Road Tripping Southern British Columbia

Southern British Columbia covers a swath of ever-changing scenery, from misty coastal mountains to wine country and high desert to a series of massive mountain lakes to the tall, dramatic peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the east.

One great option for a road trip is the Trans-Canada Highway, which connects all 10 provinces. In British Columbia, this road traverses from Vancouver in the west to Yoho National Park in the east, hitting some pretty incredible scenery along the way.

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park © Donyanedomam | Dreamstime

You can plan your trip using the Trans-Canada Highway website which has travel information, attractions and suggested routes and itineraries. Along the way, you’re guaranteed to pass charming small towns and myriad provincial and national parks, so that site is a great resource for figuring out which diversions are worth making time for. Highlights include the city of Kamloops, with its wineries; the lakeside town of Salmon Arm; the ski town of Revelstoke; and the western edge of the Canadian Rockies.

The road is extremely well maintained and signed; you’ll notice spots where there are signs warning drivers of no services for hundreds of kilometers which is helpful for gauging when to get gas. And note if you’re traveling between October 1 and March 31, you’ll need to have snow tires on your vehicle.