Flying from Seattle to Vancouver: what you need to know
Start your holiday planning by considering where you'll catch your flight from Seattle to Vancouver. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE) are Seattle's main airports.
Hop off the plane at one of Vancouver's major entry points like Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Alternatively, arrive at this city landing at Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) or Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
Take a direct Seattle to Vancouver flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 1 hour.
Seattle and Vancouver share the same timezone, UTC-7.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are 102 departures a week to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from Seattle to Vancouver is with Alaska Airlines at 23:02. Choose the first SEA to YVR departure operated by Air Canada at 05:40 to make the most of your arrival in Vancouver.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to catch your Seattle to Vancouver flight.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seattle to Vancouver
To snag cheap Seattle to Vancouver flights, book your trip two months before your departure.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring an incredible deal on plane tickets from Seattle to Vancouver. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest price across each month.
You don't need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you when a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Seattle to Vancouver.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Seattle to Vancouver flights.
Flying from Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Set off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on a nonstop flight from Seattle to Vancouver. From SEA, you can land directly at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Choose from a range of carriers offering direct Seattle to Vancouver plane tickets with departures from SEA, including:
We make it easy to find a Seattle to Vancouver flight with a stopover. To see your options leaving from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply select a flight with a stop long enough to explore the city of your choice. Some popular stopovers include:
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
SEA is around 18 kilometres from central Seattle. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 55 minutes.
Have an early flight from Seattle to Vancouver? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has an excellent on-time performance, so flight disruptions are less likely. Departures from SEA make it to their destination as scheduled 81.27% of the time.
Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE)
Rather fly from Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE)? This hub offers nonstop flights from Seattle to Vancouver, seamlessly connecting you to Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH).
Harbour Air offers direct Seattle to Vancouver plane tickets from LKE. Book your favourite window seat and get to your destination in one go.
Using public transport, you can travel from central Seattle to LKE in around 25 minutes. The terminal is roughly 2 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 10 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before boarding your flight from Seattle to Vancouver? Kick back in a hotel near Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport before your break officially begins. Consider one of these stays:
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The distance from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver is approximately 10 kilometres. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 35 minutes to get there on public transport.
Book a hotel close to YVR if you have a late flight from Seattle to Vancouver. Pick one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Vancouver International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty or Avis and find adventure across Vancouver and beyond.
Booking your vehicle from Vancouver International Airport around one week ahead boosts your odds of scoring a great price.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) is about 0.80 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver. Once you've hopped off your flight from Seattle to Vancouver, it takes approximately 5 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
You can expect the trip to take roughly 15 minutes on public transport.
There are some comfortable places ready to welcome you near CXH. Unwind after your Seattle to Vancouver flight at any of these well-located options:
Get your ideal vehicle, not just what's left, by securing your ride from CXH ahead of time. You'll also avoid paying more than you need to, especially during peak travel times.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Abbotsford Airport (YXX) is roughly 64 kilometres from central Vancouver. It'll take you about 1 hour to reach the city centre by ride-share or cab after your flight from Seattle to Vancouver.
If you go by public transport, the journey will take you around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Choose a hotel close to YXX and go from landing to lounging in your room in a flash. Whether you have a late Seattle to Vancouver flight or just want to keep your travel plans simple, these accommodation options will have you settling in quickly:
Begin your journey without stressing about how to reach your next stop with an Abbotsford Airport rental car. Find your perfect set of wheels with reliable names here like Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
Get a payoff by planning ahead. Book your vehicle from YXX one week before your flight from Seattle to Vancouver to access the best rates.
Best time to go to Vancouver
It's time to plan your trip dates for your flight from Seattle to Vancouver. August is the busiest month to visit Vancouver. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, go in May.
The warmest month in Vancouver is August, with temperatures ranging between 13ºC (55ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF). Lock in your Seattle to Vancouver ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Seattle to Vancouver in December when temperatures average between -1ºC (30ºF) and 7ºC (45ºF).
More about Vancouver
Start your Vancouver trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Seattle to Vancouver, check out our selection of accommodation options including:
All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are must-visits when exploring Vancouver.
Explore more of Canada
Vancouver will leave a lasting impression, but there are so many other parts of Canada just waiting to be explored. About 32 kilometres south-east of Vancouver, a visit to Surrey will keep you busy. Start with popular sights like Senator Reid Park, Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park.
Around 97 kilometres south of Vancouver, Victoria is another favourite stop in Canada. Start your sightseeing at Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour.