Last updated on May 5th, 2024 at 04:02 pm
There is a never ending list of incredible things to do on Vancouver Island so for those with limited time, here is my six day Vancouver Island road trip itinerary. We spent time in different locations and explored around those locations to try and have fewer driving days and more exploring days! If you have more time though, the opportunities are endless!
If backpacking is more your thing, there are never ending opportunities on Vancouver Island, we have been lucky enough to backpack the West Coast Trail and couldn’t recommend it more. There are also the Juan De Fuca trail to the south, the North Coast Trail and Nootka Island trail as well as endless possibilities in the Strathcona Provincial Park. I would love to have the time to spend an entire summer exploring on Vancouver Island but instead we will have to see it in short spurts!
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Getting To Vancouver Island
The first challenge of a Vancouver Island road trip is getting to the Island, luckily there are many options. The fastest way is flying, it is possible to fly into Victoria, but there are also airports at Nanaimo and Comox. There is also the option of getting a float plane from Vancouver to Victoria.
The easiest way to explore Vancouver Island is with a car, so for many the ferry is the obvious option as it saves renting a car on Vancouver Island. You can get the ferry from Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen, to Nanaimo or Victoria on Vancouver Island. You can also ride the ferry as a foot passenger. I can’t recommend booking your ferry trip ahead of time enough. We didn’t on the way home and had a long long wait!
How To Spend Six Days On Vancouver Island
Day One – Nanaimo To Sproat Lake Provincial Park
We got off the ferry at Nanaimo and it was late, we grabbed some groceries in Nanaimo and hit the road towards Tofino. There are so many great spots to stop along the way. The drive is just over 200 kilometres so can easily be completed in a day. We split it into two because we were late arriving on the island for the first day of our Vancouver Island road trip.
A quick stop at Coombs for ice cream and to see the goats on the roof is a must do and a small but clearly signposted detour from the main highway. An awesome and unique spot.
You’ll pass by Cameron Lake, a true beauty spot and a great place for a picnic on a nice day. Shortly after you will pass Cathedral Grove, make sure to stop here and do one of the interpretive walks to see some truly incredible trees. Before you know it you are on the outskirts of Port Alberni. Port Alberni has all the essentials you might need if you’ve forgotten anything. If you are looking for a meal, check out the crab bucket, it is a great spot for some fresh fish and chips!
A few minutes outside of town you’ll reach Sproat Lake Provincial Park, this is where we spent our first night of our Vancouver Island road trip. The campground is split across both sides of the highway, the sites on the lake side offered less privacy so we opted to camp on the other side. There is a trail that connects both sides, and on the lake side there is a shower block with some of the best showers we had on our own trip. For that reason alone I’d recommend staying here.
Day Two – Sproat Lake To Tofino
The second day of our Vancouver Island road trip we headed to Tofino. The drive is gorgeous, winding through the countryside, past forests, lakes and mountains. You’ll likely find you want to stop everywhere.
We spent two nights camping at Green Point campground between Tofino and Ucluelet, this campground is one of the cheapest in the area, with awesome facilities since it’s run by Parks Canada. It’s a short walk to the beach and a fantastic spot to explore the area.
After we set up camp we headed to Tofino for the afternoon, walking the docks and looking in the shops. We checked out Tofino Brewing just outside of town and they have a sweet little beer garden, a perfect spot to enjoy a local beer!
On our way back to camp we stopped at Radar Hill, a short accessible walk brings you to an incredible view as well as providing lots of information about the role the area played in defending Vancouver Island and Canada during times of war.
From Green Point campground, there is a short trail down to long beach and the number one spot we found during our five day trip to Vancouver Island, to watch the sun set. Nothing beats long sandy beaches on warm evenings, watching the sun disappear.
Day Three – Tofino And Ucluelet
We kept our base at Green Point campground for the third day of our Vancouver Island road trip and we headed to Ucluelet, a short drive away. A cute little town, we opted to hike the Lighthouse Loop, which showed off the rugged shores of this area of the island. It’s a fairly easy hike with lots of spots to sit and take in the views.
The Lighthouse Loop is one part of the Wild Pacific Trail, another part takes you to Big Beach where you can find the remains of a shipwreck right on the coastline. A fun little detour if you have time or the desire.
We also stopped at Ucluelet Brewing, their balcony looks right out over the harbour and is a perfect spot for a bite to eat and a drink on a nice day.
