Road trip Vancouver Island: A Perfect 10 Day Itinerary

Vancouver Island is one of the most biodiverse environments in Canada, with a mild climate and natural beauty that attracts visitors year round. It’s an ideal place for a gorgeous road trip: there is plenty to do and see! You can find beaches, rain forests, mountains, and incredible wildlife all within a relatively small distance. Read on for a 10 day road trip Vancouver Island itinerary that combines the best of the natural beauty with reasonable driving distances.

What to pack for a 10 day road trip to Vancouver Island

This packing list covers what I’d pack for this specific itinerary/activities. What you pack will in part depend on what you plan on doing! My itinerary is mainly outdoor focused with a bit of city time, so keep that in mind as you plan your packing list.

Gear

• Dry bag: for water sports, to keep your phone/keys/belongings dry
• Hydration backpack: An essential for our outdoor adventures, the hydration bladder in this pack is really awesome.
• Waterproof hiking boots: Love my Lowas (men’s here)
• Swim shirt: a summer essential, to reduce sunscreen needs and better protect you on days on the water (men’s here)
• Unisex sun hat: I forgot mine and truly regretted it
• Water sandals: Essential for summer water activities. I like ones that have a toe loop and are very secure/have no risk of falling off. I’ve had my Chacos for 8 years.
• Sunscreen: My favorite spray on brand
• Sunglasses
• Camera & tripod
• Quick drying towel
• Packing cubes (when I don’t use these I regret it. Trust me!)
• Hard sided roller board suitcase

Clothing

• Swimsuits
• Athletic shoes
• Cute sneakers (these are my absolute favorites: they go with everything, they’re cute, and comfortable to wear for city walking)
• Socks, underwear
• 3 athletic shirts
• 3 cute tops
• 3 athletic shorts
• 2 cute shorts (I wear these stretchy jean shorts endlessly in summer)
• One fleece for cool mornings/evenings

Getting to Vancouver Island

There are two ways to get to Vancouver Island: by ferry or by plane. If you live in mainland BC or within Washington State, it probably makes the most sense to take your car on the ferry. If not, you’ll probably want to fly in and rent a car on arrival.

Flying to Vancouver Island

There are many airports on Vancouver Island. For this itinerary, you could fly into Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) to minimize driving, or Nanaimo Airport or Victoria Airport.

Taking the ferry with a car to Vancouver Island

Depending on where you are coming from, there are a few options for getting to Vancouver Island by ferry. The most common options are taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, or Tsawwassen to Duke Point. These will take you from the Vancouver metro area on the mainland to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. They are similar routes, with slightly different departure and arrival areas but in the same cities, so it doesn’t matter too much which one you get on.

Other ferry routes to Vancouver Island from mainland Canada

You can also take a ferry to Victoria from mainland British Columbia on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route, or the Powell River to Comox ferry if you’re coming from northern BC.

Cost of the vehicle ferry from mainland BC to Vancouver Island

All of these routes utilize the BC Ferry lines and cost around $65-$130 CAD for the vehicle reservation and 2 adults. Some routes are cheaper than others, and the early morning and late evening tickets are also cheaper. Seasonality can impact pricing as well; summer fares are generally higher than winter fares.

You should plan to book your ferry as soon as you know your travel dates. The ferries can sell out on popular travel dates, especially in the summer months. One great thing about the BC ferries is that you can continue to check for cancellations up until one hour before your departure and only pay a $5 reservation change fee if you find a better sailing time than your existing reservation. We were able to do this for our departing ferry to change it to the 10 am departure, and it made a huge difference to not have to wake up at 4 am to catch the first ferry (which was the only one available when we originally booked!)

You can book your BC Ferry tickets here.

Ferry from Port Angeles (Washington) to Victoria

Finally, if you’re coming from Washington or Oregon you may want to use the Port Angeles to Victoria route via the Black Ball Ferry Line. There are between one and four daily departures from either port to the other, depending on the season. You can view the schedule and book your Port Angeles-Victoria fares here. Note that it is not as easy to change your departure times with the Black Ball Ferry line; you can only change once without a fee, and it doesn’t seem like there is a way to do it online (you’d have to call).

For both sets of ferries, you’ll need to arrive between 1 hour and 1.5 hours prior to sailing. Be sure to read over the instructions prior to departing!

Road trip Vancouver Island 10 day itinerary: designing the route

There are many possibilities for places to explore on your road trip to Vancouver Island, and I’m going to explain how I picked our route (and why it was great). This road trip covers the southern half of Vancouver Island.

