A couple years ago, I planned and enjoyed this Vancouver Island Road Trip. I’d like to share this Vancouver Island Itinerary with my viewers so you can recreate this trip packed with wildlife, scenery, culture, kitsch, flowers, and fun!
This Vancouver Island itinerary requires your own transportation. While there is some public transportation on the island, having your own vehicle opens ups so much more.
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All photos in this post taken by Lumix Superzoom fz80 camera.
The Best Time to Visit Vancouver Island
The best time to do this particular Vancouver Island itinerary is August to early October, due to the best time to see Grizzly Bears and snorkel with salmon. However, this trip could easily be done in the spring or earlier in the summer and substitute activities such as kayaking and spending time in Victoria in place of the wildlife encounters. If you visit in winter and spring, expect lots of rain. However, viewing the storms out of Pacific Rim National park is a bucket list item for me.
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 1 – Arrival and visit Butchart Gardens
If taking the ferry from mainland British Columbia or Anacortes, you’ll likely arrive in Sidney, BC and may need to cross customs. From there you will drive to the world famous Butchart Gardens. These magnificent gardens are over 100 years old and a top tourist attraction of British Colombia. You will spend the afternoon enjoying the gardens. If visiting on a Saturday, you can enjoy live music and maybe the spectacular fireworks show. After the fireworks, view the Night Illuminations (park aglow with lights) and a half hour recital from the rare Aeolian Pipe Organ situated in the loft of the Organ Pavilion. All shows are included in the standard Butchart Garden tickets. Learn more about Butchart Gardens here.
Where to stay: Victoria, BC (Check Rates and Availability)
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 2 – Totem Poles, Tall Trees, and Goats on the Roof
You can sleep in a little today and after breakfast, you will leave Victoria and make a relaxing 2 ½ hour drive up the southern part of the island with multiple stops to see some of it’s best natural, cultural, and culinary sites. It’s worth the stop in Duncan to do your own walking tour to see 38 totem poles in the town. You can then drive to Morningstar Farm, a working dairy, to do cheese and wine tasting -Mooberry winery makes wines and dessert wines with fruits grown on Vancouver island and Little Qualicum Cheeseworks makes several types of cheeses. Next, you will head to the famous Coombs Old Country Market for ice cream. If you’re lucky, you will get to see the goats that feed on the grass on the roof of the market! From here, you will head to the Little Qualicum Falls for a short walk to the waterfalls and then to Cathedral Grove to see the accessible giant Douglas Fir trees. One of the trees is nearly 30 feet in diameter. You will continue to Port Alberni which will be your base for three nights
Where to stay: Port Alberni (Check Rates and Availability)
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 3 – Road Trip to Pacific Rim National Park
Today you will take a whole day road trip to the Pacific Rim National Park. Make sure you check the tide charts so you can make the most of your day. Then stop at the visitor’s center on the way into the park to get maps and advice on what hikes you might want to undertake. Make sure you visit Chesterman beach tide pools at low tide where you will see all sort of sea creatures – anemones, starfish, and maybe even an octopus. Consider taking one of the boardwalk hikes to the sea, the old growth forest is amazing. Make sure you leave enough time to drive into Tofino to check out the boutique village and Uclulet so see the lighthouse. See more about visiting Pacific Rim National Park here.
Where to stay: Port Alberni (same as prior night)
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 4 – All Day Boat Ride to Bamfield
Today you will board the Lady Rose ferry boat for a relaxing day cruise up to Bamfield. You board for a 8:00 sailing from Port Alberni. This boat delivers passengers and mail along the way. You have one hour to walk around the small village of Bamfield with time to see the cathouses, treehouse toilets, and do a quick little hike to the beautiful beach. Make sure you explore the tide pools at the beach to see the colorful starfish and urchins. On the return trip, make sure you keep your eyes open for whales, seals, eagles, and bears – we saw all of these on our journey. You can have lunch in the galley on the ferry and even have a beer or wine while watching the scenery go by. Back in town, make the quick trip out of town to Stamp Falls to see the salmon running. Read more about the ferry ride to Bamfield here.
