The province of British Columbia in Canada is also called ‘Beautiful British Columbia’, and the stunning and diverse landscape of BC truly does justice to its title. There is everything from the misty Pacific West coast, to the largest ski resort in North America, to hundreds of lakes, many still unexplored and hidden in the vast stretches of rain forest to the only desert in all of Canada.
Being a nature lover, I feel blessed to live in this beautiful part of Canada! There is so much to see and explore in the Canadian wilderness, and the best way to do this is to take a road trip across the province. This summer, I took an almost 5-hour road trip to Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley – the region of wineries and one of the largest lakes, the Okanagan lake of BC. To top it up, I planned to turn it into a camping road trip to the Okanagan!
Here’s how you can make the most of a camping road trip from Vancouver to Kelowna.
P.S.: Don’t have time to read the full post? Use the content table to navigate to things to do in Kelowna.
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Driving to Kelowna
The drive from Vancouver to Kelowna is almost 375km long. It roughly takes about 4.5 to 5 hours depending on the route and the number of pitstops you take along the route. The journey starts from Hwy 1, which then converges to Hwy 5 before finally merging with Hwy 97. The entire route is well-paved with plenty of pullover spots for a gas top-up, a quick snack, and a bathroom break.
There are tons of pitstops for sightseeing along the way. If it is your first time taking a road trip from Vancouver to Kelowna, I recommend only stopping at a few popular spots without detaining.
Best Places To See on Vancouver to Kelowna Road Trip
Langley
One of the last places within the boundaries of Metro Vancouver is the township of Langley. The quintessential town is quite popular for Fort Langley, a national historic site of Canada. The block around Fort Langley is filled with boutique cafes and restaurants and the area gets quite busy during the weekends.
Harrison Hot Springs
As you drive outside of Metro Vancouver towards Kelowna, a popular pit stop along the way is the Harrison Hot Springs. Only the guests staying at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort can access the five mineral pools, however, there is a public beach park with a handful of restaurants and ice cream shops to enjoy the view and take a swim in Harrison lake.
Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park
Just a few minutes’ drive further from the Harrison Hot Springs is the Bridal Veil Falls provincial park. The Bridal Veil Falls is one of my favorite falls in BC and it can be reached by a very short 15mins walk from the parking lot.
Hope
Hope is the last city you will drive by on Hwy 1 before starting the next leg of the road trip to Kelowna, which makes it a great spot for a quick snack and stretch break. There isn’t much to see and do in Hope, so most travelers just stop here for a break.
Merritt
Merritt is the largest city in the Nicola Valley, and this is where the landscape on the road trip from Vancouver to Kelowna starts to change. The city lies in the southern central part of the province and the land here is quite dry than Vancouver. Visiting Merritt will require a detour from the highway but it can be visited if you have extra days on your itinerary. Some of the best places to visit in Merritt are Harmon Lake, Nicola Lake, and the Wall of Star Murals.
There are a few other cities to add to the Vancouver to Kelowna road trip like Vernon, Lake Country, and Osoyoos. I wanted to spend more time camping in Kelowna so I skipped those cities and continued my drive toward Kelowna
Best Places to Visit in Kelowna
Okanagan Lake
The best part about visiting Kelowna is that you get to see a massive and stunning lake from almost everywhere in the city as you drive by. The city of Kelowna is built around the huge Okanagan lake which covers an area of 351 km square. There are parks and beaches around the lake, and many water activities to do as well. I rented a kayak from the LakeSurf Premier Rentals office that is built right on the lake. The rental options include kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, jet skis, and yachts.
Gellatly Bay Park
One of the parks with the best views of Okanagan Lake is Gellatly Bay Park. Directly facing the massive lake and the mountains that surround it, Gellatly Bay Park is an ideal picnic spot to relax after a long drive from Vancouver to Kelowna. It was my first stop in Kelowna where I enjoyed my lunch with the views of the lake.
Quail’s Gate Winery
Visiting wineries is one of the most popular things to do in Kelowna. With over forty wineries in the lakeside city, you will never be able to cover all the wineries in just one trip. As I don’t drink, I choose to visit the winery with the best views. Overlooking the Okanagan Lake, Quail’s Gate Winery has stunning views of vineyards with the lake in the background. There is a restaurant with a patio onsite and options for self-guided and guided tours of the winery.
Knox Mountain
Located right in the heart of the city, Knox mountain is a very popular spot for hiking and sightseeing. There are many trails leading up the mountain and you can opt to hike all the way up from the first parking spot at the bottom of the mountain. I drove up to a scenic spot overlooking the city and though the place was quite busy, the city view was breathtaking!
Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park is the best place to visit in Kelowna during summer. Situated in the city center, the park has plenty of recreational areas with views of Okanagan Lake. It is an ideal place to stroll, have a picnic and even hike on the winding trails to the Rotary Marshes wildlife park. The trail is also a great place to spot herons, beavers, and eagles.
Mount Boucherie
Mount Boucherie in West Kelowna is a moderate to difficult hike with a 275 meters elevation in three hours. The trail is almost 6km in length out and back but it can be strenuous for novice hikers. The mountain is an extinct volcano. Several trails and parts on the mountain are easy and can be done with kids as well.
Bear Creek Provincial Park
A lakeside camping beach close to the city, the Bear Creek Provincial Park was my first camping choice. Situated on the west side of Okanagan Lake, there are many camping sites but it requires campsite reservation from BC Parks. The campsites at the park get booked pretty quickly so get yours reserved months in advance, especially during the weekends. The park has a small 400 meters of sandy beach area and 5km of marked hiking trails. The beach is not exclusive for the campers so it can get busy and noisy on some days during the afternoon hours.
Fintry Provincial Park
A short 40mins drive away from the city, Fintry Provincial Park is an ideal camping spot away from the crowd and noises of the city. The drive to the park from Kelowna downtown is a scenic winding road perched between the mountain and a park of the Okanagan Lake. I chose to camp here for the quiet, serene, and away-from-city camping experience, and it turned out to be a great decision! There are plenty of campsites in the park, and separate lots for RV/campervans and small cars/single tents. The park is listed on BC Parks and all the campsite reservations go through there. There is a boat launch ramp too at the park, which is a great perk of camping here!
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