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Scenic Loop drive · British Columbia
Sunshine Coast Circle Route
A coastline you can only reach by boat, forty minutes from downtown Vancouver.
Overview
The Sunshine Coast is mainland British Columbia, but you cannot drive to it. Two BC Ferries crossings stitch Highway 101 together between Horseshoe Bay and Lund, and that small inconvenience is exactly why the coast still feels unhurried.
Highway 101 runs from Langdale, through Gibsons and Sechelt on the lower coast, to Powell River and Lund on the upper coast. Because the two halves are separated by Jervis Inlet, you plan the trip around sailings rather than kilometres — the driving itself is modest, roughly 240 km end to end as an estimate.
What you get in exchange is a string of small harbours, oyster and shellfish farms, Skookumchuck Narrows' tidal rapids, kayak launches every few kilometres, and studio galleries that open when the owner feels like it. It is one of the most relaxed multi-day drives in the province, and one of the easiest to do without a mountain-pass mindset.
Distances and driving times on this page are planning estimates measured door to door without stops. Confirm ferry sailings, seasonal road openings, park access, fuel availability and weather with the operator or provincial highway service before you leave.
Driving
≈ 240 km
Estimate, Langdale → Lund
Ferries
2 crossings
Reservations advised in summer
Highway
Hwy 101
Paved two-lane
Pace
4 days
Sailing-led, not distance-led
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 5 key waypoints along the drive.
Driving times
Leg by leg
153 km across 5 legs. Times exclude stops, ferries, and weather contingencies.
| # | From → To | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Horseshoe Bay → Gibsons | 12 km | 0h 40m ferry | Sailing time, not driving |
| 02 | Gibsons → Sechelt | 27 km | 0h 30m | — |
| 03 | Sechelt → Earls Cove | 55 km | 0h 55m | Skookumchuck trailhead en route |
| 04 | Saltery Bay → Powell River | 31 km | 0h 30m | — |
| 05 | Powell River → Lund | 28 km | 0h 30m | End of Highway 101 |
| Total | 153 km | 3h+ | Drive time only |
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons
Sail to Langdale, settle into Gibsons Landing, walk the harbour and eat on the pier.
Sechelt & Skookumchuck Narrows
Drive north to Sechelt, then hike the 4 km trail to the Skookumchuck rapids — check a tide table so you arrive near peak flow.
Earls Cove to Powell River
Cross Jervis Inlet by ferry, then explore Powell River's historic townsite and the Sunshine Coast Trail's easy access points.
Lund and the end of Highway 101
Drive to Lund, the northern terminus, take a water taxi to Savary Island's white-sand beaches, then retrace your route south.
When to drive
Month by month
Best window: May – October. Plan around shoulder months for fewer crowds at the cost of variable weather.
Budget
Three ways to drive it
Smart
$190–$300/ day
- Drive days
- 4
- Lodging
- Campgrounds, motels and small B&Bs
- Food
- Groceries, bakeries and roadside diners
- Experiences
- Self-guided hikes, beaches and viewpoints
Mid
$340–$570/ day
- Drive days
- 4
- Lodging
- Inns, lodges and mid-range hotels
- Food
- Regional restaurants and one standout meal a day
- Experiences
- One guided tour or ticketed attraction most days
Premium
$890+/ day
- Drive days
- 4
- Lodging
- Boutique hotels, resorts and premium lodges
- Food
- Chef-led tasting menus and producer visits
- Experiences
- Private guides, charters and small-group tours
Editorial picks
Where to stop, sleep, and eat
Stop
Skookumchuck Narrows
Egmont
Time the 4 km walk to peak tidal flow using a current tide table.
Stop
Savary Island
Off Lund
White-sand beaches reached by passenger water taxi.
Eat
Harbour restaurants
Gibsons Landing
Oysters and spot prawns landed within sight of the table.
Signature stops
Don't miss
Gibsons Landing harbour
Skookumchuck Narrows tidal rapids
Powell River historic townsite
Lund and Savary Island
Before you go
The prep checklist.
Practical things to lock in before you leave the driveway.
- Check BC Ferries sailings and reservation rules before finalising nights.
- Consult a tide table before the Skookumchuck walk.
- Fuel in Sechelt and Powell River; stations thin north of Lund.
- Cell coverage is patchy along the Jervis Inlet stretch.
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- How many ferries does this route need?
- Two on a one-way run: Horseshoe Bay–Langdale and Earls Cove–Saltery Bay. Sailing frequency, reservations and fares change seasonally, so check BC Ferries directly before travelling.
- Can I do it as a loop?
- Many travellers continue from Powell River to Comox on Vancouver Island and return via Nanaimo, making a wider circle. That adds a third ferry and should be booked well ahead in summer.
- Is it good for an RV?
- Yes — Highway 101 is paved two-lane with easy grades, and there are provincial and private campgrounds along both halves. Ferry reservations matter more for over-height vehicles.
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