Two of the most popular destinations in British Columbia are Vancouver and Whistler. And surprisingly both popular spots are just a 1.5-hour (121 km) drive from one another so I guess you could say the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler is a well-trodden route.
When we lived in Vancouver we made the drive to Whistler one weekend and we fell completely head-over-heels in love with this mountainside village. So much so, that we relocated to Whistler just a few short months later.
For such a short drive, there’s so much beauty to be seen – from the awe-inspiring Capilano Suspension Bridge to waterfalls like Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls. So, don’t rush this drive – allow at least half a day to complete it and spend a few nights in Whistler before returning to Vancouver.
Is it worth driving to Whistler from Vancouver?
Yes, it’s 100% worth driving from Vancouver to Whistler!
With a name like the Sea to Sky Highway, as you can imagine the scenery along the way is breathtaking (think, mountains and the sea), and by driving yourself you can stop where you like and for however long you like. The drive is 121 kilometers long and without stops, it will take around 1.5 hours.
However, there are so many great places to stop between Vancouver and Whistler that if you plan to do the return drive in one day I advise leaving super early (around 7 am). That way you’ll get to see all the sights along the route. Some are quick stops like Brittania Mine and Brandywine Falls, and others (like Squamish or Capilano Suspension Bridge) require more time – at least an hour.
This route is considered a fairly easy drive. During the Winter months, there may be snow on the section of road between Squamish and Whistler. And you WILL need winter tires! But, the road is cleared regularly of snow and ice. Still, drive carefully (and pull over if needed) if you get caught in any heavy snowfall. Keep in mind that if you plan to do this drive on the weekend traffic will likely be heavy along most of the route so plan accordingly.
Can you do Whistler in a day from Vancouver?
Yes, seeing as it’s only a one hour and 40 minute drive between the two destinations you can easily do Whistler in a day from Vancouver. But, you will need to be strict with your time – no dawdling! I recommend leaving Vancouver early, around 7 am and not leaving Whistler until after dinner so that you have the most time possible there.
Related Read: 3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Whistler. You can check out our guide to 3 days in Whistler in the summer or our Whistler winter 3-day guide!
6 BEST Stops Between Vancouver and Whistler
1. Capilano Suspension Bridge
Your first stop is just a 15-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. I’m sure you’ve heard of the famed Capilano Suspension Bridge. This feat of engineering hangs 70 meters over the Capilano River and it’s 137 meters long. And the views are stunning – think lush green forest and a gushing bright blue river! But, it’s all about the bridge here there are also a few short hikes, a glass-floor viewpoint, and The Birds of Raptor Ridge where you can see birds of prey.
As I said, I recommend spending at least an hour here. But it’s worth noting that the Capilano Suspension Bridge doesn’t open until 8:30 am. FYI, it closes at 8 pm for most of the year.
Tickets for the Capilano Suspension Bridge cost from $81 CAD per person.
2. Horseshoe Bay
Your second stop should be the quaint coastal village of Horseshoe Bay which is famous for being the spot the ferry leaves for Vancouver Island. Spend around 30 minutes here strolling around the sweet downtown area – grab a coffee from the Lookout Coffee Shop, which boasts lovely views of the Howe Sound, and then sit by the water to watch the huge ferries coming in and out.
3. Brittania Mine
Your next stop is definitely unique, the Brittania Mine was once the biggest copper mine in the world, and at its peak, it employed around 60,000 people. Today you can learn all about the history of the mine at the on-site interactive museum. During your visit, you’ll get to ride on a train into the heart of the mine to see where miners dug for the copper.
There’s also a new show called BOOM which takes place in a 20-storey building – it details the close-to 100-year mining history of the area.
You can buy a ticket to Brittania Mine here and it costs $42 CAD per person!
4. Shannon Falls
Before entering the small city of Squamish you’ll come to Shannon Falls. Aka one of the tallest waterfalls in the state at 335 meters (1,099 feet!) It’s a short walk from the car park to the falls and there are several viewpoints for you to marvel at this natural beauty and of course snap lots of photos!
This is a quick pitstop – around 20 minutes or so, you’ll have time to do the hike and snap some photos.
5. Squamish
Squamish is a lovely little outdoorsy city – with a population of around 25,000. In fact, many ‘Whistlerites’ have made the move to Squamish as property is cheaper here.
It’s so picturesque here and the popular Netflix TV Series ‘Virgin River’ is filmed close to Squamish (my mom loves that show!) We recommend spending a couple of hours in Squamish strolling around the shops maybe grabbing lunch and a coffee (we love Zephyr Cafe here) before heading up the Sea to Sky Gondola.
The Sea to Sky Gondola is a must-do while in Squamish, the gondola takes you up 2,900 feet and along the ride, you can enjoy spectacular views of Howe Sound. Once at the top you can go for a hike, walk across the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, and admire the views from the various viewing platforms! A ticket for this gondola costs around $75 CAD.
6. Brandywine Falls
Around 30 minutes from Squamish and just before you reach Whistler, we recommend stopping at another gorgeous waterfall.
Brandywine Falls is a spectacular 70-meter waterfall that can be seen from a viewpoint, a short walk from the car park. Or if you’re fit, you can do as the locals do and hike to the base of the falls.
To get to the base of Brandywine Falls from the viewing platform, you’ll need to pass the fence on the far left side. Walk straight through the forest, following the edge of the cliff until you reach a rocky area. Make your way down a makeshift set of steps. Continue on the trail until you come to a white rope you will need to use this to carefully climb down. Follow the track over the boulders until the track turns left into the forest. After this, the track is well-marked and follows through the forest until it meets the stream that goes into the falls.
