Quick answer
A classic 7–10 day Vancouver Island road trip starts in Victoria, heads up the east coast through the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo, crosses on Highway 4 past Cathedral Grove to Tofino and Ucluelet, then returns east to the Comox Valley and Campbell River, with an optional extension to Telegraph Cove for whales. Book ferries in advance (vehicles from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo must reserve), and carry winter tires or chains from October.
Getting onto the island
- Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (near Victoria): about 1 hour 35 minutes.
- Tsawwassen to Duke Point (Nanaimo).
- Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo): all vehicles must book in advance, a requirement BC Ferries confirmed is still in place in 2026 (BC Ferries). Reservations are recommended but not required in the other direction.
The itinerary
- Days 1–2, Victoria: the Inner Harbour, Chinatown and Butchart Gardens. See our Victoria guide.
- Day 3, Cowichan Valley to Nanaimo: wineries and small towns, and the Chemainus murals, a project that began in 1982.
- Day 4, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, then west: Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, then Highway 4 toward Port Alberni with a stop at Cathedral Grove.
- Days 5–7, Tofino and Ucluelet: beaches, rainforest trails and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. See our Tofino guide and Ucluelet guide.
- Day 8, Comox Valley: back east and north to Courtenay and Comox.
- Day 9, Campbell River and Strathcona: the Elk Falls suspension bridge and Strathcona Provincial Park.
- Day 10 (optional), Telegraph Cove: a historic boardwalk village and base for orca-watching trips in summer.
Approximate drive times without stops: Nanaimo to Tofino about 3 hours (Tourism Tofino); Victoria to Tofino about 4.5 hours. Check DriveBC for closures before each day’s drive.
Stops worth knowing about
Cathedral Grove (MacMillan Provincial Park)
Old-growth Douglas firs, some more than 800 years old, line Highway 4, with western red cedars near Cameron Lake (BC Parks). The highway runs right through the park, so BC Parks asks visitors to take care when parking, walking along or crossing the road, and to stay off the trails in strong winds.
Strathcona Provincial Park
Legislated on March 1, 1911, Strathcona was BC’s very first provincial park (BC Parks), with lakes, waterfalls and mountain trails in the island’s interior.
Elk Falls Suspension Bridge
Near Campbell River, the bridge is 60 m long and 64 m above the canyon, opened in 2015 (Government of BC).
Telegraph Cove and whale watching
Destination BC lists Telegraph Cove among the best places in the world to see orcas, with peak season from May to September (HelloBC). Nearby Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve is a killer whale sanctuary; its land area has been closed to the public since 1992, and boaters are asked not to enter it.
Whale-watching rules
According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, vessels must stay at least 1,000 m from Southern Resident killer whales in southern BC coastal waters (in effect June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027), 200 m from other killer whales, and 100 m from other whales, dolphins and porpoises (200 m if they’re resting or with a calf). These rules apply to kayaks too.
Winter driving
BC requires winter tires or chains on designated routes from October 1, ending March 31 or April 30 depending on the route; some Vancouver Island highways, including parts of Highway 4, are designated (Government of BC). All-wheel drive doesn’t exempt you. Tires need the mountain/snowflake or M+S symbol and at least 3.5 mm of tread.
Road trip tips
- Book ferries and summer accommodation early, especially in Tofino.
- Fill up before Highway 4’s long, winding mountain stretch.
- Carry a Parks Canada pass if you’ll stop in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
- Pack layers and rain gear: weather changes quickly across the island.
Use our road trip packing list and guide to getting to Tofino.
Travel rules, prices and product details change. Check official government, airline and manufacturer sources before you book or buy.