Where to stay: Port Alberni (same as prior night)
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 5 – Go North and Visit Elk Falls
Today you will set out on a road trip along the east coast. You will take the scenic part of highway 19, called 19A, for part of the way and will spend much of the drive along the coast, in the forest, and with views of rivers and lakes. Our total drive time today is about 4 hours, so you have plenty of time to make stops along the way. One stop will be at the Quinsam River Hatchery. If you are lucky, you can safely watch black bears plucking the abundant salmon from the river if you visit around September. You should also stop at Elk Falls Provincial Park, where you can do walk to the waterfall that involves crossing the new suspension bridge. As you approach Port McNeill, if you have time you can take the short detour to Telegraph Cove, a historic whaling port, or just take a walk around the harbor town of Port McNeill, your home for the night. You can go to the Haida Way Pub for chicken wings and beer. See more about Elk Falls Provincial Park.
Where to stay: Port McNeill (Check Rates and Availability).
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 6 – World’s Largest Burl & Whale Watching
Today you will head to the port for your whale watching trip. Just across the parking lot from the port is the worlds largest burl. A burl is a large knot in a tree, that is often denser wood popular in making furniture. This one is HUGE! I can’t imagine how big this tree was. At 10:00 you head out with Mackay Whale Watching on a 4-5 hour orca watching expedition. In addition to orca whales, you may spot Minke whales, pacific white-side dolphins, Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, steller sea lions, Humpback whales, and a variety of sea birds. The 55 foot vessel called the Naiad Explorer is equipped with heat, restrooms, and a hydrophone so you can listen to the whales. The cruise includes lunch of soup, buns, and dessert. Make sure you bring warm clothes, jacket, and sun protection. After the cruise, you will start heading south again with a 2.5 hour drive to Campbell River. Read more about Port McNeill whale watching here.
Where to stay: Campbell River. For two nights (Check Rates and Availability). I recommend the Anchor Inn that has a beach view, hot breakfast, and a large indoor pool and hot tub.
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 7 – Grizzly Bear Viewing
Today is your 8-hour Grizzly Bear tour. The various companies swap times to travel to the Bute Islet, so the date of the tour and the company you use will dictate what time your tour begins. That leaves you with a couple free hours to explore Campbell River. Perhaps have a walk along the Rotary walk along the waterfront. When it’s time for your tour, you will board the boat for Discovery Marine Safaris Grizzly Bear Expedition trip – hopefully a highlight of the trip. It will take about 2 hours to cross the inside passage to Bute Inlet where you will be hosted by the Homalco First Nation and take shuttles to several platforms in the salmon spawning grounds where grizzly bears are often seen this time of year. A wide array of other wildlife such as deer, elk, and sea life might be spotted, too. A sandwich and cookie lunch catered from a local bakery will be served on the tour. Water, tea, and coffee is also included. The spacious boat has restrooms. If you have a later departure and if the weather is nice, you may be rewarded with a nice sunset on the water on the way back to Campbell River. See more about the Discovery Marine Safaris Grizzly Bear Expedition trip.
Where to stay: Campbell River for a second night
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 8 -Snorkel With Salmon and/or Visit a Museum
You have the choice of two events this morning, or do both! – you can visit the Campbell River Museum or you can raft down a river and go snorkeling with the running salmon. This is literally one of the craziest things I’ve done in my life – read about Snorkeling with Salmon here. After lunch you will start on the journey south and take a break in the town of Nanaimo where you can sample the aptly named Nanaimo bar, a chocolaty, coconut-y, buttery treat.
Where to stay: Chemainus (Check Rates and Availability).
Vancouver Island Road Trip Day 9 – Time to go Home, or Extend Your Trip
From Chemainus, it’s a 1.5 hour drive to the ferry terminal. Note that the international sailings require you get to the ferry terminal 90 minutes before your trip. Enjoy the sailing to the mainland, the trip is beautiful!
Where to stay: finish your trip or stay a little longer to explore Victoria.
Check out these other things to do in British Columbia
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Fantastic tips and interesting itinerary! Love Vancouver island and will keep this route in mind next time we go!
Vancouver looks great. Saw grizzlies in Alaska but might need to do it again in Vancouver. And the whale picture is amazing.
Great, thanks. We are planning on 6 months to Canada next year in an RV and VI is on the list. So we will adjust our timing based on your blog. Perfect. kx
Woooah I didn’t even know Vancouver island had Grizzlies! 😀
You crammed in loooads to your trip! I have only explored the island when it was smokey, so I need to go back to see some views!!
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The grizzlies are actually on the mainland, but the closest city to boat there is Campbell River, located on Vancouver Island.
Ok now I can’t believe we live in Seattle and have never taken a trip to Vancouver Island! Remedying that immediately.
Oh my gosh, wow such a stunning place & you photograph it so well. wow, so many interesting facts here. Thanks for the creative post!