Canada / British Columbia
Campervan Rental British Columbia Ocean, Rainforest and Mountain Passes
British Columbia is Canada's most diverse campervan province. Pacific Ocean coastline, old-growth rainforest, alpine peaks, desert-like Okanagan wine country and access to the Rockies — all in one province. Vancouver is the main depot city with all three fleet companies plus strong peer-to-peer options. Fraserway RV is headquartered in BC and knows these roads better than anyone.
BC Rental Options
| Platform | Pricing (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Canada | $150-$375/night | Burnaby (Vancouver) depot, largest fleet |
| CanaDream | $140-$375/night | Newer vehicles, good service reputation |
| Fraserway RV | $130-$350/night | BC-based, Abbotsford depot, western Canada focus |
| RVshare | $100-$300/night | Good campervan selection from local owners |
| Outdoorsy | $110-$325/night | Growing BC inventory |
Best Road Trips in BC
Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler
125 km along Howe Sound from Vancouver. 2-3 days with stops. Shannon Falls (335m waterfall right off the highway), the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in Squamish, Brandywine Falls and Whistler Village. Alice Lake Provincial Park ($35 CAD/night) is the best campground on the route. Continue north to Pemberton for quieter backcountry. The highway is well-maintained but busy on summer weekends — leave Vancouver early.
Vancouver Island
BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (1.5 hours). 5-10 days for the full island. Victoria for the Inner Harbour and Butchart Gardens. Up-island through Nanaimo to Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park — surfing, old-growth rainforest and storm watching (November-February). Cathedral Grove has 800-year-old Douglas firs. Green Point campground in Pacific Rim books months ahead. North of Campbell River gets wilder — Port Hardy and the Inside Passage ferry to Prince Rupert. Ferry reservations for campervans are essential in summer — book at bcferries.com 2 months ahead. A 7m campervan costs $80-$120 CAD one-way.
Okanagan Valley
400 km east from Vancouver via the Coquihalla Highway. 4-7 days. Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon — lake towns surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Lake Okanagan has dozens of provincial park campgrounds with beach access ($35 CAD/night). Wine tasting along the Naramata Bench — 30+ wineries in 20 km. The Coquihalla is a mountain highway — steep grades and snow possible into June. Okanagan summers hit 35°C+ with lake swimming every day. Semi-desert climate means warm evenings and reliable sunshine.
Sunshine Coast
Two ferry hops from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, Earls Cove to Saltery Bay). 3-5 days. Uncrowded compared to Vancouver Island. Gibsons, Sechelt and Powell River are small coastal towns with kayaking, hiking and craft breweries. Skookumchuck Narrows has tidal rapids you can watch from shore. Desolation Sound Marine Park (boat access or drive to Okeover Arm) has warm clear water and some of BC's best kayaking. Campgrounds $25-$40 CAD/night. The ferry connections create a natural circuit.
BC Camping Tips
- → BC Parks booking is competitive. Discover Camping (discovercamping.ca) opens reservations 2 months ahead. Popular sites sell out on the first day. Set alarms. Backcountry and recreation sites are often first-come-first-served and free — the iOverlander app maps them.
- → Rain on the coast, sun in the interior. Vancouver gets 160+ rainy days. The coast is wet October through April. Okanagan, Kamloops and the Cariboo are semi-arid — reliably dry and hot in summer. Interior BC is a completely different climate from the coast.
- → Bear country everywhere. Black bears are common throughout BC. Grizzlies in the interior and north. Store food in your vehicle (not outside). Cook at designated areas away from your sleeping spot. Bear spray is recommended for hiking — available at Canadian Tire and outdoor stores.
- → Mountain passes require preparation. The Coquihalla, Rogers Pass and Highway 97C (the Okanagan Connector) cross mountain summits. Snow is possible into June and starting again in September at higher elevations. Winter tires are legally required October 1 to April 30 on most BC mountain highways. Fleet rental companies equip vehicles accordingly.
- → One-way to Calgary. All three fleet companies offer one-way between Vancouver and Calgary ($200-$500 CAD). The Trans-Canada route east through Kamloops, Revelstoke, Golden, Yoho and into Banff is 970 km of incredible mountain driving. Worth the one-way fee to avoid backtracking.
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