Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to rent in Vancouver Island, listed by private owners and local rental businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for RV rental in Canada, then book online with insurance included.
Vancouver Island suits a slow RV trip: old-growth forest, surf beaches, whale-watching harbours and a long empty north, all on one island you drive end to end. Allow 7 to 10 days if you want Tofino and the North Island as well as Victoria. The best months are June to September, with May and late September quieter and cheaper.
Vancouver Island RV trip at a glance
| Best months | June to September; many campgrounds are reservation-only in summer, and some close from October |
|---|---|
| Days needed | 5 to 7 for Victoria, Nanaimo and Tofino; 7 to 10 to add the North Island |
| Where to pick up | Victoria or Nanaimo: RV rental in Victoria and RV rental in Nanaimo |
| Main highways | Highway 1 (Victoria to Nanaimo), Highway 19 (Nanaimo to Port Hardy), Highway 4 (Parksville to Tofino and Ucluelet), Highway 28 (Campbell River to Gold River) |
| Overnight options | BC Parks and Pacific Rim campgrounds, private RV parks with hookups |
| Typical RV rental cost | About US$150 to $350 a night for typical US and Canadian RV rentals, depending on vehicle size and season |
Vancouver Island road-trip routes
Route 1: Victoria to Tofino by Highway 4 (4 to 5 days)
Victoria to Nanaimo is about 110 km on Highway 1, one to two hours with the climb over the Malahat. From Parksville, Highway 4 runs west for roughly 140 km to the coast, passing Cathedral Grove, a stand of Douglas fir more than 800 years old, and Port Alberni. Allow two to three hours for the drive itself, and more if you stop. Cathedral Grove is small and heavily visited, so aim for early morning.
The Kennedy Hill safety project on Highway 4 finished in 2023, when the road was widened and the old 12 per cent grade reduced. It is still a winding mountain road, so take it steadily in a larger RV. At the end the highway splits: one branch goes to Ucluelet and the other, about 34 km on, to Tofino. Plan 2 nights at Long Beach, then return by the same road.
Route 2: the North Island by Highway 19 (3 to 4 days)
From Nanaimo, Highway 19 runs about 390 km to Port Hardy, around 4.5 hours of driving. It is a paved road, with services thinning out north of Campbell River, with Campbell River the natural overnight stop on the way up. At the northern end, where Highway 19 ends, Port Hardy has BC Ferries sailings to Prince Rupert and, in summer only, to Bella Coola.
Leave the RV at Port Hardy rather than continuing to Cape Scott. The trailhead is 64 km west of Port Hardy, partly on gravel, active logging roads, and the park is for walkers with backcountry camping.
Fuel up at Campbell River before heading further north, and book sailings from Port Hardy early if you plan to continue by sea. Each owner sets their own rules on ferries and mileage, so check the listing before you book.
Route 3: Campbell River to Strathcona Park (1 to 2 days)
Highway 28 runs west from Campbell River to Gold River, with the Buttle Lake and Ralph River campgrounds inside Strathcona Provincial Park. There is no fuel or other services between Campbell River and Gold River, so fill up first.
Parks and campgrounds on Vancouver Island
- Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, near Long Beach: 94 drive-in sites with electrical service and a sani-dump, open from 1 May to mid-October. Reserve through the Parks Canada reservation service; bookings for 2026 opened on 29 January.
- Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Parksville: popular all year, with reservations needed in summer.
- Goldstream Provincial Park, near Victoria: camping all year, with no sani-station in winter. The salmon run is best from late October to November.
- Strathcona Provincial Park: Buttle Lake and Ralph River campgrounds are vehicle-accessible but have no hookups.
Book BC Parks sites at camping.bcparks.ca. Private parks and the RV parks and campgrounds page cover serviced sites.
Driving on Vancouver Island: BC Ferries and island roads
If you start on the mainland, you need a ferry: Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (Victoria) or Duke Point (Nanaimo), or Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo). BC Ferries counts any vehicle over 7 ft high or 20 ft long as oversized, so almost every RV falls into that group, with a higher fare and a charge for each extra foot of length. Over-height fares on the busiest routes can be cheaper on selected, quieter sailings, and these have to be booked and paid for in advance.
Book ahead for holiday weekends, Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings, and Sunday afternoons, and check in by the time shown for your terminal; a missed deadline forfeits the booking. If you are placed on an enclosed lower deck, you must leave your vehicle during the crossing. Allow plenty of time on island roads too, and check DriveBC for closures and roadworks before each leg.
The summer pressure points are Highway 4 on sunny weekends, the Malahat, and the ferry queues out of Nanaimo. If you only have a week, pick one of Tofino or the North Island instead of trying both.
Picking up your RV
Most island trips start in Victoria, the end of the Highway 1 route, or in Nanaimo, the junction for Highway 4 and Highway 19. The Victoria page and Nanaimo page cover collection and nearby sites. For rentals in general, see the Canada hub, the Canada RV rental guide, the cost guide, Class C RVs and Class B campervans, and the road trips page.
Vancouver Island RV trip FAQs
How many days do I need for Vancouver Island by RV?
Five to seven days covers Victoria, Nanaimo and Tofino. Add three or four days if you want to drive the North Island as well.
Do I need to reserve BC Ferries for an RV?
It is strongly recommended in summer and at weekends. An RV counts as an oversized vehicle, so a booking guarantees your space and sometimes a lower fare on quieter sailings.
Can an RV drive to Tofino?
Yes. Highway 4 is paved the whole way. It is winding and can be busy in summer, so take your time and avoid the Friday and Sunday peaks.
When do the campgrounds open?
It varies. Green Point opens from 1 May to mid-October, some BC Parks sites run all year and others close in winter. Check each park page before you book.
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