Getting around · Whistler · Canada
Getting around Whistler
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Clarisse Baudot, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Whistler's village is pedestrian-only, and the main areas are linked by the Valley Trail and frequent local buses, so most visitors do not need a car once they arrive. Getting there means the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver, a scenic but sometimes demanding mountain road. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- YVR
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Epic Pass
Ways to get around
Walking
Whistler Village, Village North and the Upper Village are linked on foot in 5–15 minutes, and both main gondolas leave from the village edge.
Bus
BC Transit's Whistler Transit System links the village with Creekside, the residential neighbourhoods and Function Junction; some routes in and around the village are free.
Check the Whistler Transit website for current free routes and schedules.
Cycling
The Valley Trail's paved paths connect lakes, parks and neighbourhoods; cruiser and e-bike rentals are available in the village.
Car
A car is useful for Squamish, Pemberton and trailheads such as Joffre Lakes, but parking in the village day lots is paid and busy.
Winter tyres or chains are legally required on the Sea-to-Sky Highway through the winter months; check DriveBC for conditions.
Taxi
Taxis operate in the village and are useful at night between Creekside and the village.
Tickets and passes
Epic Pass
Whistler Blackcomb is part of Vail Resorts' Epic Pass network, which can work out cheaper than daily tickets for longer stays.
From the airport
Most visitors fly into Vancouver International (YVR), about 135 km and 2.5 hours away. Scheduled coaches and private shuttles run from the airport and downtown Vancouver to Whistler Village; driving takes about 2–2.5 hours via the Sea-to-Sky Highway, longer in snow.
Do you need a car?
No. Once in Whistler, you can walk, ride the free and paid local buses and use the Valley Trail. Rent a car only for day trips to Squamish, Pemberton and trailheads, or to travel from Vancouver on your own schedule.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Squamish | About 45 minutes by car | Car or coach via the Sea-to-Sky Highway |
| Pemberton and Nairn Falls | About 30 minutes by car | Car via Highway 99 north |
| Joffre Lakes Provincial Park | About 1 hour by car | Car via Highway 99 through Pemberton |
| Garibaldi Lake | About 35 minutes by car, then a 9 km hike | Car to the Rubble Creek trailhead, then on foot |
| Britannia Mine Museum | About 1 hour by car | Car via the Sea-to-Sky Highway |
| Vancouver | About 2 hours by car or coach | Car or coach via the Sea-to-Sky Highway |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Whistler?
No. Once in Whistler, you can walk, ride the free and paid local buses and use the Valley Trail. Rent a car only for day trips to Squamish, Pemberton and trailheads, or to travel from Vancouver on your own schedule.
+How do you get from the airport to Whistler?
Most visitors fly into Vancouver International (YVR), about 135 km and 2.5 hours away. Scheduled coaches and private shuttles run from the airport and downtown Vancouver to Whistler Village; driving takes about 2–2.5 hours via the Sea-to-Sky Highway, longer in snow.
+What is the best way to get around Whistler?
Walking: Whistler Village, Village North and the Upper Village are linked on foot in 5–15 minutes, and both main gondolas leave from the village edge.