Accessing Richmond couldn’t be easier. Home to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), we are directly linked to hundreds of destinations around the world. We are also just a short hop from several U.S. border road crossings. The rest of Canada is easily accessible via direct flights, while Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia are linked to us via multiple road, marine and transit routes.
BY AIR
Canada’s second-busiest air hub, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) brings more than 22 million passengers a year to Richmond, making us the unrivalled gateway to British Columbia.
Servicing more than 50 airlines, regular flights arrive from Beijing (11 hours); London (9.5 hours); Los Angeles (three hours); Toronto (five hours); Victoria (25 minutes) and many more cities. YVR’s South Terminal welcomes smaller regional airlines, including handy floatplane and helicopter services.
YVR is linked to Richmond and downtown Vancouver via taxi, limousine and rental car services, and the Canada Line rapid transit system. Departing every few minutes, it’s a short ride on the Canada Line to central Richmond and just 20 minutes to downtown Vancouver.
For more information on flying into Richmond, visit our Entry into Canada page.
For more information on getting to and from YVR, visit our Transportation and Canada Line pages.
BY CAR
Richmond is a 30-minute drive from several U.S.-Canada border crossings. By car, we are three hours from Seattle; four hours from Kelowna; 11 hours from Calgary; and around 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
If you are driving from the U.S., follow Highway I-5 to the Peace Arch border crossing. In Canada, it becomes Highway 99 and leads directly to Richmond. If you are driving from points east across Canada, follow Trans-Canada Highway 1 and cross the Queensborough Connector to BC Highway 91, leading directly into Richmond.
For more information on arriving by car from the U.S., visit our Entry into Canada page.
BY FERRY
Richmond City Centre is 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the BC Ferries Tsawwassen terminal in Delta, making daily services from Vancouver Island and beyond a popular way for visitors to access Richmond. Regular ferry services arrive from Swartz Bay, near Victoria (90 minutes) and Duke Point, near Nanaimo (2 hours).
Many passengers drive their car onto the ferry and then continue on to Richmond (under 30 minutes away). The Tsawwassen terminal is also linked to Richmond via transit bus 620, which takes around 35 minutes to reach our Bridgeport Canada Line station. From here you can take a rapid transit SkyTrain to central Richmond or downtown Vancouver.
EXPERIENCE ACCESSIBILITY AS A PRIORITY IN RICHMOND, BC
Most Richmond stores, restaurants, attractions and hotels accommodate people with mobility challenges, including seniors and those with disabilities. The Rick Hansen Foundation recognized Richmond with an Accessible Cities Award. This accolade celebrates that Richmond is “demonstrating leadership and determination in creating greater accessibility…and expanding universal access.” Richmond is proud to welcome everyone to our great city.
Watch for icons in business front windows that indicate whether they are fully or partially wheelchair accessible. Other icons show whether the business offers visual or hearing accessibility.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Richmond is served by TransLink’s public bus fleet and its Canada Line SkyTrain rapid transit system. All buses are fully accessible, with ramps or lifts, while all Canada Line stations have elevators. Click here for in-depth information on TransLink accessibility.
Wheelchair-accessible cabs can be ordered via Richmond Taxi, Garden City Cabs or Kimber Cabs.
Located in Richmond, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) provides useful online information covering accessibility at the airport.
ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES
Richmond Centre for Disability provides additional local information – including a link to the Access Richmond database of accessible area businesses.