15 Best Road Trips From Vancouver, Canada

road trips from vancouver
Celeste
Celeste 
Updated
| 8 min read

Vancouver is a fun and lively destination, with family-friendly attractions such as theme parks and great shopping options in the form of night markets. It’s also home to famous sights such as Stanley Park and VanDusen Botanical Garden. But when you decide to hit the road, you’ll realize there are so many scenic drives for travellers, from the neighbouring province of Alberta to American states Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Montana. Visitors can enjoy travelling south through the Okanagan Valley with its fruit orchards, lakes, and wineries to take in the majestic Rocky Mountains or head north towards gold rush country in the BC interior. From the Sumas bordering crossing south of Vancouver, upon entering the US, visitors will be able to enjoy larger cities such as Seattle and Portland or wilderness drives en route to Idaho and Montana. To make your road trip a memorable one, stock up on your favourite snacks, grab a GPS and download the following list of the best road trips from Vancouver, Canada.

1. Edmonton, Alberta

Sunset-East-Downtown-Skyline-Edmonton-Alberta-Canada-01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user WinterE229 used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Get ready for a road trip full of the most awe-inspiring scenery beautiful British Columbia has to offer. Although there are numerous routes to choose from, Highway 3 offers a chance to experience wine tasting at famed wineries such as Mission Hill since it cuts through the Okanagan Valley. Get out to stretch your legs at Okanagan Lake by making time for a quick dip in the refreshingly, cool waters before climbing back into the car. Upon reaching Edmonton, stroll through the West Edmonton Mall famed for being the World’s Largest Mall with its hundreds of shops, waterpark, indoor theme park, ice skating rink where my Mum saw NHL superstar Wayne Gretzky enjoying a skate, and mini-golf course plus much more.

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2. Calgary, Alberta

PengrowthSaddledomeNight
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Gorgo used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Driving in Vancouver is easy, and with so many scenic routes to Calgary, it’s difficult to choose which one to settle on. To enjoy the stunning views of Howe Sound, beautiful waterfalls of Brandywine Falls, and majestic Coastal Mountains of Whistler, take Highway 99. Once in Calgary, enjoy walking around Stephen Street, visiting the Calgary Tower for stunning views of Calgary, and shopping at Chinook Centre. Indulge in a succulent filet mignon at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse before heading out to visit the mighty dinosaurs and the cute and curious creatures of Calgary Zoo. The best part is that the Calgary to Vancouver drive back home is just as scenic, so you can enjoy the trip from start to finish.

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3. Portland, Oregon

portland skyline-1
Source: Photo by user Jeff Hintzman used under CC BY-ND 2.0

After crossing the US-Canada border at Sumas, take I5 through Bellingham and Seattle. If you have time, check out the Space Needle, Pike’s Place Market, or take a whale-watching cruise to come up close and personal with the majestic orcas. After crossing Portland’s numerous bridges, take time to stroll through the trails of sprawling Washington Park before enjoying a little peace and serenity at its Japanese garden. Head over to explore downtown Portland, China Town with its markets, exhibits at Portland Art Gallery, and to pick up something delicious at a food truck in order to take in the thriving live music scene.

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4. Twin Falls, Idaho

Snakerivercanyon1
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Faustus37 used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Once through the Canadian-US border, take the I5 to Seattle and stop in Bellevue to indulge in a delicious rice bowl lunch at PF Chang’s before strolling through Macy’s at Bellevue Square. Then take I84 to enjoy the powerful Columbia River winding through the surrounding dense evergreen tree-filled forest en route to Twin Falls. Get ready to put on your swimsuit to indulge in a little R&R at the hot springs of the Thousand Springs State Park after a long road trip. Enjoy paddling up Snake River on your inflatable paddleboard and taking in the breathtaking natural beauty of Shoshone Falls during your time in the Gem State.

