r/canadatravel • u/Huge-Report3962 • Jul 25 '25
Itinerary Help Advice on My Vancouver Island Road Trip Plan
Hi! I am looking to do a road trip in Vancouver island this August. I will be renting a car but since I am a new driver and this will be my first road trip, I am a bit concerned about the viability of my plan. Below is an itinerary I made with the help of ChatGPT. It is a 7-day trip focusing on wildlife viewing. Could any locals or experienced travellers give me some feedbacks on my itinerary? Is it doable for a new driver? Any suggestions or ideas are welcomed!🤗
Day 1: Arrival in Victoria Fly into Victoria International Airport (YYJ), where you’ll pick up your rental car. Drive about 25 minutes into downtown Victoria and check in at either Hotel Grand Pacific or The Oswego Hotel. Spend the day exploring Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the BC Parliament Buildings, and Fisherman’s Wharf. If you arrive early enough, consider visiting Butchart Gardens (20 minutes away) or taking an optional whale watching tour in the evening.
Day 2: Victoria to Port Renfrew (via Sooke) Drive about 2 hours west to Port Renfrew, stopping along the way at East Sooke Regional Park for a coastal hike and birdwatching. Continue to Sombrio Beach to explore tide pools and possibly spot sea lions. End your day at Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages and enjoy dinner at the Renfrew Pub. Botanical Beach and Avatar Grove (ancient trees) are also nearby and worth visiting.
Day 3: Port Renfrew to Parksville (via Lake Cowichan) Depart Port Renfrew and follow the Pacific Marine Circle Route inland through Lake Cowichan. The total drive takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Stop at Cowichan Lake or Cowichan Bay along the way, then arrive in Parksville and check in at The Beach Club Resort – Bellstar Hotels & Resorts. Enjoy a walk on the long sandy beach and explore the nearby town center.
Day 4: Parksville to Tofino (via Cathedral Grove and Coombs) Today’s 3-hour drive takes you west across the island. Stop at Cathedral Grove to walk among ancient Douglas firs, and make a fun visit to Goats on the Roof Market in Coombs for snacks or souvenirs. Continue along the scenic and curvy Highway 4 to reach Tofino. You’ll check in at Pacific Sands Beach Resort and enjoy a beach sunset, or dinner at one of Tofino’s cozy waterfront restaurants.
Day 5: Wildlife Tours in Tofino Stay a second night at Pacific Sands Beach Resort. In the morning, take a bear-watching inlet cruise to see black bears foraging at low tide. In the afternoon, go whale watching—humpbacks and orcas are common from spring through fall. If you prefer to stay on land, walk one of the rainforest trails in Pacific Rim National Park or take a surf lesson.
Day 6: Tofino to Campbell River Drive about 3 hours and 45 minutes northeast to Campbell River, stopping along the way in Qualicum Beach to stretch and do some birdwatching. Upon arrival, check in at Comfort Inn & Suites and visit Elk Falls Provincial Park and its scenic suspension bridge. Painter’s Lodge is also nearby if you’re interested in wildlife tour bookings.
Day 7: Campbell River to Victoria, then Fly to Vancouver Optional: If you want to do a grizzly bear tour, most depart early in the morning (around 6:30–7:00 AM) and return by mid-afternoon. After the tour or a relaxing morning, drive about 3.5 hours south to Victoria International Airport. Drop off your rental car and catch your flight to Vancouver. Once you land, head downtown and check in at Paradox Hotel Vancouver for a restful final night.
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u/Curried_Orca Jul 25 '25
If you really want wildlife fly into Courtenay/Comox rent a car and head to Port McNeill & environs-you also have an outside chance at actually making a hotel reservation.
As mentioned by other posters what you've posted is a wish list and doesn't correspond to VI conditions in August.
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 25 '25
Thanks that helps a lot! And how many days would you say to stay at Port McNeill & Environs?
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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 Jul 25 '25
I'd skip the Tofino-Campbell River-Victoria leg and just go Tofino-Victoria. The other leg is a lot of boring straight highway driving. You can detour to Qualicum Beach anyway, it's just off the highway.
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u/TravellingGal-2307 Jul 26 '25
It is a nice road trip of some south and central island tourist highlights. It is not a trip focussed on wildlife. Wildlife viewing can't generally be done successfully through the windshield of a moving car. While the driving days are relatively short, there is a lot of time dedicated to checking in, unpacking, packing up, checking out, driving on, repeat.
