Vancouver is an easy city to drive in: its road system is well maintained, well marked and mild winters mean the roads are rarely affected by snow.
Car rentals are conveniently located at the airport and many other locations throughout the city. Several rental companies offer pickups from hotels and cruise ship terminals.
The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) runs from eastern Canada through Calgary, Kamloops and Hope en route to Vancouver.
Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway) is the express route from the Thompson Okanagan region, merging with Highway 1 in Hope, while Highway 3 approaches Vancouver from the south Okanagan before terminating in Hope.
Highway 99 begins at the US border (an extension of U.S Interstate 5) and heads north through Vancouver and Whistler, then northeast until it connects with Highway 97 in BC's Cariboo region.
Routes from the US
From Washington State, take the I-5 to the Douglas (Peace Arch) border crossing and then follow Highway 99 all the way to Vancouver. For more information on border crossings and additional points of entry in the region, visit the Canada Border Services Agency.
Routes to/from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast
BC Ferries provides scheduled vehicle and passenger service from Vancouver to Victoria and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, as well as to the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast.
Travelling in Winter
Highway 99 (the Sea to Sky Highway), which runs through the mountain resort of Whistler, receives ample snowfall in winter but is ploughed, sanded and salted when necessary. During winter, Highway 99 requires vehicles to have winter tires or carry chains.
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