Driving Directions to Whistler

 Vancouver to Whistler Highway Map

From Vancouver International Airport (YVR) travel time is about 2.5 hrs.

 Tourism Whistler Sea to Sky highway
  1. Depart the airport along the main boulevard, heading east.  The road takes you over the Arthur Lang Bridge.
  2. On the bridge, bear right and take the Granville St. exit ramp.
  3. Travel north on Granville St. and onto the Granville St. Bridge.
  4. Bear right and exit on the Seymour St. ramp.
  5. Travel north on Seymour St., past Robson St. to Georgia St.   The Hudson’s Bay Co. is on the northwest corner.
  6. Turn left (west) onto Georgia St.  Pass the Hudson's Bay Co. on your right.
  7. Continue west on Georgia St., which ends in a sweeping turn into the Stanley Park Causeway.  A small lake and fountain lies just beyond the end of Georgia, on the left of the turn into the park.
  8. Continue north on the Causeway, through Stanley Park, and over the Lions Gate Bridge (First Narrows).
  9. Bear left (center lane) at the north end of the bridge and take the exit that takes you straight ahead.  This passes over Marine Drive, sweeps around to the right and then joins Marine Drive, heading west.  The road immediately passes over the Capilano River.
  10. Immediately after, turn right at the traffic lights and proceed north up a steep hill which is Taylor Way.
  11. Shortly beyond the crest of the hill there are two traffic lights, one on each side of an overpass.  Pass under the overpass and turn left at the second light onto a ramp that rises to join the “Upper Levels Highway”. This is Hwy 99 North.  You will continue on Hwy 99 to Whistler.
  12. Hwy 99 proceeds west to Horseshoe Bay where it branches to the north, the main road continuing to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.  Watch for Exit Ramp 2, which branches to the north (right), to Squamish and Whistler.
  13. Prior to 2010, there will be considerable highway construction north of Horseshoe Bay, extending right to Whistler. Many sections are already complete.  Check here for construction delays .    Note that speeding tickets won in construction zones are very costly.    
  14. Landmarks just south of Squamish are Shannon Falls on your right and, north of the falls, the Stawamus Chief, a popular rock climbing area.
  15. There are gas stations, food markets and restaurants in Squamish and at Garabaldi Highlands, which is 8 min north of Squamish.  There is nothing beyond Garabaldi Highlands until Whistler, which is 45 minutes north.
  16. Watch for a viewpoint overlooking the Tantlus mountain range, about 10 min north of Garabaldi Highlands.  You cannot turn left into the viewpoint.  Instead, turn right onto a paved side road located at the end of a long straight stretch following the crest of a steep hill.  Follow the side-road up a short rise and park.  Walk to the edge of the rock, overlooking the highway.  On a clear day, the view is spectacular.  Note:  an early morning departure from Whistler on a sunny day provides wonderful views of these mountains as the rays from the rising sun strike the peaks.
  17. About 30 minutes north of the Tantlus lookout, a “Welcome to Whistler” sign will be passed at Function Junction, a commercial area south of Whistler.  If needed, there are hardware and auto parts stores located here.  You have now reached the base of Whistler Mountain.
  18. A few km beyond Function Junction, pass through a traffic light at the “Bayshores” subdivision.
  19. Shortly after Bayshores, you arrive at Creekside and a traffic light at Lake Placid Road.  The only  gas station in Whistler is located on the NW corner and the Creekside Parkade is visible beyond the NE corner.
  20. Volunteers with accommodation at the Whistler Resort and Club should turn left (west) and proceed about 300 meters to Hoz’s Restaurant.  Turn into the parking area on the near (east) side of Hoz’s.
  21. Continue north of Creekside past Whistler Road , Alta Vista, a traffic light at Blueberry Drive and Brio to the traffic light at Whistler Village.
  22. Continue north of Whistler Village to pass Whistler Cay Heights on the left.  Continue through the traffic lights at Lorimer Road and the flashing light at Nesters Road, where the Nesters Food Market is located.
  23. Volunteers with accommodation at the Riverside Campground will continue on Hwy 99 past Nesters for about 600 meters to the next traffic light.  Turn right onto Blackcomb Way and then left onto Mons Road to access the Campground
  24. Continue north on Hwy 99 to cross over the railway at Mons and pass the Municipal Recreation Center on the left.  About 400 meters beyond the Rec. Center is a traffic light at Alpine Way, the first entrance to the Alpine Meadows subdivision.
  25. Continue through the traffic light at Alpine Way to pass the second entrance to Alpine Meadows and proceed north another 5 minutes to reach the Emerald Estates subdivision of Whistler, which has two entrances off Hwy 99.  Emerald Estates is the most northerly residential area of Whistler.
  26. Next stop is Pemberton , about 25 minutes north.