Getting Around Richmond
Richmond is where Vancouver's airport is: YVR sits on Sea Island, on the city's western edge. The Canada Line runs through the city centre, with stations at Bridgeport, Aberdeen, Lansdowne and Richmond–Brighouse. River Rock Casino Resort stands by Bridgeport Station, next to the riverside lot where the Richmond Night Market was held.
Farther south, the Richmond Olympic Oval at 6111 River Road was the speed skating venue of the 2010 Winter Games and is now a sports centre with the Richmond Olympic Experience. In the south-west corner of the city, Steveston is a historic fishing village at the mouth of the Fraser River's South Arm, with the Britannia Heritage Shipyard and waterfront restaurants.
For a client visit that moves from an airport hotel to an office in Burnaby, 22 km and 25–35 minutes away, and on to downtown Vancouver, book hourly chauffeur service: one chauffeur and one vehicle stay with you for the time you reserve. Downtown Vancouver is 13 km from Richmond, 20–25 minutes. In Steveston and around the Oval, send the full address with your booking; the confirmation then tells you where the car will stop.
Airport Transfers in Richmond
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is in Richmond itself, 5 km from the city centre, 10–15 minutes by car. The Main Terminal handles domestic, international and US flights; regional carriers and floatplanes use the South Terminal, and Harbour Air flies from it to Victoria in about 30 minutes. Book with your flight number. For an arrival, your chauffeur checks the flight status and times the pickup to when you actually land, and your booking confirmation shows where to meet the chauffeur. YVR has US preclearance. With US preclearance, you clear US customs before boarding a flight to the US.
Bellingham International Airport, south of the border, is 72 km, 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, and Seattle–Tacoma 240 km, 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 35 minutes. Abbotsford International Airport is 66 km east, 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. The right one depends on your airline and route. For a departure from Richmond, what counts is the length of the drive, not the time on the clock: the run to YVR is short, 10–15 minutes, but give it a margin at busy times. Journey times vary with traffic and weather. You set the pickup time yourself, and the confirmation shows it.
Long-Distance & Cross-Border Travel from Richmond
Highway 99 leaves Richmond southwards through the George Massey Tunnel into Delta, the way to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and the US border. The tunnel runs counterflow lanes, so the number of lanes in each direction changes with the time of day. Victoria is reached by ferry, not by road alone: the BC Ferries sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay takes about 1 hour 35 minutes, plus loading time, and Swartz Bay is north of Victoria.
Heading north on the same highway, Whistler is 137 km from Richmond, 2 hours to 2 hours 40 minutes. To the south, the city of Bellingham is 75 km (its airport 72 km), 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, and Seattle 218 km, 2 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, by Highway 99 and I-5, with the same chauffeur and car from start to finish, with no change of vehicle at the border. The crossing is in Surrey, at Pacific Highway or at the Douglas port next to the Peace Arch; check live waits on the CBP and CBSA sites before choosing a departure time. Visitors who need an ESTA must have it approved before they cross into the US by land, and they receive their I-94 record at the land port. Carry the travel documents your nationality and itinerary require.
Groups & Event Travel in Richmond
Two Richmond venues draw groups. River Rock Casino Resort has a Show Theatre and a separate conference centre, and the Richmond Olympic Oval still hosts sport programs and tournaments. In Steveston, the Salmon Festival fills the village on Canada Day, 1 July.
When you book for other people, all their transfers can be kept in one account, each with its own booking and confirmation. If a visiting team lands on several flights, every arrival gets a transfer of its own. For athletes or show crews, a Sprinter van carries up to 12 people with their bags, and bigger groups go by coach, with up to 56 seats; the vehicle is matched to the load. Enter the number of bags in the booking form; for skis, golf bags or other bulky items, tell support so the vehicle is matched to the load.
If your crew, delegates or team stay near YVR on busy summer dates, book ahead: local vehicles and drivers are booked up early. If your plans go beyond a standard booking, write to support with the dates, addresses, number of passengers, flights and luggage, and the team will arrange it.
