getting to Tofino

Fly direct to Tofino

Fly non-stop to Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) from Vancouver on scheduled flights with Pacific Coastal Airlines.
or
Fly right into Tofino Harbour with Harbour Air!

Feeling adventurous? Inquire with our member businesses about chartering a seaplane or a helicopter to fly to Tofino from points throughout British Columbia.

Fly – Drive Options:

You can fly to two airports on the east coast of Vancouver Island, a  3 – 3.5 hour drive to/from Tofino:
Nanaimo (YCD) served by Air Canada and WestJet, and
Comox (YQQ)    served by Air Canada, Pacific Coastal Airlines, and WestJet
Fly daily from Calgary and Vancouver to both Nanaimo and Comox Valley airports; and from Edmonton to Comox Valley Airport.

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is a hub, and a five to six hour drive to Tofino. It is served by a number of carriers.

Download this map.

No matter what time of year you are travelling our way, keep up to date on road conditions, including events or delays that may affect your travel plans, by checking your route on DriveBC, then clicking on the map for road and weather conditions.

Vancouver Island – and Tofino – can be accessed by vehicle from the British Columbia mainland in three ways:

1. By driving your own or a rented vehicle
2. Custom shuttle with Pacific Rim Navigators
3. Island Link Bus operates 3 times a week, and by mid-May will increase to 6 times a week.

If driving from the British Columbia mainland, you’ll first need to sail with BC Ferries from one of two points near Vancouver to Vancouver Island:

1. Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay:  The Horseshoe Bay terminal is north of Vancouver and this ferry route takes just under 2 hours, arriving at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay.
2. Tsawwassen to Duke Point:  The Tsawwassen terminal is south of the city, closer to the USA border. This ferry route takes approximately 2.5 hours, arriving at the Duke Point terminal, about 15 minutes south of Nanaimo.
3. Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay:  The Tsawwassen terminal is south of the city, closer to the USA border. This ferry route takes approximately 2 hours, arriving at the Swartz Bay terminal, about 30 minutes north of Victoria.

Click here for more information on BC Ferries.
Please note that advance ferry reservations are highly recommended on all routes during weekends, holiday periods and summer months.

Vancouver Island can also be accessed by three ferry lines originating in Washington State:

1. The Clipper Ferry:  year-round, daily passenger ferry service between Seattle and Victoria.
2. Black Ball Ferry Line:  year-round, daily vehicle and passenger ferry service between Port Angeles and Victoria.
3. Washington State Ferry:  seasonal vehicle and passenger ferry service between Anacortes or the San Juan Islands and Sidney (30 minutes north of Victoria).

Download this map.

If you’re driving to Tofino from November through April, you will want to check DriveBC for Highway 4 updates, and exercise caution.  This stretch of road between Port Alberni and Tofino can become a snowy winter wonderland at Sutton Pass (elevation 240m), before you see Tofino’s greenery and beaches.
Important information:  Get the details here on the tire and chain requirements from October 1 through March 31.

Until further notice the highway will remain with two lanes open 24/7, at the 30 km/h construction zone speed. There may be future delays planned for spring 2023 to finish additional road paving and line-painting, these delays will be communicate Drive BC ahead of time.

Use this link to Drive BC for up-to-date information.

As always, please contact our Visitor Centre team at info@tourismtofino.com or on our social media channels if you have any questions.