Harbour → Victoria Bug Zoo → Beacon Hill Park → Dallas Road waterfront → Ogden Point Breakwater → Fisherman’s Wharf → Red Fish Blue Fish → ferry terminal

Altogether, we biked approximately six to eight miles.

Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Beacon Hill Park, Dallas Road, Ogden Point and Fisherman’s Wharf are all close enough to combine into a family-friendly walking or biking route. 

Victoria Bug Zoo: The One Stop We Would Skip

Our first destination was the Victoria Bug Zoo.

It had started raining, and we thought a small indoor attraction would be a fun way for the kids to begin the afternoon. Admission during our visit was approximately C$18 per adult and C$8 per child.

Unfortunately, this was the only part of our day that we did not enjoy.

The Bug Zoo consists of two relatively small rooms. During our visit, it felt crowded with adults, and the kids had difficulty getting close enough to see several of the enclosures.

We had also expected the children to have an opportunity to hold some of the insects. The zoo explains that animal handling is available when visitors join one of the educators conducting continuous tours, but that opportunity never materialized for our family. 

We also encountered prominent Pride-themed decorations and merchandise throughout the attraction, including displays and bug-themed products containing messages about gender and sexual identity. That emphasis did not align with our family’s values or with what we expected from an attraction marketed partly toward children.

Other families may feel differently, but between the small size, crowded rooms, lack of insect handling during our visit and overall atmosphere, we did not feel it was worth the admission price.

It was the one stop from our day that we would not recommend or repeat.

Exploring Downtown Victoria

Using Credit Cards and Cell Phones in Canada

We did not exchange any American money for Canadian currency.

We used credit cards throughout the day, and the purchases were converted into U.S. dollars through our card provider. Travelers should check whether their credit card charges a foreign transaction fee before leaving.

Our phones also worked normally in Victoria. Our plans included some international coverage, and we were not charged anything additional during the trip.

Because every phone plan is different, check your carrier’s Canadian roaming policy before crossing the border.

Was Four and a Half Hours Enough?

We arrived in Victoria at approximately 2:15 p.m. and were through customs and exploring by about 2:30.

Our return sailing departed at 7:30 p.m., and we arrived back at the terminal at approximately 7:00. We were cutting it closer than I would normally recommend, but the evening sailing was less crowded and we had no trouble boarding.

That gave us about four and a half hours to explore Victoria.

Technically, it was enough time to complete our loop and see several major sights. However, we definitely would have enjoyed having more time.

If your schedule allows, I recommend taking an earlier ferry from Port Angeles. A full day would give you more time to explore Beacon Hill Park, walk farther along the Ogden Point Breakwater, slow down at Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoy downtown without constantly checking the clock.

We went after Eli finished working that morning, so the afternoon departure was the best option for our family. It worked, but an earlier sailing would make the experience feel much less rushed.

Can You Take a Vehicle or RV to Victoria?

Yes. The M.V. Coho transports walk-on passengers, bicycles, cars and many larger vehicles. The ferry’s vehicle clearance allows it to accommodate most road-legal vehicles, including many RVs. 

We chose not to bring our truck because we only had a few hours in Victoria and did not want to deal with driving or parking in another country.

For our particular trip, the e-bikes were the perfect choice. However, bringing a vehicle could make sense for families planning to explore outside downtown Victoria or spend several days on Vancouver Island.

Continue Exploring

Planning more time on the Olympic Peninsula?

Port Angeles, Washington
Where we stayed, what we explored and what families should know before using Port Angeles as a base for Olympic National Park.

Olympic National Park With Kids
Our realistic family itinerary covering Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rain Forest and the Washington coast.

Forks, Washington
What it is really like to stay in Forks, including our campground experience, nearby beaches and access to the western side of Olympic National Park.