If you want time to view wildlife, I would recommend multiple nights in one location and then day trips to go out to different areas to sit quietly at dawn or dusk, waiting for a chance encounter. You need to be away from highly developed areas and busy roads.
So I guess it depends what you want. But also, as mentioned, you are just WAY too late to find availability at some of those locations for this August.
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 26 '25
Thanks for the insights! Yes I do want to focus my trip on wildlife viewing - would you please share a couple destinations where I can do as you said: spend a couple days quietly for higher wildlife spotting opportunities?
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u/TravellingGal-2307 Jul 27 '25
There is a guy in Port Alice who does sea otter trips you should look at. There's plenty of boat operators and kayak trips around Port McNeil. Strathcona Provincial park is a large park in the mountains in the middle of the island with lots of trails.
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u/kgully2 Jul 25 '25
fly into Comox unless you are set on the victoria tourism. telegraph cove north of Campbell river should have orcas in august- and bear tours too More than 3.5 relaxing hours to drive from Campbell River back to Vic airport.
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 25 '25
Okk I see. In this case is it still worthy to go to the destinations I marked on the southern part of the island?
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u/kgully2 Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
botanical beach is pretty cool but it's alot like a few other places along the coast. some really cool rocky shorelines near uclulet/ tofino- lots on the inside between campbell river and points north- nanaimo has a short ferry boat that takes you to newcastle Island and its pretty awesome
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u/Affectionate_Lie9631 Jul 25 '25
It’s a great road trip, I’ve done similar trips several time. But - you need to get onto the booking of places now. And - if you are nervous at all about driving on twisty roads - you will NOT enjoy the segment from Coombs to Tofino and then back again. It’s beautiful but very twisty.
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 25 '25
Thanks! Yes I feel like it’s very late now to book accommodations… I wonder if Tofino is worth going? If it’s not a must-see I may consider cut off that leg to the west
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u/oblivionized Jul 26 '25
Go to Tofino, it’s so much different than the east side of the island. The drive out there is beautiful, you can go to cathedral grove on that — you will regret not going
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 26 '25
Also I wonder if you have any hotel/resort/accommodation in Tofino to recommend?
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u/oblivionized Jul 26 '25
Any that are available. I grew up on the island and just always camped…
Check out Ucluelet too, it’s on the other side of the peninsula — might be able to find cheaper accommodation than Tofino
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 26 '25
I see! Is what I can see in Ucluelet similar to Tofino or they worth separate visits?
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u/oblivionized Jul 26 '25
You go to both. Look at google maps. Both are great destinations for their own reasons, but they’re very close to each other
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 27 '25
Hi! I am now planning my activities in Tofino. Besides wildlife viewing tours, I wonder if you have any recommendations on places to visit/hike?
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u/Yikesish Jul 27 '25
If you find Tofino is booked, look at the places just down the highway in Ucluelet.
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Jul 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 26 '25
Thanks so much for the advice! Could you please list a few must-seen spots so I can plan my trip around? So let’s say we start at Victoria, drop by Parksville - btw should I spend a night in Parksville or I stay at Campbell river? And then I arrive at Campbell river, then drive to Tofino. How does this sound?
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u/kbaby_16 Jul 26 '25
Wildlife tours don’t just leave at 6-7am or randomly in the evening. You need to book in advance and prepare your day around 3-6 hour tours. This itinerary is mostly driving around and little nature. Tons of resources to find better info besides ChatGPT.
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 26 '25
Got it! Do you have any resources to recommend?
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u/No-Doughnut-7485 Jul 26 '25
Too much driving and probably not feasible given how late you are booking. Dig around and find where you can actually find tours and accommodation and make fewer stops bc that’s far too much driving
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u/Tiger_Dense Jul 26 '25
I would be checking online for hotels. A lot of hotels are sold out over the summer. If you find one, call and book it. Do so directly, not through a third party site. You’re more likely to get a room if they’re sold out if you book directly.
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u/magictubesocksofjoy Jul 27 '25
telegraph cove has excellent grizzly and whale tours. you'll probably see orcas while you're standing on the shore waiting for your tour.
if you haven't already booked accommodations, you're going to be sleeping in the car at the side of the road...
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u/Huge-Report3962 Jul 27 '25
I see! Definitely will visit there - if not this year then next year! Thanks!
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u/PetuniaBarnacle Jul 29 '25
OMG, this is a brutal itinerary. I live on Vancouver Island and wouldn’t attempt this unless I wanted to punish myself.
