Abbotsford is a city of about 165,000 people (2021) in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. With mountains visible in nearly every direction, it is in one of the most geographically stunning regions of British Columbia. Abbotsford is an agriculture-based city that is a popular visitor stop over point for U.S. travellers north bound to the Yukon and Alaska and Canadians travelling east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Abbotsford's colonial development began when the Royal Engineers surveyed the area in response to the gold rush along the Fraser River in 1858. This led to the building of Yale Road (today Old Yale Road), the first transportation route to link the Fraser Valley. The settlement grew and the production of butter, milk and tobacco began by the late 1860s. In 1889, former Royal Engineer John Cunningham Maclure applied for a Crown grant to obtain the 160 acres (0.65 km²) that would become Abbotsford.
There is some controversy over the origin of the Abbotsford name. The most commonly cited origin is that Maclure named the land "Abbotsford" after family friend Henry Braithwaite Abbott, the western superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Until 1922 the name was spelled Abottsford. Maclure's sons later stated that the property had been named for Sir Walter Scott's home, Abbotsford, and pronounced it with the accent on ford, while in his later years Maclure claimed that the naming had been "a combination of two ideas".
Abbotsford
The title passed hands to Robert Ward, who filed a townsite subdivision on July 9, 1891. Also in 1891, the CPR built a railway line through the area that connected Mission with the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway at Sumas, Washington. This route was the only rail connection between Vancouver and Seattle until 1904. In 1892, Robert Ward sold many of the lots to private investors, and sold a significant portion to the Great Northern Railway’s subsidiary company the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway. The British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) arrived in 1910. The Interurban, as the BCER tram linking Abbotsford with Vancouver and Chilliwack was called, was discontinued in 1950.
49.0225-122.38041Abbotsford International Airport (YXX IATA), 30440 Liberator Ave, ☏ +1 604-855-1001. Abbotsford is served by the second largest airport in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. YXX's motto is "a good hassle free alternative" to Vancouver International (YVR IATA). (updated May 2022)
Daily, non-stop flights to Abbotsford from Edmonton (1.5 hours), Calgary (1.25 hours), and Hamilton (5 hours), plus connections and stop over flights to other domestic and international destinations. Weekly winter charter flights are offered to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Flair Airlines, toll-free: +1-833-711-2333. A low-cost airline with flights across much of Canada. (updated Apr 2022)
WestJet, toll-free: +1-877-952-0100. Canada's second largest airline services with hubs in Calgary and Toronto. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. (updated Apr 2022)
In-terminal auto rentals include Avis, Budget and National.
Taxi service is available, but there is no shuttle service nor is there any public transit serving the airport. Two inter-city bus operators stop at the airport, see "By bus" below.
Abbotsford International Airport is approximately 80 minutes drive away from Vancouver International Airport, 60 minutes from downtown Vancouver, 10 minutes from the city centre of Abbotsford, 2 1/2 hours from Whistler, 45 minutes from Harrison Hot Springs, and 40 minutes from Bellingham Airport (BLI IATA) in Washington state.
The city is on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) , roughly 90 km east of Vancouver (a 60-75 min drive). BC Highway 11 heads south to the U.S. border, where it becomes Washington state highway 9. The drive to Seattle is about 2½-hours.
Ebus (Stops at Abbotsford International Airport), toll-free: +1 877-769-3287. Travels daily between Kamloops and Vancouver, and Kelowna and Vancouver on two separate routes. Both routes have stops in Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. Travel time to Abbotsford from Kamloops is 3.5 hours, from Kelowna is 4.25 hours, from Hope is 1.25-1.5 hours, and from Vancouver is 1.25-1.5 hours. Same day transfers at Kamloops to and from Prince George are available on three days per week per direction. (updated Mar 2022)
Rider Express (Stops at Abbotsford International Airport), toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Multiple days per week service along the Trans-Canada Highway from between Calgary and Vancouver with stops in Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Sorrento, Chase, Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. Travel time to Abbotsford from Calgary is 12.5 hours, from Banff is 11 hours, from Lake Louise is 10.25 hours, from Golden is 8.75 hours, from Revelstoke is 7 hours, from Salmon Arm is 5.5 hours, from Kamloops is 3.5 hours, from Hope is 1 hour, and from Vancouver is 1.5 hours. In Salmon Arm, this service provider offers some trips with timed connections with its route between Salmon Arm and Kelowna. In Calgary, this service provider has routes that reach Edmonton. The service provider also has routes that allow travel as far east as Winnipeg. (updated Mar 2022)
If you're coming from Seattle or elsewhere along the US West Coast, don't waste your time and money taking transit north to Vancouver and then east to Abbotsford. Instead, save several hours and $50-100 by taking a local bus from Bellingham, WA to the Sumas-Hungtingdon border crossing, crossing on foot, then taking an Abbostford local bus into town. Bus 71x leaves Bellingham's Cordata Station for Sumas four times a day Monday through Friday, twice a day on Saturday (make sure to check the schedules online or with Google Maps before you go). As of July 2019 it costs US$1.00 and takes about 1 hour. From the stop at 1st and Cherry St. in Sumas, walk a few blocks to the border. After passing through, just a couple blocks on the other side you can catch Bus 3 into downtown Abbotsford for C$2.50. It leaves almost every hour, and the fare includes free transfers. The whole process takes less than three hours and costs only a few dollars.
