6 Great BC Summer Road Trip Stops

So you are planning a BC summer road trip and want to get in all the highlights? Look no further than this awesome 2 week itinerary for a little bit of everything: from beach combing and surfing, to hiking mountains, wine tasting, and basking in the beauty that is British Columbia, Canada. With so much to see, you could easily spend 2 weeks in one place without running out of things to do, or 2 weeks sleeping in a new place every night and not getting to everything. This itinerary finds a nice balance between the two, allowing you to see so much but not get exhausted of moving places every day! Plus, it’s super flexible so you can decide how long you want to stay in each place.

First BC Road Trip stop: Kelowna

Central Okanagan
Perfect For: Wine Tasting and Hiking
Time spent: 2-3 nights

Central and big enough to get yourself sorted, without being overwhelming, Kelowna is the perfect first stop for a BC summer road trip. Beautifully located next to Lake Okanogan, Kelowna will give you all the Southern California feels. For a chill day you can take a walk down by the marina, explore the downtown shops, check out the brewery district, and/or hike up Mount Knox for beautiful views of the city, lake, and surrounding area!

Hiking

There are so many awesome hikes near Kelowna! But here are a couple of my favourites:

• Myra Canyon Trestles: This hike is super cool and takes you around a canyon via an old railway route, complete with tunnels to walk through and trestles to cross over. The views are simply phenomenal and it is definitely my favourite hike in Kelowna. It’s also really accessible because it is pretty flat and you can make it as long as you want – there are great views the whole way including in the first 5 minutes! For more information on this hike check out this post.
• Rose Valley: Rose Valley is more of an area than a hike, that encompasses tons of trails and hike choices, all with rewarding views! My favourite hike in this area is called The City on the Edge of Forever, a beautiful name for an even more beautiful hike! For more information on the hikes in this area check out this page.

Wine tasting

You could easily spend a week wine tasting in Kelowna. There are over 40 wineries in the area! Due to this you’re probably best off picking a specific area and doing a bunch of wineries close to each other. Two such areas I recommend are:

• West Kelowna: Definitely the highest density of wineries you’ll find, and especially convenient if you did a Rose Valley hike earlier the same day. Some wineries worth trying in the area are: Volcanic Hills, Off The Grid, Indigenous World Winery, Grizzli Winery, and The Hatch
• Lake Country: Perfect for enjoying some wine in front of scenic lake views, or even bringing a picnic. For bringing your own picnic I definitely recommend Arrow Leaf winery as they have a beautiful outside area you can sit in while you eat, drink, and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Some other wineries I recommend in the area are Ex Nihilo and Gray Monk.

Beer Tasting

While better known best for its wine, Kelowna also has quite the craft beer scene! In fact, I have a whole post on the top 10 best breweries in downtown Kelowna. Here’s a few of them:

• Red Bird Brewery (Best for live music)
• Rustic Reel Brewing (Best for outdoor patio)
• Unleashed (Best for bringing your dog)
• Kelowna Beer Institute (Best for fresh beer and beer inspired food)
• Check out the rest of the top 10 best Kelowna breweries here!

Places to Stay

• Nice: If you are looking for something a little fancier and special, I highly recommend Myra Canyon Lodge. They are in a beautiful location, outside of town a bit, and have really lovely suites. They even have kitchens so if you are treating yourself to this lovely accommodation, you can save on dinner by cooking yourself.
• Cheap: If you are looking for more budget friendly accommodation, check out Kelowna International Hostel!
• Camping: There’s lots of camping options around Kelowna. Check out this guide to help you find free and cheap camping here, and for the rest of your summer road trip. One in particular that I really enjoyed was by the Boulder Fields. It is pretty basic with picnic tables and outhouses and not much else, but it is free and pretty secluded which feels special to me. However, the main appeal is its proximity to tons of cool rock climbing and bouldering!

Second Stop: Squamish

Mainland Coast
Perfect For: Hiking, Rock Climbing, and Exploring the Artsy Town
Time Spent: 2 nights
Distance From Kelowna: 5 hours

Squamish is a small town by the ocean and amongst mountains, with some really cool vibes. It’s a great place to enjoy nature: whether you’re into hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, kiteboarding, or just relaxing in a pretty place. And you definitely won’t want to miss walking around the cute little downtown and checking out the artsy shops!

On The Way There

The first part of the drive is very scenic and will take you through Merritt and Hope. Just looking out the car window on the way will be nice! And both of these towns are great places to get out and stretch your legs for a bit – to walk around the town, or on a nearby trail!

