The Winding Road to Whistler

It’s time to crank up the Bryan Adams and drive north. On this classic drive up to Whistler, you’ll see the best parts of the Lower Mainland and take that road that “goes up that hill on the right” you always wanted to.

Recommended For This Drive:

  1. Radios if you are in a group

  2. Paint Protection

  3. Tires in excellent condition

  4. A great camera

  5. Check border crossing times here: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/border-crossings

I’m always surprised how many people I meet in the PNW have never driven to Whistler. The Sea-to-Sky highway is widely regarded as one of the best and most beautiful roads in the word, and it does live up to the hype. While this drive can be done in a day, you really should take at least two full days and enjoy all the stops and sights and to enjoy the view on the way back, which in my opinion is the better driving experience.

First, a few things to know about driving in Canada if you’re new at this. First, don’t speed too much. They can, and will, impound your car at 30 KPH over the limit, which is roughly 19 MPH in freedom units. For most of us, that’s a normal drive up I90 if we’re being honest, so this is a good drive for enjoying the scenery. Second, gas prices will make you glad you slowed down a bit. I’m starting this drive at the last good place to get gas, Costco in Bellingham. As of December, 2023, gas is $4 for Premium at Costco and $7.20 for Premium at the average in Vancouver, BC. I remember paying close to $9 in Whistler, so budget accordingly.

There are plenty of detours and things to do in Vancouver, but for the sake of getting ahead of traffic and getting to the fun, the road up to the Cypress Lookout is fun, fast, and has an amazing view of the ocean. You can continue to the top for a coffee, or get back to the drive and head to the Sea-to-Sky Gondola for a really memorable view.

The Sea-to-Sky Gondola and bridge is worth the visit, especially on a clear day. But, it can also be a bit of a zoo with an insane wait time. If it’s too busy or you’ve been there already, head on up to Squamish. Squamish is the last town with cheaper groceries and amenities before you go to Whistler, but I’m going to direct you to the donut shop. I know you probably want some Timbits, as is tradition, but Fox & Oak is where you want to go for something a little more special.

From there you’ll head into the magical world of Whistler, BC. Everything in Whistler is pretty, tasty, and expensive, but it’s a really fun place to be all year round. Parking in the lower garages can come at the cost of your front splitter and in my experience I’d skip the valet parking. You can usually tip most of them to leave your car out front if you have an exotic.

Before you call it day in Whistler, take the short drive north to Pemberton. You’ll lose 90% of the traffic and have a road full of great curvers mostly to yourself. Enjoy the drive!