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A British Columbia road trip is one of the best driving itineraries you can take in Canada.
Not only does British Columbia have an incredibly beautiful coastal region, but it’s also home to the Rocky Mountains, glaciers, wineries, forests, ski resorts, festivals, and some of the friendliest, most laid-back people in the country.
I’ve been to, and road-tripped through, British Columbia (BC) loads of times. As a Canadian, this is one of my favorite provinces and one of the best road trip destinations in Canada!
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Table of Contents
British Columbia Road Trip (7 Day Itinerary)
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Days 1 & 2 – Vancouver
📍 Google Maps | Website | 🛏️ Hotels: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront,Blue Horizon Hotel,Samesun Vancouver | 👉 Suggested Tour: City & Mountains 30-minute helicopter tour
To begin your British Columbia Road Trip, I recommend flying into Vancouver Airport (YVR) and renting a car. From there, there are a million and one things to do in the most cosmopolitan city in BC.
If you’re a first-timer to Vancouver then I recommend renting some bikes and cycling around Stanley Park, exploring Gastown, eating all the goodies in Chinatown, kayaking Deep Cove, exploring eclectic Granville Island, and hiking Lynn Canyon.
What’s so incredible about Vancouver (other than its widespread diversity) is that it’s a stone’s throw from nature. Perched at the foothills of the Northshore Mountains, and on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Vancouver is a great way to get your nature and city fix all in one go.
For more, see Catherine’s local guide to what to do in Vancouver.
🚗 Need a rental car or RV? Check out Discover Cars to compare reviews and prices from different Canada rental agencies. Search on Outdoorsy for peer-to-peer RV rentals you can’t find elsewhere. It’s kinda like Airbnb, but for RVs! See Abigail’s full review of Outdoorsy for more.
Day 3 – Vancouver Island
📍 Google Maps | Website | 🛏️ Hotels: Anchor Inn & Suites,Hotel Grand Pacific,Tofino Motel Harborview | 👉 Suggested Tour: Whale-watching tour from Victoria.
From Vancouver, I recommend hopping on the ferry from Tsawassen to Swartz Bay and making your way over to check out the many things to do on Vancouver Island. Keep in mind that if you’re traveling in the summer you may have to book your ferry in advance — it gets busy.
When you dock at Swartz Bay you’ll be in the city of Victoria. I recommend spending an afternoon here — grabbing lunch and exploring Beacon Hill Park and the Butchart Gardens — before driving up the coast.
There are honestly so many amazing places to go on Vancouver Island, but some of the top things to do are going on a whale watching tour, hiking to Ammonite Falls, salmon fishing in Campbell River, shopping at the Old Country Market, exploring Elk Falls Provincial Park, hiking Cathedral Grove, and going surfing in Tofino.
Day 4 – Kelowna / Okanagan Valley
📍 Google Maps | Website | 🛏️ Hotels: The Royal Kelowna – Bellstar Hotels & Resorts,Siesta Suites,Samesun Kelowna | 👉 Suggested tour: Kelowna Wine Tour
About a 4-hour drive from Vancouver (take highways 1, 3, and 97), Kelowna sits in Canada’s famed Okanagan Valley and is in the middle of forests, vineyards, lakes, and mountains.
📝 Note: Alternatively, you could head north along the Sea to Sky highway, over to Kamloops, and then down to Kelowna. This is a beautiful drive, but it’s only recommended if you have more time.
With over 40 wineries operating near Kelowna, exploring wine country via a tasting tour is one of the most popular things to do in this region. They have everything from small mom-and-pop vineyards to huge, sprawling estates. No matter your taste, you’ll have lots to choose from. This Kelowna wine tour will show you the best of the vineyards and surrounding area.
Wine not your thing? There are also plenty of breweries and distilleries to choose from too!
But Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley aren’t just for the alcohol-minded. I also recommend going on a farm-to-table food tour, renting a bike and riding along the Kettle Valley Railway, hiking the Myra Canyon Trestles, visiting Okanagan Lake Provincial Park, and checking out the Kelowna Mountain suspension bridges.
Day 5 – Revelstoke
📍 Google Maps | Website | 🛏️ Hotels: Sutton Place Hotel Revelstoke Mountain Resort,Mt. Revelstoke Alpine Chalets,Revelstoke Lodge | 👉 Suggested Tour: Half-Day Whitewater Rafting in Revelstoke
Two and a half hours from Kelowna, Revelstoke is a small town located in the Columbia Mountains Natural Region and is one of British Columbia’s most scenic hubs.
The town is perhaps best known for being a ski mecca with Revelstoke Mountain Resort at the center of the action. Trust me, alongside Fernie and Whistler, this is one of the best places to shred powder in BC (but more on that later).
Yet, winter sports lover or not, there are so many things to do all year round in this stunning town. While you’re there, drive the Mountains in the Sky Parkway, relax in the hot springs (Canyon, Halfway River, and Halcyon are three top ones), go hiking, ride the gondola, go paragliding, check out the waterfalls, and ride the infamous pipe mountain coaster.
Speaking of which, the Pipe Mountain Coaster 🎢 opened in 2016 and is a one-person cart rollercoaster attached to a monorail track. You’re strapped in of course, as once you’re launched you can hit up to 40km/25mph. Each trip takes about 3 minutes, which honestly feels way longer when you’re racing through the mountains in a teeny (yet totally secure) cart.
Day 6 – Yoho National Park
📍 Google Maps | Website | 🛏️ Hotels: Emerald Lake Lodge
Two hours from Revelstoke is Yoho National Park, located in British Columbia’s east-end rocky mountains. A fitting name, Yoho is the Cree First Nations word for awe and amazement — two things you’re going to be full of in this park.
