Driving Vancouver to Whistler in winter: what to know

The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is one of the most beautiful in Canada. In winter it is also a mountain highway, and it pays to know what you are getting into.

The route

Whistler is about 120 km north of Vancouver on Highway 99, better known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The road leaves the city over the Lions Gate Bridge, follows the shore of Howe Sound to Squamish, roughly halfway, and then climbs through the Coast Mountains to Whistler.

From Vancouver International Airport, add the drive through the city to the start of the highway.

Winter tire rules

Winter tires are required on the Sea-to-Sky Highway from October 1 to March 31. Tires marked with the mountain and snowflake symbol, or M+S tires with at least 3.5 mm of tread, meet the requirement. Police can turn back drivers without them and issue a fine.

A trip that starts in Vancouver rain can meet snow and ice an hour later.

Conditions change quickly with elevation, so check DriveBC for road conditions and highway webcams before you leave.

How long it takes

In good conditions the drive takes around two hours from downtown Vancouver. Snow, accidents and heavy traffic can stretch that considerably, especially on Friday afternoons, weekends and holidays, when much of the city heads north at once.

Tips for the drive

• Leave early, or travel mid-week if you can.
• Check DriveBC before setting off and again in Squamish.
• Keep the fuel tank topped up and carry warm layers.
• Build in time for a stop: Shannon Falls and the Sea to Sky Gondola are right beside the highway.

Leaving the driving to someone else

Many visitors would rather spend those two hours looking at the view than at the road. A private Vancouver to Whistler transfer collects you at YVR or your hotel in a winter-ready vehicle and drives you straight to your door in Whistler.