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Vancouver Tour Guide

Nazila Najafi

Nazila Najafi

I have over ten years of experience in the Tourism and Hospitality industry. My professional/volunteer background as a researcher, remote travel columnist, travel agent, travel consultant, and walking/step-on guide has helped me provide my VIP (private/group) tours with a memorable experience. As a professional Canadian Tour Guide Association of British Columbia member, I have been actively running mainly private cultural tours in Vancouver since 2019.

5. Banff, Alberta

Banff from Sulphur Mtn 2005
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Borbrav used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

With so many amazing scenic routes it’s difficult to choose but taking the TransCanada highway to Hope and through to Kelowna will provide drivers with chances to visit wineries and relax at Okanagan Lake while looking for the reclusive Ogopogo monster in Kelowna. After traversing through the stunning lake country, take the TransCanada to Revelstoke to where you will find yourself at the base of the majestic Rocky Mountains. After passing by pristine Lake Louise, you will enter Banff where you can stroll through the charming mountain village and enjoy encountering moose, bear, deer, and other amazing wildlife. Take time to raft the Kicking Horse River’s white water rapids, drive the legendary Icefields Parkway en route to take a giant ice machine across the massive Athabasca Glacier, and ride the gondola to experience panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and surrounding valleys.

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6. Sacramento, California

Tower Bridge Sacramento edit
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user [Unknown] used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Put on your favourite music for this road trip from beautiful Vancouver through Washington state, Oregon, and part of northern California. Stop in Seattle to walk along the Pudget Sound waterfront and dine at PF Chang’s for some delicious Asian cuisine before driving onto Portland. After enjoying the beautiful river valley and dense forest scenery, it’s time to stroll through historic Sacramento to learn about its gold rush history and experience its charming shops. Hop aboard a steamboat for a ride on the Sacramento River before strolling through the Capitol’s gardens and taking in a movie or visiting Macy’s at Downtown Commons.

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7. Helena, Montana

Helena, Montana
Source: Pexel

After leaving the Canadian-American border crossing, take I5 through Seattle, then I2 onto Spokane to enjoy some amazing scenery of the Columbia River valley and its pine tree-lined forests. Take a break in Spokane to experience Riverfront Park for its sculpture park and to board a cable car to appreciate the stunning Spokane Falls. When you have arrived in Helena, take time to stroll through the Tizer Botanical Gardens and Arboretum and the Holter Museum of Art to check out its contemporary collection. Enjoy hiking through the trails of the Gates of the Mountains hoping to sight bear, bison, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, Candian geese, and much more wildlife native to Helena.

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8. Grande Prairie, Alberta

Jardins du Gué, Grande prairie vue de la roseraie
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Guedeflais used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Enjoy taking highway 97 north from Vancouver through the Fraser Canyon towards Prince George and stop in charming Merritt for an overnight stop. Get onto Highway 5 North driving through Kamloops’ rolling sagebrush accented hills towards Jasper where you will take Highway 40 North to Grande Prairie. Once in Grande Prairie spend time strolling through the rose garden at the Gardens of the Voyagers and visiting Heritage Discovery Centre to encounter an animatronic dinosaur. Kayak at Saskatoon Island Provincial Park to observe the birds at the bird preserve and afterwards hit the lush fairways at Dunes Golf and Winter Club to play a round of nine holes.

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9. Idaho Falls, Idaho

Idaho Falls, Idaho (Snake River)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user ARLittleRock used under CC BY-SA 4.0

After leaving the Canadian-American border, take I5 to Seattle and spend some time taking in the panoramic views of the city skyline from the Space Needle’s observation deck. Then get onto I84 East heading towards Boise to enjoy the drive past charming homes and beautiful woodland scenery before arriving at Idaho Falls. Upon reaching Idaho Falls, take time to kayak along the sprawling Snake River and to take in the stunning waterfall in the park. History lovers will enjoy combing through the Lewis and Clark exhibit detailing their expedition at the Museum of Idaho before visiting the Idaho Falls Zoo to encounter its lions, penguins, and other fearsome animals.

