6 Road Trips To The US From BC That You Have To Add To Your Bucket List This Year

It's time to start planning 🗺️

A woman standing on a car with her arms spread out. Right: a woman next to a rocky monument.

A woman standing on a car with her arms spread out. Right, a woman next to a rocky monument.

Editor

If you're an intrepid explorer itching to pack your bags, there are lots of road trips that start in Canada but travel all over the U.S.

B.C. is super close to the U.S., making it easy to visit our neighbours in the south when you want a change of scenery (or a trip to Target).

Here are some amazing road trips from B.C. that are close to the U.S. border so you can take a quick trip.

Victoria to Seattle

Time: Three hours to the border, 5 hours total

Why You Need To Go: The main reason I want to go to Seattle is for the Grey's Anatomy tour. If you're not a die-hard Grey's fan like me though, the city is full of vibrant culture, cool coffee houses and grunge music. You can catch a Seahawks game during the season, and take a trip to Pike Place Market.

Abbotsford to Montana

Time: 20 minutes to the border, 14 hours total

Why You Need To Go: Get that Rocky Mountain trip in by going to Montana. The long trip is made easier with beautiful views, and parks to stop at along the way. Bring a pair of cowboy boots and embrace your inner country. If you're into the outdoors and looking for a nature vacay, this is the trip for you.

Surrey to San Francisco

Time: 30 minutes to the border, 15 hours total.

Why You Need To Go: Although the trip is long, there are so many things to do in San Francisco. It's also an epic road trip along the coast, with tons of cute towns along the way to stop in at. Once you're there, check out the Golden Gate Bridge, hang out at the waterfront, or try to escape from Alcatraz. There are also an amazing amount of vintage stores there, so bring your wallet!

Whistler to Olympia

Time: Two hours to the border, five hours total.

Why You Need To Go: It will take you two hours to reach the U.S. border from Whistler, but the drive is classic beautiful B.C. scenery. Once you make the trip over to Washington state, you're in for an amazing journey. There are a ton of cool towns you can go to, including Olympia which is the capital. It has museums, breathtaking landscapes and cool farmers' markets.

Vancouver to Las Vegas 

Time: An hour to the border, 19 hours total.

Why You Need To Go: If you're desperate for a super fun vacay, then you might be willing to make this drive. Vegas gives you that sun you're probably missing in B.C., and basically guarantees a fun time.

Kelowna to Yellowstone National Park

Time: Two hours to the border, 13 hours total.

Why You Need To Go: Yellowstone basically speaks for itself. It's a stunning park in Wyoming with dramatic canyons, hot springs, waterfalls and wildlife. You won't be disappointed if you make the trek there.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Editor

    Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. She got her start working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, then joined Narcity with a move to B.C., leading the launch of West Coast coverage. Her focus now is managing a large group of freelance writers, bringing human-forward and opinion content to the site.

You're not a true Ontarian unless you've been to at least 5 of these 12 natural wonders

How many of these have you crossed off your Ontario bucket list?

I moved to Toronto and here's what locals don't realize about their own city

Torontonians... bag milked is not a thing anywhere else.

I left Toronto for Vancouver and nobody warned me about these 9 culture shocks

We might be in the same country, but it doesn't feel like it sometimes.