After Hope, you will drive through the outskirts of Vancouver before heading north to Squamish. Not too far out of the way is the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which, while over priced in my opinion, is very cool! I probably wouldn’t have gone by myself due to the high cost, but I was convinced by my friends and did end up really enjoying it. The coolest part isn’t actually the bridge, but the tree top pathway you can walk through. It was cool seeing the ancient giants from that height.

Hiking

There is tons of hiking opportunities in Squamish, but here are two that are very popular (for a reason!):

• Stawamus Chief: This is the hike that I did on my BC road trip, and it definitely lived up to the hype! A steep ascent, but worth it for the awe-inspiring views from the top. For more information, check out my post on Amazing Hikes in British Columbia.
• The Sea to Summit Trail: Also said to have amazing views, something unique about this hike is that you have the option to take a gondola back down. Definitely a great option to save time, or if the downward hike is too much on your knees! Or, if you are more keen to see the views than you are to hike, you can take the aptly named Sea to Sky Gondola both ways! It costs $19.05 for the way down, or $64.95 roundtrip.

Camping

If you are into camping, there is an amazing (and cheap!) campground at the bottom of The Chief. Conveniently located, and super affordable ($10 per person), it is definitely the best bang for your buck!

Third Stop: Ucluelet

Western Coast of Vancouver Island
Perfect For: Beach Combing and Surfing
Time Spent: 3 nights
Distance From Squamish: 5.5 hours +, includes a ferry ride

No BC summer road trip is complete without checking out Vancouver Island! Ucluelet is the less touristy neighbour of better known Tofino. I recommend staying in Ucluelet, but you are definitely going to want to check out both… and all the beaches in between! It’s the perfect place for any sort of beach activities you enjoy – from sitting in the sand, to looking for treasures, or surfing in the waves. Plus both towns are very charming, and the forests surrounding the area are incredible too.

On The Way There

To get to the island you will have take the ferry across, from Horseshoe Bay on the mainland, to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. I highly recommend booking your ferry in advance, especially if you are travelling at a busy time, as they can get really busy sometimes. You may end up waiting for 2 or more sailings.

Once you get to the island, there are so many great places to stop on the way to Ucluelet. My favourites are Goats on a Roof in Coombs and Cathedral Grove. Goats on a Roof is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a cute café and market with a thatched roof that has goats walking and hanging out on it! Definitely worth a short stop to see. Cathedral Grove is right along the highway and is a beautiful old growth forest with gigantic trees! It’s so magical to walk among them. The trail is pretty short but allow extra time to just marvel at the magnitude of the trees. But if you don’t have time on the way there (or it’s pouring rain or something) you’ll get another chance on the way back so don’t worry too much!

Not quite as fun, but I’d recommend picking up a few groceries and filling up your gas tank in Port Alberni. Ucluelet and Tofino are pretty small and things are typically a bit more expensive. 

Hiking

There are lots of shorter hikes around the Ucluelet Tofino area. A few I have really enjoyed are the Cox Bay Lookout, the Canso Plane Crash site, and the Rainforest Trail. The Cox Bay Lookout trail starts right on the beach, takes about 20 – 30 minutes, and ends at an incredible lookout overlooking the beach. Read more about it here.  The Canso Plane Crash site is the wreckage of a Royal Canadian Air Force plane that crashed in 1945 and is really interesting to see. Finally, the Rainforest Trail takes you along a wooden pathway through a beautiful rainforest.

Surfing

Definitely worth trying here. It’s beginner friendly and there are tons of rental shops in town. You’ll find a bit of fluctuations in prices between shops but nothing too crazy. I’ve rented from 3 different places over the last 2 years and have had friends rent from others. None of us have really had any complaints. When you’re renting, ask the people at the shop which beaches they recommend for that day. It changes everyday based on the wind. You can also check out the surf forecasts at magicseaweed.

Eating

There are lots of great restaurants in the area too. But one stand out that you have to try is the fish tacos from Tacofino. They’re famous, and for good reason! They’re very delicious. Also, if you’re looking for a bit of a fancy dinner, the Wolf in the Fog is sooo good (but a bit spendy!).

Fourth Stop: Qualicum Beach or NANAIMO

East Coast of Vancouver Island
Perfect For: Breaking up the drive
Time Spent: 1 Night
Distance From Ucluelet: 2 – 2.5 hours

You could do the whole drive from Ucluelet to Salt Spring in one day if you wanted, but I think it’s nicer to break it up. This way you can hit up more stops, and enjoy more of Vancouver Island before moving on. On the way you can visit Cathedral Grove and Goats on a Roof if you missed them on the way to Ucluelet. You can also hike to the Hole in the Wall in Port Alberni (and try the delicious ice cream from the candy store where you park), check out Little Qualicum Falls, or go on a tour of the Horne Lake Caves.

