Okanagan British Columbia Travel

british columbia travel signs on the highwayYour British Columbia travel in the Okanagan will be an adventure anyway that you decide to get here.

If you are coming by car there are several scenic

BC highways that you can take from the east, west, north or the south.

If you are coming by air there is an international airport with several airlines that fly in from major cities across the country.

There is also a regional airport that has flights arrive from Vancouver British Columbia several times a day.

Bus travel is also available through Greyhound Lines which makes stops in all of the communities in the Okanagan.

Once you get here you can make day trips to so many areas of the region that you will get even more out of your British Columbia travel in the Okanagan.

Travel By Car

One of the best ways to enjoy British Columbia travel in the Okanagan is driving here from any direction on one of many BC highways.

  • Hwy 1 Also called the Trans Canada Highway. This major highway enters the Okanagan region through the Fraser and Thompson Canyons from Vancouver in the west. It also enters the region from Alberta and the Kootenays to the east.shot of the coquihalla hwy

  • Hwy 5 The Coquihalla Highway. Definitely the quickest route from Vancouver and the Coast.

  • Hwy 97C The highway that links Hwy 5 near Merrit BC to Hwy 97 between Westbank BC and Peachland BC

  • Hwy 97 The longest provincial highway of any of the provinces in Canada. It actually links up with US Route 97 that begins in Northern California. Hwy 97 begins just across the US-Canada border crossing at Osoyoos BC.

    The highway then runs through the Okanagan Valley and most of its beautiful cities and towns all the way to the Yukon-BC border in the far north.

  • Hwy 3 Also named the Hope-Princeton Highway. At Hope BC this highway Branches off of Hwy 1 from the Vancouver region. This beautiful, scenic route winds it way through valleys until it connects with Hwy 97 and heads north to Penticton.

    As you can see there are several highway routes you can take on your drive to the Okanagan.

    Click here to find out how to get driving directions to the Okanagan from different areas in Canada

    Are you planning on visiting from the US? Click here to find out the best routes to the Okanagan.

    Coming from the US to the Okanagan you will need to pass through a US Canada border cossing. Click here to find out more about these.

    Would you like a faster way to get through those long line-ups at the border or airport? The NEXUS card could be the answer for the US traveler. Click here to find out more about this program.



    Travel By Air

    kelowna international airport 1If you are planning a trip to the Okanagan and your British Columbia travel involves flying here you will have no problem in connecting with an airline.

    Kelowna International Airport sits just off of Hwy 97 and is only about a 20 minute drive from Kelowna BC. It is not far from any community or destination you may want to get to once you arrive here.

    This airport's main terminal offers all the amenities a passenger would want to choose from.

    The airlines that serve this airport include:

  • Air Canada

  • WestJet

  • Central Mountain Air

  • Alaska Airlines

    These airlines fly in daily from Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and selected cities across Canada.

    There are also some flights from Seattle, WA. and seasonal flights from resort locations in Mexico.

    There is another smaller airport that serves the area.

    The Penticton Regional Airport is located in the South Okanagan.

    Air Canada Jazz (a contract carrier for Air Canada) has 3 flights daily coming in from Vancouver.

    For getting to and from the airport there are a variety of transportation choices. Most people have booked a car rental before they arrive at the airport.

    This is always a good idea because you will get your choice of vehicle and you will almost always save money by finding a good deal.

    Other choices include bus charters, ski and golf shuttles (seasonal), taxis, limousine service and even local regional transit.

    There is no shortage of ways to get you to your favourite accommodations in the Okanagan!




    British Columbia travel in the Okanagan can be a fun and entertaining. The trip getting here is just one part of the whole experience of visiting this wonderful area.

    An experience you will never forget!



    Okanagan Valley Guide will be updated regularly. Please return often or bookmark this site. I will be adding more pages of exciting information for you.

    Thanks for visiting.

    See you soon!

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