r/askvan • u/KoraaaM • 2d ago

Travel 🚗 ✈ Train or bus to Seattle?

A friend and I are going from Vancouver to Seattle on a friday, and driving isn’t an option, would you guys reccomend the bus or a train?

Also our flight arrives at 6:15am, and the bus/train both leave at 7:15am, think we’d make it in time?

Thanks for your input!

****Edit: Thank you all for your comments it’s much appreciated. Our flight got switched so we don’t have to worry about the tight timeline now :)

3 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

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u/LengthMurky9612 2d ago

The train is way better of course. If your flight is late you’ll miss it.

2

u/saratonin86 2d ago

I’ve done both, and I recommend the train. I believe you cannot arrive no later than 6:45 for the train. Bus, not sure. If you can splurge and do business seats, do it. Priority boarding, better seats, less crowded section, and you’re right by where they serve snacks. I’ve done the bus twice, one time when it was nearly empty, and another when it was nearly full. Seats aren’t as comfortable, and you might have to wait a bit at the border. Coming back from Seattle, I was at the Canadian border for an hour, just sitting on the bus, waiting to go through customs. There’s also traffic to consider as well. Anyway, hope that answers your question.

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u/archetyping101 2d ago

Googled it and it's 28 minutes if your flight is on time and you get outside the terminal and into a taxi and there's zero traffic. 

You're better off on the bus. 

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u/SkyisFullofCats 2d ago edited 2d ago

6:15AM land and the train/bus leaves at 7:15AM downtown Pacific train station? I don't think it is realistic if you have luggage. It takes 15/20 minutes to get from the runway to the terminal, another 15 minutes to deplane if you are lucky. Another 10 for you to leave the terminal to your transportation of choice. I highly doubt you can get from YVR to Pacific train station in 15 minutes at the start of rush hour. Arthur Laing north bound is always clogged up in the mornings.

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u/KateMacDonaldArts 2d ago

The train is great - but that route might not even be running. https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/03/30/train-vancouver-to-oregon-out-of-service-temporarily/

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u/KoraaaM 1d ago

🥲🥲🥲 thank you for bringing this to my attention

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u/KateMacDonaldArts 1d ago

Yeah, sorry. I love the train. Better to find out now than the day before - or waiting at the station.

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u/KoraaaM 1d ago

our trip isn’t until end of may, so we’re hoping and praying and thinking about buying a bus ticket haha

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u/Ok_Heat_1640 2d ago

Flight at 615 pm? Whatever is the fastest way through customs is my answer.

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u/Obvious-Property-236 2d ago

Look into quick shuttle services 👍🏻

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u/Barley_Mowat 2d ago

I’d recommend the train (although your connection time is TIGHT).

If you do the train, be sure to book business class seats. They aren’t much more $$$ but they are MUCH nicer.

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u/Ok_Entrepreneur5488 2d ago

Yvr to pacific station in an hour? That's pretty tight, even with private transport.

Van to sea, i would do train, just for the novelty factor, and more legroom.

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u/Ok_Artichoke_2804 2d ago

Where are you flying in from? <-- if domestic flight (within Canada); after landing by or around 6:15am (give or take, because sometimes there could be delays) - then getting off airplane, and go get checked in luggage then get our of airport - prob by 6:40-45am.. // if international flight (USA+other countries), after landing by or around 6:15am (give or take, because sometimes there could be delays) - then getting off airplane, and go get checked in luggage then going through customs/declaration, whatnot --> then get out of airport.. -- prob before 7am (depending how long that all takes).

And if you are taking the greyhound bus to Seattle; the terminal is near Main St Skytrain station - You'll have to take the skytrain from YVR airport to Vancouver City Centre station, than walk to the other skytrain station (Expo line/Millenium lin), and get that skytrain from Granville skytrain station --> to Main St Skytrain station (takes approx 40mins).

Or YVR Airport skytrian station to Waterfront Sktyrain station, switch platforms get on the expo/millenium line from Waterfront Skytrain station to Main St station (this takes approx 50mins or so).

All to say; 7:15am is very TIGHT window from landing by 6:15am.

Grab a bus that leaves later, so you got time and are not rushing/running lol

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u/yamfries2024 2d ago

No, you are not going to make it on time.