British Columbia Road Trip Guide & 4 Epic BC Road Trip Itineraries
Vast landscapes, breathtaking natural beauties and abundant wildlife. The best way to experience it all is on a British Columbia road trip! British Columbia Canada spans an area of 944,735 km² and you likely won’t see everything in this westernmost province, so don’t even plan to. BC is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. The province is dominated by forests and lakes and is too beautiful of a place to rush through.
In this travel guide you find all the British Columbia road trip tips you’ll need to know before you go. Plus, the best driving routes so that whatever time you have for your visit, you can make the best of it.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through and purchasing through these links I may make a small commission to help run this blog, at no extra cost to you. Thx!
Which season is the best for a British Columbia road trip?
Lots of factors make the summer months the most ideal time for a BC road trip. British Columbia in the summer is generally between May and September.
Summer days are long and the weather is generally warm and dry. This lets you enjoy the outdoors more and makes driving is easy, without any extreme weather conditions. Summer is the season to access high mountain trails and those wonderful alpine lakes. However, this makes summer the most popular and most expensive season too.
Between late October and April, drivers should be more cautious. Snow, fog and ice can affect driving conditions and the accessibility of the roads. Driving in the mountains in the winter is not recommended unless you’re an experienced winter driver.
If you decide to drive, your car needs to be prepared for winter conditions. Winter tires are a must, chains are recommended, and you need to be prepared for unexpected delays and sudden change of plans.
With that said, winter is the high season to visit the wonderful mountain ski resorts in BC. But Vancouver and most of Vancouver Island doesn’t get much snow. Instead, they get an extreme amount of rain. While you can have beautiful days in coastal BC in the winter, summer (especially July and August) guarantees a much drier and sunnier visit.
Where to start your BC road trip?
You’ll likely fly into Canada and rent a car (or an RV) for your road trip. There are three straightforward cities to fly to, and only two of them are in Canada. You can fly into Vancouver, Calgary (in the neighboring province of Alberta) and Seattle (in the USA).
Every BC road trip isn’t complete without visiting Vancouver, so you should start there. But Seattle is only about two hours’ drive away.
So, starting in Seattle is great for a longer West Coast road trip. The Calgary to Vancouver drive is roughly 12 hours. The scenic drive takes you to many of the world famous national parks in the Canadian Rockies.
Which are the best British Columbia road trip routes?
So, let’s see where exactly to drive. If you only have a few days, drive from Vancouver to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway. Or opt for a Vancouver Island road trip.
If you have one or two weeks, you can take a loop around the lower portion of British Columbia. Or you can drive from Vancouver to Banff.
The northern portion of the province is scarcely populated and underdeveloped. Plus, it takes a long time to drive there from Vancouver. For one or two week long trips, I recommend sticking to the southern portion of British Columbia. This area offers amazing parks, mountains and lakes than you can visit in a few weeks.
4 Epic British Columbia Road Trip Route Options
Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler Road Trip Itinerary
The Sea to Sky Highway is aptly named, as it truly takes you from the sea to the sky. The drive takes visitors from the scenic ocean views of Howe Sound to the snow-capped peaks of the coastal mountains.
Even if you only have one day, you can enjoy this drive on Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler. If you have 2 to 3 days, you can complete some of the longer hiking trails in the area.
If you visit the attractions of Vancouver before you begin your trip, Whytecliff Park is an ideal first stop on the Sea to Sky road trip. Located in West Vancouver, this small coastal park has a beach and a few elevated lookout points. Keep your eyes open for seals as they like resting on the rocks here, especially on Whyte Islet.
Further north, Porteau Cove Provincial Park is another great stop. It has a rocky beach, a pier and views of Howe Sound and the mountains towering above. As you head further north, you reach Shannon Falls. At 335 meters high, Shannon Falls is the third tallest waterfall in British Columbia. Plus, it’s just a short walk away from the roadside parking lot. This makes it one of the best short stops along the Sea to Sky Highway.
The Sea to Sky Gondola is also right by the road. It takes you from the highway up to the Summit Lodge within a few minutes. There you can enjoy the panoramic views over Howe Sound from the viewing platform. In addition, you can walk across the Sky Pilot suspension bridge or even go hiking.
Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is our favorite trail in the area. The trail is a 7 km return hike that starts from the Summit Lodge. It treats you with wonderful mountain vistas all the way.
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is the next stop. And it’s impossible to miss the giant peaks towering above the highway! Here, you’ll find one of the top hiking trails in Canada! Conquering the First and Second Chief Peaks is a relatively short, but steep, challenging and rewarding hike. If you don’t have the time for hiking, simply stop at the roadside parking lot. From here you can marvel at the mountains directly above you.
Tantalus Lookout is definitely worth a stop. But you can only access it when you are driving southbound from Whistler to Vancouver. A left turn is forbidden on the northbound route. So, save it for your journey back.
Garibaldi Provincial Park is a stop for those who have time for long, exhausting, wonderful mountain hikes. Two great hikes are Garibaldi Lake Trail or the Panorama Ridge.
Brandywine Falls is another easy stop. With a few hundred meters walk to reach the viewing platform you can see Brandywine Falls. It’s a 70 meter tall beauty that flows over lava columns.
After Brandywine Falls, it’s about a 10 minutes drive to reach Whistler. You can stroll around Whistler Village, swim in Lost Lake or marvel at the color of Green Lake.
Optionally, continuing your journey to Pemberton allows you to experience a pretty mountain drive. Be sure to stop at Nairns Falls Provincial Park and One Mile Lake.
Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler Road Trip Details
Recommended length of road trip: 1-3 days
Route: Vancouver – Squamish – Whistler – Pemberton – Vancouver
Estimated driving time: 4.5 hours, about 306 km (there and back)
Southern British Columbia Road Trip Itinerary
This loop drive in southern British Columbia includes the Sea to Sky Highway, but also much more! Allow at least 10-14 days to experience it, because the driving distance is long. And there are lots of worthwhile stops on the way.
This scenic drive in British Columbia goes from Vancouver to Whistler, with all the stops described in the Sea to Sky Highway road trip above. In addition, the road trip from Whistler continues to Kamloops through Pemberton and Lillooet.
The mountainous landscape turns into a near-desert. Kamloops as a city doesn’t offer much to see, but you’ll find over a hundred lakes nearby.
As you carry on to Revelstoke, you get the mountain scenery back. The 26 km long Meadows in the Sky Parkway takes you straight up to the peak of Mount Revelstoke.
Revelstoke offers plenty of outdoor adventure activities. A few fun activities at Revelstoke Mountain Resort include the Pipe Mountain Coaster, mountain biking, and skiing.
Golden is your next stop! Plus, it’s a gateway to the beautiful Canadian Rockies. And arriving here, you reach the furthest destination in this route.
Now it’s time to drive back, but not on the same way. However, if you’re looking to extend your road trip, consider staying at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden.
Continuing your southern British Columbia road trip itinerary head south to Kelowna by the Okanagan Lake. Here you can explore the Okanagan Valley which is the most famous wine region in BC.
The drive continues to Osoyoos to find a true desert and the warmest freshwater lake in the Canada. Lake Osoyoos has average summer temperatures of 24°C.
Finally, get back to Vancouver via Hope. You can also stop in the unspoiled mountains of E.C. Manning Provincial Park or in Harrison Hot Springs.
Southern British Columbia Road Trip Details
Recommended length of road trip: 10 -14 days
Route: Vancouver – Whistler – Kamloops – Revelstoke – Golden – Kelowna – Osoyoos – Vancouver
Estimated driving time: 20.5 hours, about 1647 km (loop drive)
Vancouver Island Road Trip Itinerary
Vancouver Island is just off the mainland of BC, and it’s bigger than you’d think. So, the route I recommend here is not about everything you can see on Vancouver Island. But rather includes highlights of the island that you can see in a few days.
Start in the provincial capital, Victoria! Take a walk in the Inner Harbour and visit the Butchart Gardens. The gardens is a National Historic Site and is one of the best places to find cherry blossoms in Canada! So, this British Columbia road trip itinerary is ideal in the spring.
Then drive to Nanaimo and Parksville, and head west towards Tofino. There are plenty of picturesque stops on the way.
Stops include Little Qualicum Falls, Englishman River Falls and the Hole-In-The-Wall in Port Alberni. You’ll drive through Pacific Rim National Park which means even more tempting stops!
If you’re keen to stretch your legs, you’ll find plenty of the amazing Vancouver Island hikes along this stretch. Take a walk on Long Beach, hike the short Rainforest Trail loops and chill out in Cox Bay.
Tofino is a small coastal town at the end of the peninsula. It has a hippie vibe and many surfers. Walk around in the lovely town center and harbor.
One of the best things to do in Tofino is hike the Tonquin Trail. This beautiful coastal hike leads to secluded beaches and awesome views.
Since Vancouver has ferry connections with both Victoria and Nanaimo, you can arrive in Victoria, then leave from Nanaimo at the end of your Vancouver Island road trip.
If you’re want add whale watching to your British Columbia road trip, Vancouver Island is a great place to do so. Try this Whale Watching tour that cruises through the Haro Strait in search of whales and other marine life.
Vancouver Island Road Trip
Recommended length of road trip: 3-5 days
Route: Victoria – Nanaimo – Tofino – Nanaimo
Estimated driving time: 7 hours, about 525 km
Vancouver to Banff Road Trip Itinerary
Finally, the famous road trip that connects Vancouver with Banff. Plus, the rest of the national parks in the Canadian Rockies. If you rent a car, I recommend picking it up in Vancouver and dropping it off in Calgary so that you don’t have to do the long drive twice.
First, head to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway. It makes your trip slightly longer, but the views are absolutely worth it. Then explore Southern British Columbia as you drive through Kamloops, Revelstoke and Golden. You’ll arrive in BC’s portion of the Canadian Rockies and the first national park of the adjoining four: Yoho National Park.
Yoho National Park is smaller than neighboring Banff. However, it has easily reachable, wonderful roadside attractions. Rent a kayak to explore Emerald Lake, which is named after its incredible color. Marvel at the rock formations at Natural Bridge. And walk to the roaring Takakkaw Falls, which is 373 meters high, in the Yoho Valley. Then drive further to reach Banff National Park and its world famous lakes, like Lake Louise.
A few other great stops to add in Banff National Park include the Banff Gondola for epic views. Plus, Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon. You can stop in Canmore or continue on. Both the Trans Canada Highway and 1A take you through the scenic Bow Flats Natural Area. Both roads have a variety of beautiful scenic lookouts to stop at before arriving in Calgary.
Vancouver to Banff Road Trip Details
Recommended length of road trip: one or two weeks
Route: Vancouver – Whistler – Kamloops – Revelstoke – Golden – Banff – Calgary
Estimated driving time: 12.5 hours (1039 km)
I hope you enjoyed this road trip guide to British Columbia and all of its essential travel tips. With so many great British Columbia road trips, these route options offer the best way to travel around BC and see the top sights!
About the author: Bea is a passionate traveler, hiker and founder of In Love With BC. Her blog focuses on traveling and outdoor activities in British Columbia.
PIN IMAGE FOR LATER REFERENCE!