West Coast Express commuter trains travel between 49.13378-122.303743Mission City station in Mission (located north of Abbotsford, across the Fraser River) and Waterfront station in Vancouver. Trips operate Monday to Friday. Trains travel from Mission to Vancouver during the morning rush hour and travel from Vancouver to Mission during the afternoon rush hour. Fare prices for travel from Vancouver's Waterfront Station are: $10.25 one-way, $19.00 return (adult).
For westbound trips from Toronto to Vancouver, the train stops at 49.11688-122.276474Abbotsford station
For eastbound trips from Vancouver to Toronto, the nearest station where train stops is north of the Fraser River at 49.12817-122.303135Mission Harbour station station in Mission.
Operates bus route 21 between Abbotsford and the Aldergrove (central east) area of Langley. Stops in those cities allow riders to transfer to the TransLink public transit network serving those cities. Operates Monday to Friday with numerous trips, and Saturday and Sunday with a number of trips.
Operates bus route 31 between Abbotsford and Mission. Operates daily with numerous trips.
Operates bus route 66 between Burnaby and Chilliwack with stops in north Langley and Abbotsford. Operates daily with numerous trips.
Abbotsford is well known for its agri-tourism attractions. Tourism Abbotsford publishes annually a Circle Farm Tour Guide highlighting some of British Columbia's most unique rural attractions during the summer. A winter version of the publication is available, named Passport to Christmas.
Abbotsford boasts some of the finest sports facilities and parks in British Columbia which are popular among visitors. Known also as "Sports Town Canada," Abbotsford attracts dozens of provincial and national sports events annually.
During a visit to Abbotsford, be sure to learn more about the City's history, attractions and ethnic diversity by stopping at one of the City's two Visitor Centres on Sumas Way (Highway 11) and domestic arrivals lounge in the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) Terminal.
49.04375-122.305041Trethewey House Heritage Site, 2313 Ware St, ☏ +1 604-853-0313. Drop-in tours M-F 1-4PM. Has tours of the site and its heritage buildings, including the house, a carriage house, and a train station. By donation. (updated Jan 2023)
49.05105-122.307232Gur Sikh Temple, 33089 South Fraser Way, ☏ +1-604-851-6325. A Sikh temple built in 1911, that is a National Historic Site. It was built using timber donated by the former mill at Mill Lake and is the oldest example of Sikh temples during the early days of Sikh migration to North America. (updated Jul 2023)
49.03492-122.336153Mennonite Heritage Museum, 1818 Clearbrook Rd (directly south of Highway 1 exit 87), ☏ +1 604-758-5667. M-F 10AM-3PM. Exhibits and artifacts documenting the history of Mennonite immigrants in the Fraser Valley and Canada as a whole. By donation. (updated Oct 2024)
49.0245-122.36141Abbotsford International Airshow (Trans-Canada Highway 1 to exit 87 (Clearbrook), follow signs for airshow to King Road). Canada's national airshow is held the second weekend in August, it attracts visitors from all over the world. Flight demonstrations primarily by Canadian and US craft. Static displays of aircraft, Canadian Forces units, and local police and RCMP detachments. $25/person, up to maximum $80/vehicle.
