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directions
- Seattle through Vancouver
Whistler is about a four to five-hour drive from Seattle, with the trip
to Vancouver taking about three hours, and the Vancouver
Whistler leg
about two hours, depending on road and traffic conditions.
The trip north from
Seattle, along the Interstate 5 or I-5, to the U.S.-Canada Douglas
Border crossing (Peace Arch) is about 176 kilometers or 100 miles.
Border crossing times vary according to the day and time, with weekends
seeing more line-ups.
Drivers have
two traveling options before hitting the U.S.-Canada border, depending on
whether they want a scenic trip through the City of Vancouver, or a quick
one that avoids all the traffic hot spots.
Quick
Route
During heavy peak traffic times
travelers can take the alternate Truck Border crossing by using Exit 275,
off of I-5, before getting to the main Douglas Border crossing.
Drivers can then follow the
Pacific Highway (also known as 176th Street or Hwy 15) through Surrey,
over the Cloverdale Bypass to Hwy 1 (the Trans Canada Highway).
Exit onto Hwy. 1,
travelling west, and follow the highway out of Surrey, over the Port-Mann
Bridge, through Port Coquitlam, Burnaby and East Vancouver.
Hwy. 1 then travels over
the Ironworkers' Memorial Second Narrows Bridge, through North and West
Vancouver toward Horseshoe Bay. Before Horseshoe Bay, Whistler-bound
drivers will take the Squamish - Whistler exit (#0 or 1), onto Hwy. 99
North, also known as the Sea to Sky Highway.
scenic
option through vancouver
Once in Canada, after going
through the Douglas Border crossing, I-5 becomes Highway 99 which travels
north into Vancouver. The trip will take you through the Massey Tunnel and
over the Oak Street Bridge.
Once across the Oak Street
Bridge, you will notice that cross streets will all be numbered in
descending order from 73rd St. down.
When you reach the 41st
Street intersection turn left and travel west until you see the next major
intersection - Granville Street.
Turn right and head north
on Granville, which will lead you over the Granville Street Bridge into
downtown Vancouver.
While on the bridge, shift
over to the far right lane and take the Seymour Street exit. Travel north
on Seymour, until you hit Georgia Street, and turn left.
Georgia Street will take
you out of downtown Vancouver, through Stanley Park and over the Lions
Gate bridge .
Whistler-bound travellers
will circle around and exit via the Marine Drive West turnoff.
Once on Marine Drive, get
in the right-hand lane, as you will be making the first right onto Taylor
Way.
After travelling up the
Taylor Way hill, turn left onto Highway 1 West, and follow the signs to
Whistler via Highway 99.
directions
- horseshoe bay to whistler
Once on Hwy 99 North, past Horseshoe Bay, the
trip to Whistler is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on road
conditions.
Take your time as you will
pass by several lakes, towns and view points along the way. The
communities you will pass through include: Britannia Beach, Squamish
(considered the halfway point), and Brackendale.
winter driving
It is recommended that your car is
equipped with proper snow/winter tires for the drive from Horseshoe Bay to
Whistler. If you have all-season tires, please carry chains and know how
to put them on.
highway
regulations
Use of seatbelts in BC by drivers and
passengers is mandatory. Use of headlights during daylight on all vehicles
is highly recommended. The maximum speed limit on Highway 99 is 80 km per
hour with many slower areas along the way.
metric
equivalent
All highway signs are posted in metric.30 mph = 50 kph, 50 mph = 80 kph
Gasoline is sold in litres: 1 US gallon = 3.78 litres
1 kilometre = 5/8 or .621 miles, 1 mile = 2/3
or 1.6 kilometres
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