British Columbians are on the move this weekend.
From the Interior to the Coast and Vancouver Island and vice versa.
From the Interior, the Coast and the Island to Alberta and vice versa.
And, from the Interior, Coast and Island to the US and vice versa.
All this to and fro means the BC Day long weekend is the busiest of the year on provincial highways and BC Ferries.
In fact, BC Ferries estimates the six-day stretch from today to Tuesday, Aug. 6 will see its network handle 215,000 vehicles and 600,000 passengers.
If you're one of those 600,000, BC Ferries is dispensing the same advice it does every holiday long weekend.
It's all essentially common sense, but it bears repeating in the hope that your journey is as smooth as possible.
First of all, book your ferry in advance.
Go online to www.bcferries.com and make a reservation.
Since this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon are expected to be the peak travel times for ferries departing Metro Vancouver to Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, you may already be out of luck for a reservation because only a limited number of spaces are available for advance booking.
Drivers with their car should arrive at the ferry terminal 45 minutes to an hour before the sailing you have booked, if you have a reservation.
Also arrive about an hour before the sailing you hope to catch if you don't have an advance booking.
Hopefully you'll get on, but you have to be prepared to be flexible and wait a sailing or two if it's busy.
Or, to avoid having to wait, travel on off-peak sailings or consider walking on board.
Foot passengers can also book in advance on the busiest routes and walk-ons also have a better chance of getting on a peak sailing without a reservation over a passenger and a car without a reservation.
Parking lots where walk-ons leave their car also fill up quickly, so foot passengers are urged to take public transit, get dropped off or use ride hailing to get to the terminal.
Ferries will also be busiest on Monday afternoon from Vancouver Island to Metro Vancouver.
So plan accordingly.
Planning is also the catch word the Ministry of Transportation is using when it comes to highway travel this weekend in BC.
The ministry warns that motorists should expect heavy traffic and congestion during peak travel times.
So, give yourself extra time if you're driving those busy stretches this afternoon or tomorrow afternoon and again on Monday afternoon.
Or, drive off-peak in the early morning, later at night or on Saturday or Sunday.
The ministry also advises that the uncertainty of wildfires means highways may close with little notice.
The most congested highways are expected to be on Vancouver Island on the Malahat and on Highway 4 to Tofino, on Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada) through the Fraser Valley and between Kamloops and Alberta, the Sea to Sky (Highway 99) from Vancouver to Whistler and on all routes to BC Ferries terminals and major Canada-US border crossings.
The ministry also warns motorists to watch out for large, heavy trucks that need extra room and motorcyclists that may be hard to see.
It also serves up a raft of other recommendations -- make sure your vehicle is up for the drive with a full tank of gas, charged battery, properly inflated tires, engine oil, lights and washer fluid, pack food and water for all passengers and pets, obey the speed limit, drive defensively, leave your phone alone while driving, wear your seatbelt and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
You can always check out www.drivebc.ca for the latest highway and driving conditions.
