At some point on a cross-Canada RV trip, you will need to move the whole rig — truck, trailer, kids, dog — onto a ferry. It might be the short hop from Vancouver Island to the mainland, the crossing to Newfoundland, or one of the smaller runs in the Maritimes. Ferries are not like bridges. They have size limits, reservation systems, and rules about pets that can derail a driving day if you show up unprepared.
We have done four ferry crossings with the trailer in tow. Two went smoothly. One cost us a whole day. Here is what we learned.
Know Your Dimensions Before You Book
Ferries charge by length, and the measurement includes your tow vehicle plus trailer, bumper to hitch. A truck and fifth wheel that measures 52 feet on the ground might be rounded up to 55 feet for billing — and more importantly, some ferries have hard maximums.
- BC Ferries (Vancouver Island–mainland): The major routes (Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay, Duke Point–Tsawwassen) accommodate RVs up to about 70 feet. Reservations are strongly recommended in summer; without one, you may wait multiple sailings.
- Marine Atlantic (Nova Scotia–Newfoundland): The longest ferry run in Canada. Standard fare covers up to 20 feet; oversize vehicles pay per foot beyond that. A truck and trailer can easily hit $400–$600 one way. Reservations open months in advance and sell out for peak summer.
- Bay Ferries (Nova Scotia–PEI, Digby–Saint John): The Digby–Saint John run takes trucks and trailers up to about 60 feet. The Nova Scotia–PEI ferry is free outbound; the return is charged by length.
Measure your total length with the trailer hitched, and add two feet for margin. Do not guess.
Reservations Are Not Optional in Summer
Walk-on ferry space is usually available. Vehicle deck space, especially for oversized vehicles, is not. In July and August, the Vancouver Island routes and Marine Atlantic can book solid days ahead.
We learned this on the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay run in late July. We had no reservation, assuming mid-week would be fine. We arrived at 10 AM and were assigned standby for the 4 PM sailing. With three kids and a dog in a hot truck, that was a long six hours.
Now we book every ferry crossing at least a week ahead, and Marine Atlantic as soon as reservations open.
Pet Policies Vary More Than You Expect
The dog is the variable most people underestimate. Ferry pet rules are not uniform, and "pets allowed" does not mean pets are comfortable.
- BC Ferries: Dogs must remain in your vehicle for the duration of the crossing. You cannot visit them during the sailing. For crossings over 90 minutes, this means the dog is alone in a potentially warm vehicle deck. We crack windows, leave water, and time crossings for cooler parts of the day. In summer, the vehicle deck gets hot — consider a morning or evening sailing.
- Marine Atlantic: Similar policy — pets stay in the vehicle. The crossing is 6–8 hours (Port aux Basques) or 14–16 hours (Argentia). For the long Argentia run, this is genuinely hard on a dog. Some travellers book a pet-friendly cabin and arrange with staff, but official policy is vehicle containment.
- Smaller ferries (Interior lakes, Maritimes): Policies vary. Some allow leashed dogs on the passenger deck. Others require them to stay in the vehicle. Check the operator's website, not a third-party aggregator.
If your dog has separation anxiety or heat sensitivity, a long ferry crossing is a real problem. We medicate our lab with vet-prescribed trazodone for the Marine Atlantic crossing, and we book the shortest possible route even if it costs more.
The Loading and Unloading Dance
Ferry loading is not like pulling into a parking lot. Deck crew direct vehicles into tight rows, often at angles, with inches to spare. You will be asked to turn off propane, set the parking brake, and sometimes chock the wheels.
- Arrive early. Check-in for reserved sailings usually opens 30–60 minutes before departure. For oversize vehicles, earlier is better — you get a better spot on the vehicle deck and more time to settle the dog.
- Pack an overnight bag for the kids. If the crossing is long (Marine Atlantic), the kids will want snacks, devices, and layers. The vehicle deck is cold and loud; the passenger lounges are warmer but crowded.
- Bring the dog's essentials in the cab. Leash, collapsible bowl, poop bags, and a small towel. If the ferry allows a mid-crossing vehicle deck visit, you want to be ready.
- Turn off the fridge's propane. This is a standard safety requirement on most ferries. Switch to battery power before boarding.
Build Ferry Crossings Into Your Itinerary
A ferry day is not a driving day. Even a 90-minute crossing consumes half a day by the time you factor in check-in, loading, the sailing, unloading, and the inevitable "where do we go now?" confusion on the other side.
- Short crossings (under 2 hours): Treat as a half-day. Plan 50 km or less on the other side, or none at all.
- Medium crossings (2–6 hours): A full travel day. Book the campsite on the arrival side before you leave — arrival-side campgrounds near ferry terminals fill fast.
- Long crossings (Marine Atlantic): Bookend with rest days. Do not plan to drive 300 km on the Newfoundland side after a 7-hour crossing and an overnight boat sleep. You will be groggy, the dog will be unsettled, and the kids will be restless.
Real Costs to Budget For
Ferry costs for an RV are not trivial. Here is what we have paid:
- BC Ferries Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay: ~$180–$220 for a truck and 32-foot trailer, one way.
- Marine Atlantic North Sydney–Port aux Basques: ~$450–$600 for a truck and 32-foot trailer, one way. Argentia is longer and more expensive.
- Bay Ferries Digby–Saint John: ~$120–$150 for a truck and trailer.
- PEI ferry (return only): Free outbound; return charged by length, roughly $80–$120 for a truck and trailer.
These are 2024–2025 numbers. Prices rise annually. Budget them as line items, not afterthoughts.
The Newfoundland Factor
If your route includes Newfoundland, Marine Atlantic is unavoidable. Two practical notes:
- Port aux Basques vs. Argentia: Port aux Basques is shorter (6–8 hours) and cheaper, but lands you on the west coast, far from St. John's. Argentia is 14–16 hours and lands you on the Avalon Peninsula, closer to the capital and the Eastern seaboard. We choose based on our route, not just price.
- Weather delays: Marine Atlantic cancels sailings in high winds and rough seas. Build a buffer day on either side. We have been delayed 24 hours by a storm — without a buffer, that cascades through every reservation downstream.
The Bottom Line
Ferry crossings are not obstacles, but they are not seamless either. They require reservations, accurate measurements, pet planning, and realistic scheduling. Treat each one as a distinct event in your itinerary — with its own budget, timeline, and backup plan — and they become part of the trip rather than the part that breaks it.
When you are building a route that crosses water, the FurRoute planner accounts for ferry crossings as full travel days, not driving hours. Build your trip with realistic expectations from the start: https://furroute.com.