Victoria to Port Angeles on the Coho: Schedule, Border and Fares

Black Ball Ferry Line's MV Coho crosses the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Victoria's Inner Harbour and Port Angeles, Washington, in about 90 minutes. From 13 October 2026 to 3 January 2027 it makes two round trips a day, and then stops for its annual refit from 4 January to 3 February 2027. A walk-on adult pays US$25 and a car of 18 feet or less, with its driver, US$88; both figures include Black Ball's fuel surcharge.

How long is the Coho crossing, and how often does it sail in 2026?

Black Ball's FAQ puts the sailing at roughly 90 minutes, and the timetable agrees: the 8:20 am from Port Angeles is due in Victoria at 9:50 am. Earlier 2026 periods below come from archived copies of the schedule and fares page; the autumn and winter rows were on the live page when checked on 11 September 2026.

On 18 June and 9 September a partial summer timetable ran as the seasons changed over.

How early do walk-on passengers and drivers need to arrive?

The deadlines differ by direction, and the Victoria side, where US immigration checks happen before boarding, wants drivers there earliest. Figures are from the Coho FAQ and the drive-on page:

A vehicle reservation that has not been claimed an hour before sailing can be cancelled, and the fee is kept. In Victoria, once US immigration processing has started, everyone travelling in a vehicle has to stay inside the terminal compound. Cars start boarding 20 to 30 minutes before departure, reserved ones ahead of the rest.

What ID do you need to cross the border on the Coho?

Black Ball's ID page applies the US Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) to every sailing. Adult US and Canadian citizens need one of these, as an original rather than a photocopy or a picture on a phone:

• a valid passport;
• a US passport card;
• a NEXUS card;
• an enhanced driver's licence; Black Ball's list covers Washington, New York, Michigan, Minnesota and Vermont, plus Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.

A REAL ID driver's licence is not enough. US Customs and Border Protection lets US and Canadian children under 16 (under 19 with a school, religious or youth group) enter with a birth certificate or similar proof of citizenship. Canada's border agency asks for a consent letter when a child under 18 travels with only one of two parents who share custody, or with an adult who is not their parent or guardian. Everyone else needs a passport, and some nationalities also need a Canadian visa. Visa Waiver visitors heading into the US need an approved ESTA before reaching the Victoria terminal; Black Ball says approval usually takes up to 72 hours. An eTA is an air-travel document, so it is not needed to enter Canada by boat.

What happens at customs in each direction?

Sailing north, you clear Canadian customs after leaving the ship in Victoria. Sailing south, you pass US immigration in the Victoria terminal before boarding, then a US customs check when you land in Port Angeles.

Declare all food. Black Ball warns that most fruit, vegetables and meat are refused, and anything with seeds or stones is banned. Canada's border agency adds that plant and animal products and pets must also be declared, with penalties of up to C$1,300 for failing to do so. Taking cannabis across the border is illegal in both directions, and firearms have to be declared on entry to Canada.

Do you need a reservation, and what does it cost?

One-way fares listed on 11 September 2026, in US dollars with the fuel surcharge included (Canadian dollars are accepted at an exchange rate):

The vehicle fee only holds a space; the fare is paid on top. It is not refunded unless Black Ball cancels your sailing and cannot move you to a later one, and one change is allowed free if there is room. Online vehicle bookings close three hours before departure, phone bookings one hour before. Walk-on passengers can buy a ticket before boarding, except over Canadian Thanksgiving and Crabfest weekend in early October, when booking is needed. A walk-on booking, possible until 24 hours ahead, charges the fare with no extra fee, and unused tickets are refunded in full.

Can you bring a pet, and what is on board?

Pets ride free. They can stay in your car, but people may not remain on the vehicle deck while the ship is under way, so owners go upstairs. Leashed pets are welcome on the main passenger deck except in the coffee shop and the forward observation lounge. Black Ball asks for a valid rabies certificate for dogs. Entering the US, CDC rules require a dog to be at least six months old and microchipped, with a free CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

The Coho has free Wi-Fi throughout the crossing, a coffee shop and a duty-free store that usually opens mid-crossing. There is no lift on board, but wheelchair assistance is available.

Where are the terminals?

In Victoria the terminal is at 430 Belleville Street on the Inner Harbour, opposite the Hotel Grand Pacific; drivers enter a block away at Oswego and Belleville streets. The Port Angeles terminal is at 101 East Railroad Avenue. Black Ball's pages mention no substitute service during the January shutdown.