7. Whistler
Whistler is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in Canada – with well over 3 million visitors vacationing here annually. Its popularity lies in the fact it is breathtakingly beautiful (think looming mountains and bright blue lakes). I recommend allowing at least one night here so that you can enjoy the best this stunning town has to offer.
The best things to do in Whistler:
There are heaps of amazing activities to choose from in Whistler, from winter sports like skiing or snowmobiling to relaxing at an outdoor spa! Below you’ll find my top picks for things to do in Whistler.
Skiing
Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort is consistently rated as one of the top ski resorts in the world, thanks to its tree-lined runs and powder conditions. If you’re visiting in the winter it’s a must-do. The ski area at Whistler Blackcomb is massive (it’s 4,757 acres) – that area includes 200n runs and 36 lifts. And there’s a run suitable for every ability. Some of my favorite runs include the Upper and Lower Panorama runs off of the 7th Heaven chairlift on Blackcomb Mountain and the Peak to Creek, which connects Whistler to Creekside. It’s a long one at 11 km!
Go snowmobiling
This is my top choice if you’re visiting Whistler in winter and don’t ski!
Yup, a snowmobiling tour in Whistler is one of my favorite tours I’ve done in Canada. For beginners, I recommend the 2-hour snowmobiling tour. For adrenalin junkies, the 3-hour snowmobiling tour is more suitable. It includes lunch at a cozy back-country cabin. A snowmobiling tour in Whistler costs $249 CAD for the 2-hour tour and $292 for the 3-hour tour.
Helicopter tour
See the jaw-dropping beauty of Whistler from high up above on a bucket-list-worthy scenic helicopter flight. You’ll see Whistler like you’ve never seen it before – spot ancient glaciers, hidden lakes, and cool ice formations from the comfort of a top-class helicopter. You’ll even get to land on a glacier! This tour starts from $471 CAD per person. You can do this in any season.
Off-road buggy tour
A great summer activity in Whistler is an off-road buggy tour. On this fast-paced tour, you’ll learn how to drive your very own 4×4 offroad buggy and drive up backcountry mountain roads and narrow thick-forested tracks. You can book the 3-hour Odyssey Tour here, prices start from $335 CAD per person! Which I think is pretty reasonable for this bucket-list-worthy experience!
Ziplining
Ziptrek Ecotours offers 4 distinct zipline tours and the TreeTrek canopy walk. It’s also home of the Sasquatch – the longest zipline in Canada and the USA. The Sasquatch is 2km in length! There are several tours to choose from the Bear Tour (4 ziplines); the Eagle Tour (5 ziplines) and the Sasquatch one monster zipline. Prices start from $178 CAD for the Eagle Tour, which is 3 hours long.
Relax at an outdoor spa
Scandinave Spa a short drive from Whistler Village allows you to chill out in the heart of nature. This Nordic-inspired 20,000-square-foot outdoor spa is surrounded by cedar trees. And tonight you can soak in the outdoor hot tub and experience the beautiful vista of Whistler’s natural beauty.
There are steam baths, hot baths as well as a large sauna – which is how it’s recommended to start your time at Scandinave Spa. After, warming up you must brave the cold and plunge into one of their cold baths, or stand under the Nordic waterfall for a few minutes. After all that, relax in one of the relaxation rooms or on the hammock which has an incredible view.
Where to stay in Whistler
If you don’t feel like driving back to Vancouver this evening, then I highly recommend spending the night in Whistler. That way, you can eat at one of the village’s awesome restaurants (I love Sushi Village and The Mexican Corner) and sample Whistler’s famed nightlife scene.
Some of the best hotels in Whistler include –
- Fairmont Chateau Whistler – my absolute favorite hotel in town (although I may be biased as I worked here for two years). Boasting 500+ rooms but with all the ambiance and personality of a small hotel – the Fairmont is the best address in
- Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa – right in the center of Whistler Village and very close to the gondola, this large hotel is very popular with families
- Nita Lake Lodge – located in Creekside, a 10-minute drive from Whistler Village and looking onto stunning Nita Lake this is one of my favorite hotels in Whistler
- The Westin – is a nice luxury option in Whistler’s lower village, it’s right next to the gondola and the rooms are spacious with great views
- Four Seasons Resort – this is probably the most luxurious hotel in Whistler. It’s located in Whistler’s Upper Village and close to Blackcomb Gondola this hotel is frequented by celebrities
There are also lots of awesome hostels in Whistler for those travelers on a budget!
Renting a car in Canada:
If you love road trips, then it’s a no-brainer to rent a car in Canada. After all, Canada is known as one of the most stunningly beautiful countries in the world. And the best way to get to its hidden gem spots is by hiring a car.
The cost of renting a car in Canada can be expensive. However, there are some ways you can save money. We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
You should always try to rent your vehicle from major cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, etc. As you would expect, hiring a car in the low tourist season months of September & October will be cheaper than if you book one in the height of summer – between June and September.
If you’re planning to rent a car in winter, ensure your rental car has winter tires.
The best road trips I’ve done in Canada, include:
- The Drive from Whistler to Banff
- The Drive from Whistler to Jasper
- Road Trip from Lake Louise to Jasper
- The Route from Banff to Jasper
I love Whistler!
To summarize the drive from Vancouver to Whistler although short is well worth allocating a fair amount of time for – there’s so much to see along the way. My personal favorite stops include the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Brandywine Falls.
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Last Updated on October 9, 2024 by snaphappytravel