Camping

I stayed at Rathtrevor Beach Campground, a little Southeast of Qualicum, on the way to Naniamo, and thought it was really nice. It has great access to a fun beach to explore and look for treasures on!

Other things to do

While in Nanaimo you should also definitely try a Nanaimo bar. Popular all over Canada, Nanaimo bars are a layered dessert with coconut, nuts, custard, and chocolate, that you must try in the city they are named after!

If you have a lot of time in this area, a little ferry trip over to Gabriela island is so worth it! It’s a lovely little island with lots of cool beaches, trails, and a few artsy shops.

FIFTH STOP: Salt Spring Island 

Between Vancouver Island and the Mainland
Perfect For: Farmer’s Markets, Cider/Beer Tasting, Artsy Things, and Relaxing
Time Spent: 2 nights
Distance From Qualicum Beach/Nanaimo: 1.5-2 hours +, includes a ferry

While Vancouver Island is technically an island, it doesn’t feel like it since it’s so big! So to add some true island feels into your BC summer road trip, check out Salt Spring Island! Salt Spring has great vibes, lots of artsy shops, beautiful scenery, lots of delicious local farm fresh food, beer, cider, cheese, and more, and lovely people.

Getting There

You can catch the ferry in Crofton, outside of Duncan. They can’t be booked in advance but they go pretty regularly. You can check the schedule here. Alternatively, if you want to check out Victoria a bit, you can also catch the ferry from the Swartz Bay terminal there. If you have the time in your schedule, checking out Victoria could also be a lot of fun.

Camping

I highly recommend camping in Ruckle Provincial Park. It has a really unique feel to it, as you can camp in the middle of a grassy meadow overlooking the ocean. It also has several communal fire pits that are really great for bringing people together. Plus it is quite affordable!

Things To Do

• Check out the market: If you can plan your trip to visit Salt Spring on a Saturday, you will not be disappointed. The Saturday market is full of so many great vendors. From arts and crafts, to baked goods and local produce, the market will definitely have something that interests you.
• Visit the cheese farm: The Salt Spring Island Cheese Company is definitely worth a stop – try the cheese, see how it’s made, and pet the goats!
• Taste the cider: Salt Spring Wild Cidery has so many cider flavours – you can get flights of 10! Plus they have yummy food and a beautiful seating area.

Last BC Road Trip Stop: Vancouver

Mainland Coast
Perfect for: Shopping, eating out, nightlife, Stanley Park, big city things
Time Spent: 2-3 nights
Distance from Salt Spring: 1.5 – 2.5 hours, including a ferry ride

Of course on a BC summer road trip it makes sense to visit the capital of British Columbia, Vancouver. Even if you aren’t a big city person, Vancouver could be worth a stop, especially if you are flying after your trip. With so much to see, try and do in the city, you are bound to find something that excites you. Here are a few ideas:

Bike around Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a beautiful place to visit, with giant trees, ocean views, beaches, totem poles, and more to see. To get the most out of your time here I would definitely recommend renting a bike and biking around the whole park! It’s much easier to stop, park, and take a break to explore than with a car, but also lets you see so much more than you could by just walking. There are several bike rental places around the park, like this one. You can even challenge yourself to try a tandem bicycle with a friend!

Visit Granville Island

Granville Island is a must-do on a summer trip to Vancouver! It’s such a lovely place to walk around, check out the shops, eat food, or have a drink. It feels sort of like the whole island, situated in the middle of the city, is one giant market. It’s really cute. You can get there either by bridge or via a small foot passenger ferry that goes very frequently.

Head down to Wreck Beach

Wreck Beach is situated right beside the UBC campus. It’s a beautiful sandy beach with lots of drift wood and often has something fun going on – such as people selling homemade clothes, crafts, or food, or music playing. Be warned though, it’s a nude beach! Though you will not be out of place wearing clothes/a bathing suit either.

Eat Sushi

Vancouver might just have the best Sushi in all of Canada. There are so many sushi restaurants, and you probably can’t go wrong with any of them. Just be sure to check the reviews! However, there’s one that I have been to twice now and really really enjoyed. It’s called Tom Sushi.

My BC Summer Road Trip Video

2 of my girl friends and I did this road trip last summer and had an amazing time! I am sure if you do a similar road trip you will also have an amazing time. I’d love to hear about it if you do!

Here is the video I made of my trip with my friends. Hopefully it inspires your for your own BC summer road trip!

Save this post for when you are planning your BC summer road trip!

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