Driving the Sea to Sky Highway
It's a fun game to see a car of the Sea to Sky breaking the rules and getting up close enough to them to see what license plate they have. Sorry, Washington, but it's almost always you.
Some locals get really annoyed by this kind of driving, but honestly, it's a unique highway with some specific rules, so it's fair that not everyone knows them. But don't be that tourist, read up on these so you can enjoy your drive without a Tacoma hauling a bunch of dirt bikes that aren't beeping at you the whole way.
No Brake Lights In The Passing Lane
Nothing gives away a tourist more than brake lights in the left lane. The left lane comes and goes throughout the drive. That's because this is just a passing lane to let faster cars get by slow-moving vehicles. Technically, this is for smaller cars to get by large, slow-moving campers and logging trucks that struggle to maintain the speed limit over big hills, but in reality, this is a way to sort cars by who is driving strictly by the speed limit and those who want to get things going a bit faster.
If you're getting close to the car in front of you, pull into the left lane, overtake them, and then hop back over to the right. If you're putting on the brakes in the left lane, you're not trying to pass, so you're in the wrong spot.
There is an exception to this rule when you pass through Squamish. You will know you're in Squamish when you start seeing traffic lights. It's a 2-lane highway the whole way through town, but the left lane isn't really a passing lane here. There are several intersections throughout the town, so there's no point really passing anyone since you will just pull up next to each other at the next red light. There are also left turns at every light, so some people are just pulling into the left lane to anticipate a turn. Just slow down through Squamish, and once you see the signs for Brakendale, you're back on the actual highway again.
Just a Tip: Wait until you pass the last light near the Brackendale sign to speed up because the cops love to hang out by that light and catch tourists who got impatient going through town. We don't encourage or condone speeding, but I see it every day.
Merging Back To One Lane
Throughout the Sea to Sky, there are stretches of single-lane highway (0 passing opportunities) and 2-lane stretches meant to allow passing. THE LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING ONLY. You aren't meant to just cruise in that lane. So if you see the signs for the lanes merging ahead, pass, or get back to the right. The worst tourist mistake is driving in the left lane and not passing. This leaves everyone in the merge lane with nowhere to go. If you're trying to get past a big truck, you can go into the left and punch it to get past before the merge, but if you go into the left and keep speed, you're just putting lives at risk. By the time the lanes are merging, everyone should be in the right lane.
Speeding
Don't be stupid. This is going to be the most beautiful 2-hour drive of your life, so why rush it? The speed limit is clearly marked throughout the highway and changes a few times. Most of the time it's 90km/h, but at times it drops down as you pass towns, and there are variable speed signs (these are the big lit up ones) that display weather-dependent speeds.
But you will see right away that there are locals used to the sights and impatient tourists going over posted limits. Legally, you can't ever go over the limit, so I'm not suggesting you do. But I've driven this road hundreds of times, and I can tell you that I've never seen anyone going UNDER the speed limit.
So if you're going to bend the rules, here is how to do it safely:
- Be careful on the bends. There are some sections of the highway that have pretty sharp turns that you want to take it easy in (especially between Horseshoe Bay and Squamish)
- Go slow in town. You will pass through Lions Bay (this is a 60 zone) and Squamish (which is mostly a 70). People speed through Lions Bay all the time, and there are no crosswalks or anything, so it's tempting, but the police know that, and they pull people over here A LOT. And if you're caught going 110 in a 60, you're in a real pickle. Squamish is a hot spot for police speed checks, and it is also a whole series of intersections, so there's no point speeding past someone just to pull up next to them at the next red light.
- Follow variable speed corridors strictly. These are the lit-up signs that cross the highway throughout the drive. They post temporary changes to the speed limit. If they are blank than the regular speed limits apply, but if they are lit up with a new speed, follow it carefully. These changes are weather-related, usually caused by snow and ice on the road. On these windy roads its really easy to lose control in these conditions, so don't take any risks.
- Never speed through a work zone. Occasionally, work crews need to do some road work or some work on the netting on the rock faces. They bring the speed limits down to 30 or 40. It can feel annoying driving this slow on the highway, but it's usually a short stretch, and it's important to go slow because it is absolutely terrifying to be the person working on the side of the highway while trucks are blasting by at full speed. I know this for certain because I've had to change a tire on the shoulder just outside of Squamish, and it was scary as!
Prepare to Stop Lights
There are big signs hanging a few hundred metres ahead of traffic lights with flashing lights that tell you to prepare to stop. If you can see the light flashing, that means you cannot make it before a red (or very very yellow light). If you see those flashing, start slowing down even if you're heading towards a green. They forecast the change since people are going so fast that they won't be able to react fast enough to a yellow light. It can be tempting to try and squeak through, but at a lot of these there are people waiting to turn left of the yellows and you're either screwing them over or causing an accident by speeding through. I've tested it and there is no way to beat these lights. If they're flashing, just stop.
Snow Tires
If you're driving the Sea to Sky between October 1st and March 31st, you need winter tires. This isn't just a suggestion, actually, it's the law. And honestly, even if it wasn't, you'd want them anyway.
The highway climbs from sea level to over 600 meters, and the weather can change fast. You might leave Vancouver in the rain and be driving through slippery snow before Whistler. The road gets icy, especially in shaded sections and on bridges.
Winter tires have a mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall. All-seasons don't count, even if they say "M+S." The symbol is what the police check at the random checkpoints. The checkpoints don't run every day, but they do check routinely and during especially bad weather. And if they don't see the snowflake, you're getting a ticket and turned around.
If you're renting a car, ask for winter tires. Most BC rental companies include them in the winter months, but confirm before you book. If you're driving up from the States, check your tires before crossing the border. Washington plates without winter tires are a dead giveaway, and you will get pulled over.
And if it's actively snowing or the roads are icy, slow down. Winter tires help, but they're not magic, and on the windy mountain roads, it's easy to slip out of your lane. Give yourself extra space, brake earlier, and don't tailgate.
No Left Turns
You can only turn left off the highway if there is a dedicated left-turn lane. There are a few places, like the Tantalus Range viewpoint, where you can only pull in if you're southbound. There are U-turn lanes throughout the highway, too, so if you want to pull in somewhere like the Tantalus Range viewpoint, you can head a bit further up the highway and turn around via the U-turn route (they are all well signed and easy to navigate).
But you also can't turn left out of the viewpoints. You can only pull in and out in the direction you're driving. So you can do two U-turns, or just hit up those views on the way back down.
Planning Your Trip
Now that you know all the little quirks of this mountain route, it's time to start planning out some stops. There is a lifetime of adventure branching off this highway, but we've put together a concise list of all the best stops that are literally just off the road.
Our Trusted Travel Partners
We only recommend products and services we personally use and trust.
SafetyWing
Travel medical insurance for nomads and remote workers
Booking.com
Find the best deals on hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals
AllTrails
Discover hiking trails with detailed maps and reviews
Surfshark
Secure VPN for safe browsing and accessing content worldwide
Get Your Guide
Find the best deals on tours and experiences
Airalo
Prepaid SIM cards for travelers
Trusted Housesitters
Find free accommodation by house and pet sitting worldwide
Wise
Send and receive money internationally with low fees* We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through our affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. We appreciate this support, which helps sustain our blog and allows us to create more content and help more great trips get planned!