While in Yoho National Park, visit Lake O’Hara (considered to be one of the most iconic sites in the park), Takakkaw Falls,Wapta Falls,Emerald Lake,Burgess Shale Fossil Beds (a UNESCO world heritage site), and Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site.
To be honest, this is one of the most primarily outdoorsy national parks in Canada (meaning there aren’t a lot of indoor experiences to be had). But in an area this jaw-dropping, it’s hard to pass up!
👉 Pro Tip: Banff National Park is just across the provincial border from Yoho. Check out my list of the Best things to do in Banff National Park for all you need to know if you want to extend your trip!
Day 7 – Kootenay National Park / Hot Springs
📍 Google Maps | Website | 🛏️ Hotels: Bighorn Meadows Resort,Radium Chalet
To round out one week in British Columbia, it’s all about relaxation in the Kootenay Rockies. Just a half-hour drive from Yoho is Kootenay National Park.
An under-rated park in my opinion, some of the best things to do in Kootenay on your British Columbia road trip are exploring Floe Lake,Numa Falls,Egypt Lake, the paint pots, and Sinclair Canyon.
I personally think the springs are the shining star of this area, especially after a long day of exploring. There are a few famed hot springs in this area: Radium,Ainsworth, Canyon,Fairmont,Halcyon,Lussier, and Nakusp.
British Columbia Road Trip Itinerary Map
Here is a Google Map with all the stop, attractions, and hotels mentioned in this post.
British ColumbiaRoad Trip Tips
Where to Rent a Car in BC
To rent a car in BC I recommend booking with Discover Cars. Their customer service-oriented platform will help you choose a car, get the best rate, and outfit you with insurance. You can view reviews and compare prices across many different BC car rental agencies.
Or, if you’re looking to do a campervan trip through British Columbia, then check out Motorhome Republic. They’re one of the largest, most reviewed sites for booking motorhomes, campervans, and RV’s.
🚙 Need an RV but on a budget? – Check out Outdoorsy! It’s like an Airbnb for renting private campervans from owners.
Driving in British Columbia
Road trips in British Columbia can be either a laid-back cruise or a white-knuckle adventure, all depending on when and where you go.
The summer months (roughly May – September) are most popular for taking a BC road trip. Overall, driving here in the summer is easy due to long, warm days, and you’ll be able to get around without much hassle. Be sure to check out my article on how to drive in Canada if it’s your first time taking to the roads here.
Important note: if you plan to take a winter (October – April) British Columbia road trip, then prepare yourself for snowy mountainous driving.
Winter in BC is an absolute wonderland and the province has some of the best ski resorts in the world, but roads can be slick and icy, there are avalanche risks, and you’ll 100% need winter tires on your car (having chains at the ready is advisable too). Not to deter you from a winter BC road trip, I’ve done it before and have lived to tell the tale, but you should know what you’re getting yourself into, road conditions-wise.
Additionally, I should mention that in order to road trip British Columbia’s beautiful highways, you may need an international driver’s license depending on where you’re coming from.
📚 Related Reading: Here is a good driving in Canada resource that will help you with the specifics. For another Canadian road trip guide, check out our Alberta road trip itinerary.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Road Trip British Columbia?
Winter is the season for all snowboarding, snowshoeing, and skiing activities. Visiting areas like Whistler or Fernie in the winter is absolutely magical.
That said, I would advise against visiting Vancouver or Vancouver Island in the winter. These areas tend to not get much snow, but they are notoriously rainy. Not that there’s anything wrong with coastal BC in the winter, but you’ll have a much drier, sunnier visit in the summer.
For a more detailed dive into the best seasons, climate, and when to go, check out our articles on when to visit Vancouver and the best time to visit Canada.
More Things to Do in BC
If you plan on staying in British Columbia Canada for more than a week, then I gotta say, lucky you!
One week of taking road trips in BC is really the tip of the iceberg and there is so much more to see and explore along the way. To stretch out your stay a bit longer, I recommend basing your trip around some of the most iconic things to do in BC.
See Catherine’s full guide to the best things to do in British Columbia for ideas, but here are the highlights I think you should consider:
Check Out BC’s Iconic Ski Resorts
If you’re an avid skier/snowboarder, then you’re probably well aware that British Columbia is home to some of the best slopes on the planet.
People come from all over the world to explore this area, and they even have some cool “winter student” programs if you’re looking to come to Canada and make some extra money while working at the resorts.
⛷️ The most famous ski resorts in British Columbia are:
- Big White Ski Resort
- Fernie Alpine Resort
- Whistler Blackcomb
- Summit Lake Ski Area
- Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Enjoy a Festival in British Columbia
British Columbian festivals are something else altogether. As with all of the Canadian provinces, BC has its own unique culture — one that I can only describe as laid-back, natural, bohemian, and welcoming.
A direct reflection of its culture, BC festivals can be a whole lot of fun.
🎉 Here are some of the most popular festivals in BC:
- Shambhala Music Festival (Kootenay)
- Vancouver Island Music Fest
- World Championship Bathtub Race (Nanaimo)
- Vancouver Folk Fest
- Celebration of Light (Vancouver)
- Vancouver International Film Festival
- Spring Okanagan Wine Festival
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That’s it for our 7 day British Columbia road trip itinerary! I hope this gave you a ton of inspiration for your next trip to BC. For more travel tips, check out all my Canada travel guides:
- 17 Epic Things to do in Nova Scotia
- Best Things to Do in Winnipeg
- Best Hotels in Winnipeg
- Alberta Road Trip Itinerary
Have fun in British Columbia!
🚙 Love road trips? Check out our other road trip guides to awesome places like Nova Scotia,Tasmania,Ireland,Croatia, and Alberta!