Road tripping is amazing, but can be tiring. Spending full days in the car is something we wanted to avoid. Therefore, none of the driving time is more than about three hours between each destination. We also like to spend 2-3 nights per location. This feels like the perfect amount of time to get to sample the local activities and attractions while still getting to explore several regions. This is the best of both worlds for us! However, I’ll include some notes about other activities and regions you could consider adding to your trip if you are more of a “see as much as you physically can” type of traveler.

Without further ado, our route was Tofino – Courtenay – Campbell River – Victoria for our 10 day Vancouver Island road trip!

Vancouver Island Road Trip Days 1-3: Tofino

We took the Tsawwassen to Duke Point ferry on day one (2 hours) and then drove 3 hours to Tofino. Tofino is a gorgeous beach town on the western coast of Vancouver Island known for its surfing (in the summer) and incredible storms (in the winter). It’s near coastal rainforests and many small inlets and islands, making for a unique and gorgeous landscape.

The climate is fairly temperate in Tofino, ranging from lows in the 30s during the winter to highs in the 60s in the summer. However, you can encounter gray or foggy weather at any time of year, so be warned that you may find yourself on a moody beach even in peak summer!

Activities and Food in Tofino (things we did)

I like to focus on nature activities, and we wanted to relax a bit after the travel days, so we spent some time lounging at the beginning of our trip, and added in some gentle hiking too!

• Beach hop in Tofino: Chesterman’s Beach and Cox Bay Beach, both of which are lovely beaches with long stretches of sand and plenty of space for you to enjoy! Cox Bay is world famous for surfing, so you can try your hand (or rather your feet) at surfing with a class or rentals at any of the local surf schools: Surf Sister, Swell Tofino, and Tofino Surf School are among them. We simply enjoyed relaxing on the beach while our toddler played in the sand and swells. Note that there is a bit of a walk from Cox Bay Beach to the parking lot, and parking can completely fill up on busy days.

• Hikes in Tofino area: One of our favorite activities to do with our toddler is hiking. We did a couple of relatively easy hikes while visiting Tofino: the Rainforest Loop B trail in Pacific Rim National Park and the Cox Bay Lookout Trail. The Rainforest Loop trails are beautiful, mainly boardwalk trails that are about a mile each in the rainforest of Pacific Rim National Park. It’s SO pretty, with informative plaques in English and French detailing information about the forest environment. It was really fun to climb up and down the staircases and along the platforms, it truly felt like being in a treehouse the entire time. If we had had more time, I would have definitely done loop A as well.

Note: You will need a National Parks Canada pass to park at the trailhead for the Rainforest Loop trails. You can get a single park/single day pass or an annual pass. If you’re only visiting Pacific Rim National Park, you’ll probably just want a single use day pass. You can learn more and buy your pass here.

• The other hike we did in Tofino was the Cox Bay Lookout Trail. To reach this trail, you’ll park in the Cox Bay Beach parking area and walk to the south end of Cox Bay beach. Then, you’ll head up a *very* rugged trail up to a lookout point. We used AllTrails Pro to navigate the trail since it was not well marked. You will want waterproof boots with good traction and be prepared to climb up using a rope at one point. It’s not maintained, so be cautious and visit the trail at your own risk! However, we were able to do this hike with a toddler in our toddler hiking backpack just fine. It was quite an adventure, and the views were striking. Cox Bay Lookout was one of the highlights of our visit to Tofino!

• Watch sunsets in Tofino: The sunsets in Tofino are nothing short of spectacular. We only got one sunset while we were there in August (it was cloudy the other two evenings, sadly) but what I did see was stunning. There are various west-facing beaches you can watch the sunset from like North Chesterman’s Beach or Tonquin beach. We watched sunset rather serendipitously from the 1st street dock, which I happened to see when driving out to grab ice cream on our first night there. I raced down to the dock to catch what remained of sunset and we could not believe our eyes! It’s nice because it’s right in town and there is plenty of space to take in sunset. You’ll also be able to see the water planes as they are docked there, which is cool to see too!

Other activities to do in Tofino:

We considered various other activities, but decided to keep our time in Tofino more low key so we did not get around to these. Here are the other activities we were interested in doing:

• Tofino Hot Springs tour: full adventure excursion involving a few hours on a boat and a remote island with hotsprings.
• Tofino Whale Watching: There are many places to go whale watching on Vancouver Island, and Tofino is one of them.
• Bear watching: This tour doesn’t allow children under 3, but looks amazing. Cruising on the water looking for bears in the rainforest shorline?! Sign me up!

