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Prince George to Vancouver: drive, fly or take the bus

Getting between Prince George and Vancouver: the 785 km drive via Highway 97 and Highway 1, nonstop flights, buses, train options and winter driving.

Updated · Sources checked

At a glance

  • By road, Prince George to Vancouver is about 785 km: Highway 97 south to Cache Creek, then Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon and Hope.
  • Expect about 8.5 to 10.5 hours of driving without stops, depending on the estimate. Plan for a long day or an overnight stop.
  • Air Canada and WestJet fly nonstop between Prince George (YXS) and Vancouver (YVR) every day. The flight takes about 1 hour 25 minutes.
  • There is no direct public bus. Ebus runs Prince George to Kamloops three days a week and Kamloops to Vancouver daily. Northern Health Connections runs a direct bus for eligible patients and riders aged 60 and up.
  • There is no direct passenger train. VIA Rail’s Jasper–Prince Rupert train connects at Jasper with VIA’s Canadian to Vancouver.

Prince George and Vancouver are a long way apart. You can fly in under an hour and a half or spend most of a day on the road. This guide compares the options, both directions.

For every way in and out of the city, see getting to Prince George. For terminal details, see the Prince George Airport guide. Going somewhere else? There are route pages for Kamloops, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton and more cities.

Driving

The usual route is Highway 97 south (the Cariboo Highway) through Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House to Cache Creek. From there, Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada) runs through the Fraser Canyon to Hope and west through the Fraser Valley to Vancouver.
Distance About 785 km
Driving time About 8.5 to 10.5 hours without stops (Travelmath and OSRM estimates)

We calculated both figures with the OSRM route planner on OpenStreetMap data, from downtown Prince George to central Vancouver, and rounded them. They are model estimates without stops, traffic, construction or weather. Other route planners give different times.

Other routes

  • Highway 99 leaves Highway 97 near Cache Creek and runs through Lillooet, Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish to Vancouver. It is mountainous, so check conditions before you choose it.
  • Highway 5 (the Coquihalla), via Kamloops, is another way south. Northern Health Connections moved its Prince George to Vancouver buses to Highway 5 in July 2026, when wildfires closed Highway 1. It said the detour added about 45 minutes each way.

Driving tips

  • Winter tires: on signed highways, winter tires (or chains on board where the signs allow it) are required from October 1 to April 30. On some highways outside mountain passes and high-snowfall areas, the requirement ends March 31. Drivers without the right tires can be turned around and fined.
  • Check DriveBC before you leave for closures, collisions, construction and highway cameras along Highway 97 and Highway 1. Closer to home, our getting around page shows DriveBC events and cameras near Prince George.
  • Wildfire season can close highways in summer. Check the wildfire dashboard and DriveBC.
  • Leave early, plan fuel and rest stops, and watch for wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk.

Flying

Air Canada and WestJet both fly nonstop between Prince George (YXS) and Vancouver (YVR) every day, according to the airport authority (checked October 18, 2026). The flight takes about 1 hour 25 minutes.

For more routes from Prince George, parking and getting to the terminal, see the airport guide. Fares and schedules change, so book directly with the airline.

By bus

No public bus runs straight through between Prince George and Vancouver. The current options:

  • Ebus (with a change in Kamloops): Ebus runs Prince George to Kamloops on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and back on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The trip takes about 6 hours 30 minutes, with stops including Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Cache Creek. The Prince George stop is at the Terry Fox statue, 1295 7th Avenue (Bay C). Ebus runs Kamloops to Vancouver (Pacific Central Station) every day, in about 4 hours 45 minutes. Check Ebus for connection times.
  • Northern Health Connections: a Northern Health bus for people travelling to medical appointments. It also carries anyone who needs accessible transportation and anyone over 60, with no appointment needed. It leaves Prince George (UHNBC) at 8 am on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and reaches Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station at 8 pm. Return trips leave Vancouver at 8:30 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. You must book a seat, and riders need a BC Services Card (CareCard). Phone 1-888-647-4997.

Schedules are from each operator’s own site on October 18, 2026. Confirm before you travel.

By train

There is no direct passenger train between Prince George and Vancouver. The rail line south of Prince George carries freight only.

VIA Rail’s Jasper–Prince Rupert train runs from Prince George east to Jasper, about three times a week. At Jasper you can connect to VIA’s Canadian, which continues to Vancouver. It’s a scenic trip, but much slower than flying or driving. Check VIA Rail for schedules and fares.

Coming from Vancouver

All of the above works in reverse:

  • Drive Highway 1 east to Hope and north through the Fraser Canyon to Cache Creek, then Highway 97 north.
  • Fly Air Canada or WestJet from YVR.
  • Take Ebus to Kamloops and change for Prince George.

When you arrive, see getting around for buses, taxis and car rentals, and where to stay.

Common questions

How far is Prince George from Vancouver?

About 785 km by road, using Highway 97 south to Cache Creek and then Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon. Route planners estimate about 8.5 hours (Travelmath) to 10.5 hours (OSRM) of driving without stops.

How long is the flight from Prince George to Vancouver?

About 1 hour 25 minutes nonstop. Air Canada and WestJet both fly the route daily.

Is there a bus from Prince George to Vancouver?

There is no direct public bus. Ebus runs Prince George to Kamloops on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Kamloops to Vancouver every day. Northern Health Connections runs a direct bus on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for patients travelling to medical appointments, people who need accessible transportation, and anyone over 60. Seats must be booked.

Is there a train from Prince George to Vancouver?

Not directly. VIA Rail’s Jasper–Prince Rupert train runs east from Prince George to Jasper, where it connects with VIA’s Canadian to Vancouver. There is no passenger service on the rail line south from Prince George.

Do I need winter tires to drive from Prince George to Vancouver?

Yes, on signed highways from October 1 to April 30, you need winter tires, or chains on board where the signs allow it. Some highways outside mountain passes and high-snowfall areas end the requirement on March 31. Check DriveBC before you leave.

Sources

Official links

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