Categories: Travel

No gas, no problem: All the provincial parks you can visit from Vancouver without a car this summer

Photo via BC Parks

With gas getting more expensive by the day, now is a great time to start looking at alternative ways to get to some of B.C.’s most beautiful outdoor gems. Fortunately, you don’t need a car to visit well-known parks in the province like Garibaldi or Joffre Lakes. Parkbus has launched its spring and summer service for 2026, and there are plenty of spectacular destinations to cross off your bucket list if you haven’t already.

As Canada’s non-profit bus service, Parkbus is one of the most convenient ways to get out of the city for a breath of fresh air, a rewarding hike, or a day on the lake.

Starting this June, you can once again bus to Garibaldi, Golden Ears, and Cultus Lake Parks, straight from downtown Vancouver.

A new route has also officially launched between Vancouver and the famed Othello Tunnels, which will reopen at Coquihalla Canyon Park after extensive repairs this May.

All Parkbus tours from Vancouver are self-guided, meaning it’s totally up to you how you spend your time upon arrival. Tickets range from $30 to $95 per passenger, depending on where you choose to visit.

Parkbus routes, dates, and ticket fees

Here are all the routes you can choose from in 2026:

Vancouver to Garibaldi Park: June 16 to Oct. 10 ($95 per person)
Vancouver to Cultus Lake Park: June 23 to Sept. 26 ($65 per person)
Vancouver to Coquihalla Canyon Park: July 25 to Oct. 10 ($30 per person)
Vancouver to Golden Ears Park: June 15 to Sept. 20 ($65 per person)

All bus tickets come with guaranteed park admission and can be purchased online.

Note that pickup is at 1025 Dunsmuir St. near the Bank of China and Burrard SkyTrain Station.

There are student and senior discounts on all Parkbus routes, available to seniors over 60 and students with a valid student ID.

In addition to the B.C. trips, Parkbus has a nationwide program called NatureLink that provides free and subsidized transportation to groups across the country, including new Canadians, refugee and settlement agencies, and other marginalized populations.

Happy adventuring!

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