Where to eat in Tofino

We cooked our own meals for the most part, but we did enjoy breakfast, pastries, ice cream in town as well as one dinner out! My top recommendation for breakfast in Tofino is to make it a multi-stop excursion: Grab pastries at Tofitian (the strawberry scone was divine, and better than the donuts we tried at Rhino Coffee) and then head to Rhino Coffee for a coffee and one or two of their hash browns. Seriously, I have never had a hashbrown so good. We went back every day for them!

Definitely try the ice cream at Tofino Licks. It’s a unique shop where you pick the topping first, then the soft serve you want, and a sauce to go with it. The seasonal pie topping, peach and blackberry pie, was out of this world.

Where to stay in Tofino

Tofino is not a particularly budget-friendly destination, and we also booked a few days before going, so we splurged a little bit and stayed at a lovely AirBnB with views of and a direct trail down to the beach that was just at the edge of town. Hotels that look awesome that we also considered, all of which have fabulous ratings and incredible locations:

• Hotel Zed
• Himwitsa Lodge
• Ocean Village Resort

Days 4-6: Courtenay

Courtenay is a three hour drive from Tofino, mostly east and a bit north, taking you to the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. Part of the famous Comox Valley, Courtenay is the city center that makes an excellent base for exploring the entire area, with lots of hotel and restaurant options but proximity to nature. The main reason I chose Courtenay was because of its closeness to SO many cool activities I was excited about!

Warmer and drier than the west coast of the island, you’re more likely to find sunshine here in the summer. Temperatures range from the mid-30s in winter to the mid-70s in the summer.

Activities in Courtenay (things we did)

• River tubing on the Puntledge River: a highlight of our entire trip, the lazy trip tubing down the Puntledge River is an absolute must on a warm summer day! You can rent tubes from Blue Toque Sports for about $15 (single tube)-$20 CAD (double tube) and enjoy ~1.5-2 hours on the river. Bring a dry bag and a drink and float on!

• Hiking in Strathcona Provincial Park: Visit the Paradise Meadows area of Strathcona Provincial Park, the oldest provincial park on the island, and take a hike. We did the popular Helen Mackenzie to Battleship Lake Loop and it was ideal. Gorgeous meadows with two lakes, along a trail that is gently sloping with many areas that are boardwalks.

Other Activities in Courtenay area

• Swim or hike in a local river or get on the ocean: Nymph Falls Nature Park is a beautiful place to swim in a river and walk along the riverside. Browns River Falls is another similar alternative. If you want time on the ocean, head to Compass Adventures where you can rent a kayak or SUP!
• Mountain bike: Take yours or rent one and head up to Mount Washington (note: children under 3 are not allowed to ride the ski lift to get to this area),
• Take a scenic chair lift ride: Also in Mount Washington area, you can take a quick and beautiful ski lift ride to see the mountains and surrounding scenery. Children under 3 cannot ride the scenic ski lift.

Where to stay in Courtenay

We had the best time at the Crown Isle Resort. Seriously, we did not want to leave! It’s convenient location next to grocery stores and restaurants/coffee shops, gorgeous rooms with a balcony or patio, and peacefulness of being in a golf community made this stay excellent.

Other places to stay in Courtenay that are highly rated/very popular

• Old House Hotel
• Holiday Inn Express

Days 7-8: Campbell River

A quick 40 minute drive from Courtenay, Campbell River is close by and an easy next stop on your road trip Vancouver Island itinerary. It is incredibly beautiful, a small city on the waterfront with lots of lovely parks and cute cafes in town, and many activities nearby. I fell in love with Campbell River and wished we had more than 2 nights here.

Activities in Campbell River area (things we did)

• Elk Falls Provincial Park: Visit this park just ten minutes outside of town and see some incredible waterfalls and test your bravery walking over the famous Elk Falls suspension bridge! The area has gentle trails, friendly for the whole family.

• Bike ride along the waterfront: Don’t make our mistake and bike straight out of your hotel! Drive down to McCallum Park South and start your ride from there (go south!). Then you’ll avoid a big hill on your return, and take advantage of the better sea views and the Rotary Sea Walk trail. Enjoy parks, beaches, and scenic views along the waterfront.