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10. Spokane, Washington

Monroe Street Dam on Spokane River
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Williamborg used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Take I5 after leaving the US-Canadian border crossing towards Seattle and get out to stretch your legs by wandering through downtown Seattle to enjoy a bowl of clam chowder at Ivar’s while admiring serene Puget Sound. Get back on the interstate heading towards Spokane to experience stunning views of the Cascade Mountains. Once in Spokane, take time to take a leisurely stroll along Riverfront Park to enjoy the sculpture park and to board the cable car to admire Spokane Falls. Make time to take in the artwork on the area’s Native American inhabitants at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture before walking through the halls of Campbell House.

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11. Golden Ears Provincial Park, BC

Golden Ears Provincial Park (49297806632)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user GoToVan used under CC BY 2.0

One amazing road trip destination from Vancouver is the Golden Ears Provincial Park. Located just a bit more than 60 kilometers (37.28 miles) from the city, a one-way trip can be completed in 1 to 3 hours. You can access the way to Golden Ears Provincial Park either via Lougheed Highway or via Highway 1. Once at the state park, you’ll be able to enjoy many outdoor activities. Within the park, you can find Alouette Lake, where water-based activities can be done. You can also find multiple trails and campsites throughout the park.

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12. Bowen Island, BC

Bowen Island View - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kiwibirdman used under CC BY 3.0

A popular Vancouver day trip is to Bowen Island. To get there, you can avail of a car ferry from Horseshoe Bay, which is located in West Vancouver. While on the ferry, you can already enjoy the gorgeous scenery on the way to the Island. The ferry ride will take you to the Island’s Snug Cove, where many water-based activities are available. Apart from water-based fun and lounging at the beach, there are also many trails that you can explore within the island. You won’t run out of things to do while you’re here.

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13. Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington
Source: Unsplash

From a bustling city to another, this road trip to Seattle, Washington from Vancouver is definitely one that you should try. The distance between each city is about 141 kilometres (87.6 miles), which you can drive through in about two to three hours, depending on the traffic. You can start your trip by driving to Granville St and continuing south on to Highway 99. While on the way to Seattle, you can visit a few interesting spots, including the Boeing factory. You can also take a pit stop at the beautiful town of Bellingham or at the charming city of Lynden.

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14. Kelowna on the Okanagan Lake

Water front park Kelowna
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sanchit Sukhija used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Take in the best of what British Columbia has to offer by taking a road trip from Vancouver to Kelowna. The quickest route you can take is Highway 5 or the Coquihalla Highway. This route is about 441 kilometers (274 miles) long and it can take more than 5 hours to complete. Along the way, you can stop at many interesting spots, including Skaha Lake and Manning Provincial Park.

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15. Pemberton, BC

Haybales in pemberton
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Javedbabar used under CC BY-SA 3.0

A nice and easy road trip route you can take is Vancouver to Pemberton, BC. For this trip, you’ll need to drive through the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The distance is about 163.13 kilometers (101.36 miles), which you can drive in 2 hours without stops. On the way to Pemberton, you can visit numerous touristy destinations, such as Horseshoe Bay and Britannia Mine Museum.

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Destination anywhere from Vancouver

When cabin fever strikes and the need to take a road trip sets in, put in your favourite tunes and conquer these best road trips from Vancouver, Canada. Travellers are guaranteed wildlife encounters, stunning natural scenery, and a chance to step back in history to experience the Gold Rush while visiting Sacramento or smaller towns such as Quesnel and Barkerville en route to Grande Prairie. After experiencing the stunning Sea to Sky Highway, beautiful Banff with the Athabasca Glacier ice walk, Lincoln City, and Oregon’s beaches, make plans to return the following summer and enjoy another Vancouver road trip.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Celeste is a writer based in British Columbia with a profound passion for travel and the exploration of new destinations. Her adventurous spirit leads her to engage in exciting activities during...Read more

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