Seattle to Vancouver Express

After few days research, we decided to drive from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. We would have ended up paying fifty percent more transportation (Air fare and Rental Car) cost, if we had chosen to take direct flight to Vancouver. I really appreciate my friend, who had flown all the way down from DC. I wouldn’t have that memorable journey, if he hadn’t joined me. I had no choice, but had to go Canada for my immigration. My immigration visa expiration date was 04/30/2011 and I had to enter Canada before that day to get my PR (Permanent Resident). Initially we were planning to go to Montreal, but due to some reason we canceled that plan and headed for Vancouver.

On Friday 22^nd April 2011, Bakhat and I landed at Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) international airport around 6 P.M (PST). While waiting for Bakhat’s arrival, I had completed rental car documentation with Thrifty Rental Car. It didn’t take much time, since we already had booked online. It is always better to book hotel and rental car online (www.expedia.com, www.priceline.com, www.orbitz.com:  travel sites I have used this time) for better deal. We left Seattle for Vancouver after dinner and it was almost 8:00 P.M (PST).

Driving distance from Seattle to Vancouver is 141 miles and takes 2 hours 35 minutes (3 hours 10 minutes in traffic) as per Google Map. However we had added one more hour for immigration process to be completed in the border. That means our estimated time to reach Vancouver was 12:00 A.M (PST) Saturday 23^rd April 2011. But it took an extra hour due to mile and half traffic queue at US-Canada border and that is quite normal as per Canadian Border officer (CBO). Please segregate 5 hrs of your total travel time to drive Vancouver from Seattle, if you are planning for your next vacation to Vancouver, BC, Canada. After regular interview and completion of immigration process, CBO welcomed me to Canada as a permanent resident and explained things to be known as a PR. However Bakhat didn’t have to go through immigration process as he is a Canadian PR.

Driving route from Seattle, WA, USA to Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Source: Google Map)

The Peace Arch at the border between Surrey, British Columbia, and Blaine, Washington

I felt relaxed as we stepped out of the immigration office building and thanks to Canadian Government for accepting me as a Permanent Resident of Canada. We reached Vancouver at 1:00 A.M. and landed in the bed straight away as soon as we checked in the hotel.