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Lexx's avatar
Lexx
Explorer
Apr 25, 2019

Vancouver, B.C. to Whitehorse via Vancouver Island?

Getting a very late start in planning this year for our summer trip. I'm thinking of taking our 34 ft fifth wheel from Vancouver, B.C. over to Victoria on Vancouver Island via the B.C. Ferries from Tsawassen to Nanaimo.

From there we'd head north via route 19A on the east side of the island, stopping along the way as we make our way up to Campbell River.

From Campbell River we'd continue on 19 all the way up to Port Hardy, where we'd board another ferry to Prince Rupert. This is the one ferry fare that gives me pause as the fare schedule shows it will be approx $1400 for our family of 5 and the truck/trailer. Ugh! But hey, it's an adventure right?

From Prince Rupert we'd head to the interior of B.C. via highway 16 to Kitwanga. From there it's on the Yukon, where we connect with highway 1 up to Whitehorse.

We start back south along a more interior B.C. route via highway 97 to Fort Nelson, then down to Dawson Creek.

From there it's southwest on highway 97 to Prince George, 100 Mile House. We eventually hit highway 1 on the way back to Vancouver.

Here's a website with the first part of our journey:
Crazy wonderous but hopefully not impossible

So has anyone done this trip? Is it even possible? I'm worried most about driving up Vancouver island. I remember going to Tofino from Nanaimo and how some of the turns were quite sharp. I'm not sure a truck pulling a 34 ft trailer would have made those turns. I don't recall height restrictions but there may have been some.

Recommendations?

Thanks.
  • I have made that trip and the roads on the island are very good. I stayed on the East side of the island and had no problems with the road at all. I took the ferry from Port Hardy to Bella Coola. Then up the Hill to the mainland fun trip.
  • The main highway up the island is freeway all the way to Campbell River, fast and easy, but far enough inland that you miss all the seaside sights and businesses along the old coastal road. There are the usual exits and access roads.

    North of there population and traffic drops off significantly. There's a bit of a pass, but no tight or curvy sections. The main business, until it returns to the coast, is logging.

    I've mainly used provincial parks for camping and sight seeing.