• Catch sunrise at Ostler Park: Grab a coffee at the nearby Tim Horton’s (open 24 hours!) and head to watch the sunrise over the water at Ostler Park. There are benches at the waterfront, and also a delightful playground if you have children, so it’s a win for everyone!
• Watch sunset at Mount Menzie: Okay this is a wild one, and only for folks who have high clearance vehicles. You can drive up the Mount Menzie Lookout trail about 2 kilometers and reach the first lookout (you will see a pullout area on the left side of the road, which is where you should park!). At sunset, it’s nothing short of spectacular. Bring an artisanal soda or your favorite adult drink and watch the sunset in awe.

Other activities in Campbell River Area

• Loveland Bay Provincial Park: Head to this beautiful lakeside park for a swim or to fish
• Take a water-based wildlife tour: Take to the waters and look for whales, bears, seals, and other wildlife in the area. This tour is very highly rated and we would have gone if our son was old enough (age 4 is the minimum)
• Splurge on a grizzly bear watching tour: If you’re in Campbell River during grizzly season, you can take a really incredible bear watching tour to see them in the Toba Inlet, hunting for salmon. You’ll also get to hear first hand from an indigenous first nation guide and learn about the local histories and cultures. Age minimum is 10 for this tour and it runs from approximately mid-August through October. This is legitimately on my bucket list and I plan to return for this experience without kids or when my son is old enough.

Where to stay in Campbell River, BC

We loved our stay at the Coast Discovery Inn and would definitely recommend it. The best part (aside from ocean views from our bedroom and prime location) was the free buffet breakfast. It is SO nice to not have to think about where to eat first thing in the morning, and they had eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, muffins, yogurt, oatmeal, and plenty of juices and coffee.

Other hotels in Campbell River with great reviews that we considered:

• Ocean’s Edge Suites 
• Comfort Inn & Suites

Days 9-10: Victoria, BC

The last days of the trip spent in Victoria, BC are not to be missed! It’s about 3 hours’ drive from Campbell River to Victoria. Victoria is an absolutely gorgeous city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Renowned for its flowers, historical buildings, and vibrant ocean waterfront, Victoria lives up to the hype!

Things to do in Victoria, BC (things we did)

• Spend a morning in Beacon Hill Park: A gorgeous waterfront park with running and biking trails, meander along the coast and appreciate the beauty. There’s a playground for kids, too. And it’s free!

• Go whale watching. We took this tour and had a wonderful time. I liked being on the covered boat because it was more comfortable than the zodiac boat options (you can’t move around on those, and it’s totally exposed). Having a covered area and the ability to walk around the decks of this boat was awesome. Plus, you can bring babies/toddlers on this tour and not on the others! Book your whale watching Victoria tour now.

• Check out the Royal BC Museum: I am not usually a museum person but I actually really enjoyed this one, especially the exhibit on the natural history of British Columbia. Did you know that BC has much more biodiversity than the majority of the rest of Canada due to the fact that it wasn’t entirely covered in ice sheets during the last ice age (unlike most of the rest of Canada)? There is an amazing exhibit on First Nations languages, too (indigenous languages).

Other things to do in Victoria, BC

• Take a Victoria highlights tour: This highly rated tour is something I wish we would have done. It’s a half day tour that involves a guide and a visit to famous sights. I’d have liked to learn more about Victoria’s history.
• Have high tea at The Empress: An iconic Victoria activity, take part in a delightful tea experience at a gorgeous and historic hotel on the Victoria waterfront.
• Take a stroll at Butchart Gardens: Another classic Victoria activity, take a morning or afternoon to explore a spectacular garden that was created more than a century ago.
• Bike around downtown and the coast: I REALLY wanted to do this, but given the fact that we didn’t have a bike seat/were using the hiking backpack for our “bike carrier” for our son, we didn’t want to do this. I would probably take this route!

I wrote a much more detailed post about things to do in Victoria with kids, which you can read here.

Final thoughts on a 10 day road trip Vancouver Island experience

Vancouver Island exceeded all expectations. There was so much to do and see, and I left wanting to explore more of the area because we barely scratched the surface! Vancouver Island is a fantastic place to take a road trip in the summer, and I am certain we will be returning. Including Tofino, Courtenay, Campbell River, and Victoria on a 10 day road trip on Vancouver Island is a great way to experience some of the highlights of the island.

Do you have any questions about a 10 day road trip to Vancouver Island? Let me know in the comments!