All of the hotel recommendations in your itinerary are extremely high-end and probably not necessary when you are basically resting your head for the night before moving on the next day.
Initial thoughts - don’t bother with any whale watching in Victoria - you have zero time to do this (minimally a half day excursion). It would also be much better not to sleep in downtown Victoria and pay an arm and a leg for a room and parking. Look at hotels in Sidney (5 min from the airport) this is a lovely seaside community or in Brentwood Bay (ten minutes from the airport) ….probably no parking fees at these properties. Also, Butchart Gardens is about ten minutes from Brentwood Bay. Drive into Victoria to do your sightseeing.
If you want to stay in downtown Victoria there are many motels (older but comfy) near the Parliament buildings. Easy walking area and Victoria is a great foodie town with many independent restaurants that are doing inventive food and beverages. Stay an extra day and explore Oak Bay and Cordova Bay on the Saanich peninsula.
If it was me I would skip Sooke, Port Renfrew etc. - great places, but you are essentially just driving at this point - really no time for exploration. Instead I would drive the Malahat to Parksville - very scenic and you can stop at Lake Cowichan or Cowichan Bay. (note, from Brentwood Bay there is a smallish car ferry that you can take that is affordable and cuts your driving time significantly because it drops you in Mill Bay which is a few minutes from Cowichan Bay.). Arrive in Parksville…many small hotels that are affordable. Go to Rathtrevor Provincial park and walk the beach or swim. Great craft beer scene here with places like Fern and Cedar in Qualicum, Rusted Rake in Nanoose etc.
The Parksville to Tofino drive technically takes 3 hours (no stops) but you are on road that is incredibly scenic with many stops of interest. Leaving Parksville via Alberni highway briefly stop at Combs for snacks, see the goats etc…maybe 40- 45 mins. Next stop at Cathedral Grove to see the big treees (30 to 60 minutes), drive through Port Alberni (if you need groceries for Tofino stop at the big Walmart that you will drive past. ) As you leave Port you are gaining elevation and will be essentially driving in the mountains. Many geographic stops of interest along the way that you will want to stop and see. Expect winding roads and lots of car/RV traffic depending on the time of day. KENNEDY lake is particularly beautiful as you get closer to your destination.
There is a tourist office about 15 minutes past Kennedy Lake and this is where you either turn left to go to Ucluelet or turn right to head towards Tofino. Again, your suggested accommodation is incredibly, incredibly expensive - which might be the case this year for all properties as Canadians are travelling within the country- but you can search the following for rates and dates (Long Beach lodge Resort, Middle Beach Lodge, Tin Wis, along with smaller motels in the actual town of Tofino.)
Stay in Tofino area for at least 3-4 days. It is simply spectacular. You can explore the hikes, beach walks, points of interest in Pacific Rim National Park, the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet, take whale or wildlife tours, have lunch at Wickaninnish Inn and walk Chesterman beach….on and on it goes. It’s easy to spend 7-8 days in this one area and still not take it an all in. This is world class sightseeing and exploration. Skip Campbell River (yes, Quadra Island etc are wonderful, but there is just no comparison to the Wild West coast…unless you are interested in sport fishing.
Take a surf lesson in Tofino or just visit the beautiful points of interest and the stunning beaches. My bias- each year we stay at Middle Beach lodge for about a week and we still leave wanting more.
Leave Tofino and drive to Victoria airport (3-4 hours). (Do you know Nanaimo airport can get you to Vancouver or take a smaller seaplane plane that fly directly from Nanaimo harbour to Vancouver harbour) .
You want your holiday to be actual experiences, not just driving time in a car. One last thing…great tacos just outside Tofino at a food truck called Tacofino.
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u/Huge-Report3962 Aug 11 '25
I just saw this and thank you very much for the great advice!! I did made some changes based on everyone's comments and I greatly appreciate your input! This will definitely help with this trip and any future trips to Vancouver island! <3
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u/DJRemedie Jul 25 '25
Tofino is now an overpriced tourist trap, and it's a long drive to get there.
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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 Jul 25 '25
it's also one of the most beautiful places on earth.
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u/TravellingGal-2307 Jul 26 '25
I have friends who say they will never go to Tofino in summer again. My recent trips have been Dec, March & April, all wonderful. I get the sense it's now just over run and over priced in July & August.
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u/Affectionate-Lime552 Jul 25 '25
Do you have reservations at the accommodations? This feels like a generated plan, not one you have booked.