Day Four – Tofino To Goldstream Provincial Park
On day four of our Vancouver Island road trip, we woke early and packed up camp. We decided to check out the Canso Plane crash, a shorter hike to, well, a plane crash. The wreckage still remains mostly intact so it’s a popular spot. Then we hit the road.
Vancouver Island doesn’t have a great network of roads, so you’ll backtrack to Nanaimo and from there we headed south towards Victoria. We camped at the awesome Goldstream Provincial Park, which is a perfect location to explore both the forests, coastlines and city! This is a big driving day at just over 400 kilometres.
Day Five – Victoria
Day five of our Vancouver Island road trip, we headed into Victoria, a straight drive down the highway takes you to the coast near downtown Victoria. We parked here and walked the coastal trail to Fisherman’s Wharf for some fish and chips!
Continuing on will bring you to downtown Victoria and the Legislature buildings of British Columbia, a gorgeous building fronted by gardens. Downtown Victoria is filled with little shops and alleys to explore, you can easily spend a day here.
Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as we chose to walk and experience as much as possible but a good pair of comfortable running shoes were definitely necessary!
If you have the enthusiasm and energy after a day of exploring Victoria, there are some treasures in Goldstream Provincial Park to explore as well. Luckily in summer the days are long! Just below the first come first serve loop of the Goldstream campground, is a fantastic swimming spot, with rocks to lounge on and jump off, this spot can get noisy and busy.
From the campground you can also walk to Niagara Fall, this beautiful waterfall is well worth checking out. It’s a rather mundane hike through the forest from the campground or you can stop at the Goldstream Provincial Park day use area and from there it is a five minute walk on the opposite side of the highway to the waterfall.
Day Six – Goldstream Provincial Park to Nanaimo
The final day of any Vancouver Island road trip requires getting back to the ferry. First off though, we couldn’t recommend a trip to Fort Rodd Hill and Fisguard Lighthouse enough! This Parks Canada historical site has so much to see and do and is well worth spending the morning at. If you have a Parks Canada Discovery Pass, entry is free! We spent the morning here and it is so worth a stop.
From here you can choose to head to Schwartz Bay to get back to the mainland or head to Nanaimo to catch the ferry. We chose the later as we wanted to get the ferry to Horseshoe Bay as we were heading north.
Other Spots On Vancouver Island To Check Out
If you have more time to spend on a Vancouver Island road trip, it would be easy to spend more time in the Tofino and Victoria areas. There are also some other incredible spots to explore, such as the Sooke area and up to Port Renfrew. Driving along this coastal area you’ll find gorgeous beaches.
Strathcona Provincial Park in the central area of the Island is home to campgrounds, lakes and hiking opportunities which seem endless, it is well worth spending a few days exploring the park but you could easily spend a week!
The northern areas of Vancouver Island have many treasures to explore as well, Telegraph Cove is one of the top places on Vancouver Island to see Orcas.
Ultimately we finished our Vancouver Island road trip wishing we had more time and wanting to see so much more. I’m sure you’ll probably feel the same!
Items That Can Make A Vancouver Island Road Trip More Enjoyable
Rain Jacket – Vancouver Island is known for its variety of weather but mostly for it’s rain. Don’t let wet weather slow down your trip, a good rain coat will allow you to explore regardless of the weather.
Gazebo – This is one of my favorite items to take car camping because it is great come rain or shine! Make sure if it’s windy it is steak down correctly. You can easily set it up over your table to create a dry place to cook and eat, or put it over your tent, if like us you are staying in a small tent. It keeps your tent dry and makes getting in and out of the tent a much drier experience.
Tarp – If you aren’t a fan of the gazebo or space in your car is at a premium, a tarp can be a great alternative to help create dry areas to hang out. Make sure to pack plenty of paracord in order to make sure it can be set up regardless of how far away the trees are!
Waterproof Hiking Boots – If it’s raining a lot, these will be lifesavers, not just to hike in but to walk around town in.
Flip Flops – I absolutely love my Chaco flip flops, they stay on my feet and are cushioned with vibram soles, meaning they are perfect to adventure in, whether it’s heading to the beach or walking around town. These are perfect for even warm and wet days.
Map – A backroads map book can be a perfect companion, great to find little gems to stop at while exploring Vancouver Island. We used this book on our trip and it made planning so much easier!