The Ultimate BC Coastal Road-trip: Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island
Many of my renters pursue driving inland from Vancouver and doing the big loop to Banff-Jasper and back, but some overlook the possibilities that the BC coast has to offer. I get it… the interior mountains are breathtaking, but adding or changing your road-trip plans to include BC’s coasts would never be considered a mistake! Let me explain and give you a suggested plan!
Overlooking the Stanley Park seawall from the edge of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Vancouver- Gibsons
The entire loop is around 1000km. Remember when you rent a Q Campervan, you get 200km/day for free. So if you wanted to breeze through this suggested route without any additional milage cost, you could do it in 5-6 days (5*200=1000km). When you pick up a Q Campervan or whatever other rig you may have, the first step is to drive to Horseshoe bay and hop on a ferry to Langdale/Gibsons. This is about a 45 minute drive. On the way there, you can go through downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. There are bike rentals where you can quickly go around the entire seawall. Driving across the Lions Gate Bridge is definitely worth the potential traffic you may run into downtown, but if that does sound daunting, highway 1 is always a safe bet. For some quick hitting hikes you can visit Cypress Mountain where St. Marks Summit is one of the best views in Vancouver. When you reach the ferry terminal, make sure to show up 30 minutes before your reservation. Booking a reservation in advance is CRUCIAL for spring-fall months as demand is high. Ensure that you give the correct measurements for your vehicle (Q Campervans are 20 ft long, and 7.5 ft tall, except Marvin which is over 9’2” ft) or they can waive your reservation. Once on the ferry, please go get a burger… they SLAP.
View point from “West Lions”. Very similar to St. Mark’s as described.
When you arrive in Gibsons, you’ll notice that this little town has tons of character and places to check out. I highly recommend going to Mike’s Gelato or Beachcomber Coffee for some of the best gelato and coffee you’ve ever had in your life. There are cute shops, art galleries, and nature spots to check out here. Furthermore, Gibsons is famous for “The Beachcombers” TV Show that ran on CBC Television in the 1970’s. You’ll see a focal point in the show “Molly’s Reach” when you visit the pier.
Gibsons harbour while eating the BEST Gelato ever. Mike’s Gelato!
Another picture of Gibson’s Habour with the mainland mountains in the background!
Gibsons- Powell River
Although the stops are seemingly endless along the Sunshine Coast, i’'ll point out a couple that my renters and I recommend! There’s lots of nice beaches to see, but one I enjoyed was Roberts Beach, which is halfway between Gibsons and Sechelt. It is good for bird watching and has easy parking for a campervan. When you get to Sechelt, you can stroll the coastline from Davis Bay Beach, or do something a little more adrenaline infused like renting a bike at Coast Gravity Park! There is some nice camping at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, but make sure to book your campsites in advance!
Marvin parked in the luscious rainforest at Saltery Bay Provincial Park.
After that, Sargeant Bay and Halfmoon Bay are great lunch stops. You can also visit Smuggler’s Cove, where it is most certainly believed that Chinese workers were smuggled out of Canada to the USA by a pirate name Larry Kelly. Some interesting history along with a beautiful location :) As you finish up this section of the coast, my renters have recommended Francis point for a nice short hike. If you are wanting an incredible view of the area and something more challenging, you can climb up Mount Daniel (5 km round trip with 360 m elevation gain). Finally, although I haven’t been myself, the Skookumchuck Narrows is a great place to see the drastic effects of the tides. The water height difference from either side of the narrows can be up to 9 ft, with 200 billion gallons of water flowing through. You’ll see surfers and kayakers riding these currents.
Lenny parked on the beaches of Powell River!
When you reach the ferry terminal in Earl’s Cove, don’t be alarmed that you don’t have a reservation. The ferries here run on a schedule where they come approximately every 2 hours. You can see the year-round times here. When you reach Saltery Bay and get off the ferry, make sure to check out Mermaid Cove (also a nice place to stay for the night) and Stillwater Bluffs.
Another picture of my 4th Campervan rental, “Lenny”, at Powell River.
Powell River- Tofino
From Powell River, you will take a ferry over to Comox and journey towards some of the best sandy beaches in Canada… Tofino! Again, make sure to book a reservation for this ferry. After you get off the ferry, the cities of Comox and Courtaney have lovely rocky beaches to view wildlife. Goose Point Park and Point Holmes are stunning to look back at the mainland from. As you make your way south, you can either take the fast route on Highway 19 or the scenic route along 19A (do 19A haha). There are countless points of interest and if you have time, exploring Denman and Hornby Island could be a great option! Otherwise, continue to Qualicum beach before turning towards Port Alberni and Tofino.
The never ending rocky beaches of Comox and Courtaney!
Before Port Alberni, there are 2 quick stops. Cathedral Grove and Hole in the Wall. Cathedral Grove gives a similar vibe to the Redwood forest and the tree size in this short stop is truly impressive. Hole in the wall is exactly as it sounds! A hole in a wall of rock with water flowing into a shallow pool! The highway to Tofino is extremely scenic but also very narrow and windy, so be sure to let faster cars pass you when possible.
Just one of the MANY ginormous trees in Cathedral Grove!
