Pick your travel date and check the oversized pool. Watch a sold-out sailing and we text you, free, if space opens.
Galiano is the best of the five for a large vehicle, and it is worth being precise about why. Sturdies Bay is often the first call out of Tsawwassen, so the ship reaches it with the deck still mostly empty. On a 55-minute non-stop sailing there is no earlier stop to have taken your spot.
That improves your odds. It does not raise the ceiling: the vessel is small and the total over-height allocation is small with it. The figures below are oversized availability only.
Why oversized space goes first
Camping and hiking traffic in the same vehicles
Galiano's provincial parkland and trail network draw camper vans, roof-loaded rigs and trailer-towed gear from spring through autumn. That is over-height demand arriving on exactly the Friday and Saturday sailings the weekend cottage traffic also wants.
Position helps, the ceiling still binds
Arriving early in the run means more of the allocation is still there when your turn comes, but the allocation itself is a handful of spots. On a peak summer weekend that runs out regardless of stop order, and the mainland-bound direction has no such advantage at all.
Is your vehicle oversized?
The standard threshold applies: over 7' / 2.13 m tall or over 20' / 6.10 m long is oversized, measured to the highest fixed point and across the full combined length.
Book accurately. A sailing carrying only a few over-height spots has no slack to absorb a vehicle bigger than the one declared.
The full rules, and what they mean for fares and loading, are in the BC Ferries oversized vehicle guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is oversized space easier to get on Galiano than the other Gulf Islands?
Often, because Sturdies Bay is frequently the first call out of Tsawwassen and the deck has not been filled by earlier stops. The total allocation is still small, so do not rely on that alone for a peak weekend.
I am bringing a camper van for hiking. Does it need an oversized reservation?
If it is over 7' / 2.13 m tall or over 20' / 6.10 m long, yes. Most camper vans clear the height line.
Does the 55-minute sailing matter for a big vehicle?
It is the one to aim for. A non-stop departure is both the fastest crossing to any Southern Gulf Island and the one where the over-height allocation has not already been drawn down.
How far ahead should I book?
As early as your dates are firm, particularly for Friday and Saturday sailings during camping season.
Can I drive up with a trailer?
Standby space is held, but the deck is small. Do not count on oversized drive-up room on a busy weekend.