To reach Tofino by car from the British Columbia mainland, you'll first need to take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay, or Tsawwassen, to Nanaimo. The Horseshoe Bay terminal is north of Vancouver and this ferry route takes just under 2 hours while the Tsawwassen terminal is south of the city, closer to the USA border and it takes just a little over 2 hours. The Horseshoe Bay ferry arrives at the Departure Bay terminal in Nanaimo while the Tsawwassen ferry arrives at the Duke Point terminal just about 15 minutes south of the city.
Driving from Nanaimo:
Your overall travel time from Nanaimo to Tofino will range between 2.5 and 3 hours.
- Travel north on Highway 19 for 43 km (26 miles),
- Take Exit 60 onto Highway 4 ( also known as the Pacific Rim Highway ) heading west for 156 km (97 miles). You will drive through spectacular Cathedral Grove, historic Port Alberni (drive straight downhill and turn right at the junction/river... you will want to fill up your gas tank here), and on the winding road around Sproat and Kennedy Lakes. You will also drive through scenic Sutton Pass, at an altitude of 250m (850 feet) - where we especially recommend heeding to the speed limit. Travel westward until you come to the junction between Tofino and Ucluelet.
- Turn right at the Tofino/Ucluelet junction and drive north towards Tofino for 28 km (17 miles). Continue right through the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve toward Tofino.
- Once you exit the Park, it will be an approximate ten minute drive to Tofino. We'll see you soon!
Driving from the Comox Valley Airport:
Your overall travel time from the Comox Valley Airport to Tofino will be approximately 3 hours.
- Turn right at the airport entrance onto Knight Road.
- Turn right at the intersection onto Military Row (drive approximately 2 kms).
- At the next stop sign, turn left onto Ryan Road.
- Continue on Ryan Road (past Home Depot and down the hill), watching for signs indicating Nanaimo.
- Turn left just past the Superstore complex following the road to the 17th St bridge, where you will turn right.
- While on the bridge, get into the left hand turning lanes.
- Turn left onto Cliffe Avenue, and continue to follow signage that will direct you to turn right onto the 29th St connector.
- After turning right onto the connector, continue until you see signs that direct you to Highway 19 southbound toward Nanaimo.
- Once on Highway 19 South, watch for signs pointing you to Highway 4 West toward Port Alberni/Pacific Rim National Park Reserve/Tofino, and exit in this direction.
- Once on Highway 4, you will drive through spectacular Cathedral Grove, historic Port Alberni (drive straight downhill and turn right at the junction/river... you will want to fill up your gas tank here), and on the winding road around Sproat and Kennedy Lakes. You will also drive through scenic Sutton Pass, at an altitude of 250m (850 feet) - where we especially recommend heeding to the speed limit. Travel westward until you come to the junction between Tofino and Ucluelet.
- Turn right at the Tofino/Ucluelet junction and drive north towards Tofino for 28 km
(17 miles). Continue right through the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve toward Tofino. - Once you exit the Park, it will be an approximate ten minute drive to Tofino. We'll see you soon!
Here are some of our suggestions for making this route all the more scenic:
- Stop by the Coombs Country Market to pick up some fresh fruit and cheese (or baked goodies) for the drive - and to see the goats on its roof. Yes, you did indeed read correctly - goats graze on the roof. You will see the signs for Coombs right after turning onto Highway 4 West from Highway 19. Watch for the Alpacas grazing in the fields, too.Turn left at the traffic lights and the market will soon appear on your right.
- Once you've seen the goats and picked up your snacks, you will continue on Highway 4 for around 16 km, and will drive past Cameron Lake and through an area of old-growth trees called Cathedral Grove. This patch of ancient rainforest is protected as a provincial park, and you can park in a lot right off the road and walk one of its designated trails. And enjoy that cheese you purchased.
- When driving through the former logging hotspot of Port Alberni, you will get to a junction at the river with an indication to turn right to continue toward Tofino/Ucluelet on Highway 4. Before turning, note the two tall wooden sculptures facing you across the road. We think they're beautiful as welcome figures of the resident Tseshaht First Nations.