Tofino - Ucuelet
I feel as though this portion of the trip needs its own section. These two places are some of my favourite of all-time regardless of where in the world I’ve travelled. When you drive in, you’ll notice many beaches to visit… It’s IMPOSSIBLE to go wrong… A newly added paved bike path along the highway is extremely fun (and family friendly) , so I would recommend renting some bikes and hitting all the closest beaches, which would most likely be Chesterman Beach and Cox Bay. I personally advise renting surfboards from Long Beach Surf Shop, as their wet suits are comfortable and the surfboards have treated me well every time. Depending on your skill level and expectations, it’s definitely worth it to check the surf forecast beforehand! Post-surf, it is always tradition to grab a burrito or tacos from Tacofino! If cold water is too much for you, you can also rent kayaks from a number of places in town. There are also guided tours if you don’t want to miss out on the best things to observe out at sea!
Overlooking Cox Bay, the most popular surfing beach in Tofino.
One crucial point to add is that Tofino is a high demand destination for tourists, so make sure to book your campsites ahead of time as there is very little “free-camping” locations available here. Also, don’t be surprised that the campsites are quite expensive and you have to pay for most parking.
My first campervan rental, “Henry”, Parked along the beach in Tofino.
The sunset at Mackenzie beach.
On the way out from the Tofino- Ucuelet area, make sure to visit the Rainforest Trail and the Ucuelet Lighthouse Loop. Both are relatively easy walks that meander through some gorgeous coastal habitat.
Tidal breaks along the shores of Ucuelet.
Nanaimo- Lake Cowichan
Because there is only 1 way in and out of Tofino, the way back towards Nanaimo is more or less the same as when you came in. If you want your loop to be cut a bit short and head back to Vancouver early, you can book a ferry from Nanaimo. However, I personally like the ferry ride from Swartz Bay (Victoria) much more as it weaves through the Gulf Islands!
First off, you can visit Nanoose Bay. It is right off the highway, so it is impossible to miss and extremely beautiful. If you want a short hike on the north side of the bay, there is a trail loop in Notch Hill Park. You’ll be able to see a stunning coastal view! Afterwards, Nanaimo is just around the corner. It is a relatively big city, and you can stock up on any supplies you should need at this point. It has some beautiful coastal parks and one of the most notable is Pipers Lagoon Park. You can also take the Gabriola Island Ferry (very short) and visit the Gulf Island with the most public access beaches!
Campervan “Lenny” parked at Gordon Bay Park.
Forgive me, but I am going to skip all the way down to Lake Cowichan! You can stay at Gordon Bay Provincial Park which is right on the lake. Make sure to book your campsite ahead of time! A great relaxing activity to do in town is rent a tube and float down the river at the end of the lake. There are 2 companies which rent out tubes; The Tube Shack and Cowabunga Tubes.
Port Renfrew- Victoria
When you reach Port Renfrew, you can stay at Pacheedaht Campground which is right on the beach. You’ll want to take your time going along the southern coast of the island! First stop will most likely be Botanical Beach Provincial Park. Be sure to explore the variety of marine wildlife in the tidal pools created at low-tide.
Unfortunetly, I didn’t have the most flattering picture of Mystic beach…
The whole southern coast has trails that take you along the edge of the water, so you can access many different viewpoints and beaches. One of the most famous is Sombrio Beach. The hidden waterfall is a popular attraction aside from the beach itself. It can seem unassuming from the outside, but it’s worth checking out. Continuing on from Sombrio, Mystic Beach is incredible as well! There is a very small waterfall along the left side of the beach where many people take pictures. Depending on the time of the year, there may not be much water flowing from it… This beach is so peaceful as the water makes an incredible sound flowing through the rocks as each wave crashes and retreats. A short distance away is Jordan River where you’ll see many surfers hitting the waves! There is also an easily accessible campground when you can stop for the night (it is on a first-come first-served basis).
The walk down to mystic beach!
Although there are definitely other notable stops as you continue south, Sooke Potholes is the next must-see. If you like a bit of adrenaline, there is a cliff-jumping spot where you may see people jumping in. If I remember correctly, the access to this spot was from Parking Lot 2. Please do this at your own risk and comfort. Obviously there is more family friendly and relaxed places to enjoy the unique river landscape.
Swimming in one of the Sooke Potholes! Natures pools.
Water has carved out an amazing path through the rocks.
Victoria- Vancouver
The last leg of the journey takes you through the capital of BC. Whale and dolphin watching is huge here and I would highly recommend. They will take you to see a variety of wildlife including killer whales! There are numerous places that will take you on a tour, so just search up “Whale watching Victoria” on Google to see a variety of places to choose from in the habour. Besides checking out shops, food, and small attractions around the city, Butchart Gardens, Royal BC Museum, and The Legislative Assembly should be worthwhile stops! The gardens have 55 acres of land with 900 species and 50 full-time gardeners!
Hatley Castle in Victoria.
View from the ferry heading back to Tsawwassen.
After your visit to Victoria, you will take the beautiful ferry ride back to Vancouver (Tsawwassen). It weaves in-between the gulf islands so head up to the upper decks during the first part of the sailing! Again, book your ferry reservations in advance if you can! When you get off the ferry, you can visit George Reifel Bird Sanctuary, but make sure to book in advance on their website. This is a bit of a personal passion of mine as I enjoy birding. However, even if you don’t love birds, feeding the ducks and walking around the enclosed and protected nature area is amazing also.
Another view from the ferry deck.
If you rented a Q Campervan, you will drive back to Moody Centre Skytrain Station where I will meet you to pick up the van! If you are going back to the Vancouver airport, the train goes downtown and then straight to YVR.
I hope this guide has helped and if you want to take one of my vans on this excursion, do not hesitate to reach out or book with the button below!