49.03069-122.287152Abbotsford Canucks, 33800 King Rd. American Hockey League team, plays at Abbotsford Centre. (updated Nov 2021)
Agrifair. A popular country fair and rodeo. It is held annually on B.C. Day long weekend. (updated May 2020)
Berry Festival. At the end of July celebrates Abbotsford's status as the "Berry Capital of Canada." (updated May 2020)
49.03907-122.223353Castle Fun Park, 36165 North Parallel Rd (northwest side of the Highway 1 at Whatcom Road interchange), ☏ +1 604-850-0411. 10AM-10PM daily. Features a number of entertainment options for children and adults, including an arcade, lazer maze, mini golf, go karts, and batting cages. (updated Jan 2023)
Mill Lake49.01746-122.273074Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery and Visitor Centre, 34345 Vye Rd, ☏ +1 604-504-4716, [email protected]. By appointment. This is one of several trout hatcheries that stocks lakes in the province for fishing. An option, for keeping children entertained. Offers programs including learn to fish. (updated Jan 2023)
49.03081-122.437455Lotusland Vineyards tasting & tour, 28450 King Rd, ☏ +1 604-857-4188, fax: +1 604-856-8299, [email protected]. W-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su M noon-5PM. Grape and fruit wines, made from organic local fruit. Previously known as "A'Very Fine Winery", playing on the names of the owners, Liz and David Avery. Book winery tours 1-2 weeks in advance for groups of 6 or more. Tasting fees waived with purchase. Tasting $2/person, tour+tasting $10/person. (updated Jan 2023)
49.0447-122.31146Mill Lake (about a block south of Sevenoaks Shopping Centre). Enjoy a peaceful walk or run around Mill Lake. (updated Jan 2023)
For a unique shopping experience, be sure to check out 49.04897-122.290251Historic Downtown Abbotsford.
For the literary crowd, Hemingway's New and Used Bookstore, located in the heart of Historic Downtown Abbotsford, has one of the largest selections of new and used books in the area. Specializing in fiction and military history, the store holds thousands of titles in numerous categories, and is open 7 days a week.
Rural retailers can be found throughout the City's agricultural areas. Refer to the Passport to Christmas and Circle Farm Tour Guide available at one of two Visitor Centres on Sumas Way (Highway 11) or in the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) Terminal.
Abbotsford boasts many large shopping plazas. Almost all of Canada's major retailers can be found in Abbotsford.
49.0818-122.260822Clayburn Village Store, 34810 Clayburn Rd (community of Clayburn Village). A good place to have tea or coffee. (updated Jan 2023)
49.04921-122.312273Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, 32900 S Fraser Way. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-6PM. Abbotford's large indoor mall with a variety of retailers. (updated Jan 2023)
49.05814-122.378324Highstreet Shopping Centre, 3122 Mount Lehman Rd, ☏ +1 604-381-3934. 10AM-6PM Sa-W, 10AM-8PM Th-F (some stores may be open later). Large outdoor mall with a varied selection of retailers. (updated Oct 2024)
49.0392-122.29491Restaurant 62, 2001 McCallum Rd (in the Gateway Building), ☏ +1 604-855-3545. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM; brunch: Su 10AM; dinner: daily 5PM. Executive Chef Jeff Massey (former restaurant Chef of "Coast" seafood restaurant in Yaletown and also Cioppino's) prepares a variety of dishes utilizing local ingredients. Fraser Valley duck duo, pan seared breast of duck over local vegetables with handpicked blackberry jus and confit of duck leg over pistachio whipped potatoes. Restaurant 62 also boasts a wine list with over 200 selections from around the world, and 20 single and blended malts.
49.046-122.2922Dragon Fort, 2421 Pauline St, ☏ +1 604-852-6891. Fantastic Chinese place with excellent lunch specials.
49.04768-122.291141Town Hall (Duke of Dublin Irish Pub), 33720 South Fraser Way, ☏ +1 604-746-2000, [email protected]. Excellent $4.00 breakfast on weekends after 10:30AM. (updated Dec 2016)
49.05653-122.337185Columbia Bible College, 2940 Clearbrook Rd. For budget travellers, Columbia Bible College offers its dorms for overnight accommodation from May through August. (updated Jan 2023)
49.0359-122.2697Super 8 Abbotsford, 1881 Sumas Way (Exit 92 off #1 Trans Canada Hwy), ☏ +1 604-853-1141. Offers 99 rooms,58 in the new hotel addition, and 41 in the motel section. All with fridges and microwaves. Kitchen suites, indoor waterslide, pool, free breakfast included. Surrounded by several restaurants and shopping. Children 17 and under free with accompanying adult.
For RV travellers, Walmart offers free overnight parking. There are two Walmarts in town, including 49.0349-122.270218Walmart, 1812 Vedder Way. (updated Oct 2023).
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, roughly 90 km east of Vancouver (a 60-75 min drive). BC Highway 11 
heads south to the U.S. border, where it becomes Washington state highway 9. The drive to Seattle is about 2½-hours.
in Mission (located north of Abbotsford, across the Fraser River) and Waterfront station in Vancouver. Trips operate Monday to Friday. Trains travel from Mission to Vancouver during the morning rush hour and travel from Vancouver to Mission during the afternoon rush hour. Fare prices for travel from Vancouver's Waterfront Station are: $10.25 one-way, $19.00 return (adult).
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(cars / trucks) → becomes 
→ Sumas → Mount Vernon/Bellingham via 