Most people know the Sea to Sky Highway as one of Canada’s most beautiful drives. It winds from the edge of Vancouver along Howe Sound, climbs past waterfalls and mountain viewpoints, and continues toward Whistler and Pemberton.
Now, it has another reason to be on your road trip list: it has been named one of the best EV road trips in the world.
According to a study by iSelect, British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway ranked seventh globally among the world’s most EV-friendly road trips. The study analyzed 48 iconic road trips across six continents and scored each route based on factors such as charging infrastructure, distance, estimated charging cost, and traveller reviews.
For Canadian travellers, that is a big deal. EV road trips are no longer just about whether you can make it from one charger to the next. The best routes now combine scenery, reliable charging access, reasonable costs, and places you actually want to stop along the way.
Why EV Road Trips Are Becoming More Popular in 2026
Electric vehicles are becoming a bigger part of travel planning. The International Energy Agency expects global electric car sales to reach 23 million in 2026, representing 28% of total car sales. That means more travellers are thinking about charging stops the same way they used to think about gas stations, rest areas, and coffee breaks.
Charging infrastructure is also expanding. The IEA reported that the worldwide stock of public charging points reached more than 7 million at the end of 2025, with nearly 1.8 million public chargers added in 2025 alone.
That shift matters for road trips. A few years ago, EV travel could feel like a math problem with scenery attached. Now, on the right routes, it can feel much closer to a normal road trip — as long as you plan ahead.
Sea to Sky Highway EV Road Trip at a Glance
| Route | Country | Chargers Available | Charger Distribution | Estimated Charging Cost | Road Trip Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea to Sky Highway | Canada | 49 | 100% | $4.53 CAD / $5.09 AUD | 88.15 |
The Sea to Sky Highway ranked seventh globally in iSelect’s study. The route stretches from Horseshoe Bay toward Pemberton, passing through some of British Columbia’s most famous scenery, including Howe Sound, Squamish, Whistler, and the Coast Mountains.
The World’s Top 10 EV Road Trips
| Rank | Route | Country / Region | Road Trip Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gotthard Pass | Switzerland | 99.81 |
| 2 | Kootenay Highway | Canada | 99.24 |
| 3 | The Deep South | USA | 95.64 |
| 4 | Transf?g?r??an Highway | Romania | 91.93 |
| 5 | Jurassic Coast | United Kingdom | 91.04 |
| 6 | Causeway Coastal Route | Northern Ireland | 90.75 |
| 7 | Sea to Sky Highway | Canada | 88.15 |
| 8 | Grossglockner High Alpine Road | Austria | 87.93 |
| 9 | Czech Paradise Route | Czechia | 87.37 |
| 10 | Peak District Scenic Drive | United Kingdom | 86.36 |
Chart idea: create a simple horizontal bar chart titled Top 10 EV Road Trips in the World, using the Road Trip Score column. This would work well just below the table.
Canada Has Two of the World’s Best EV Road Trips
One of the most interesting parts of the ranking is that Canada appears twice in the global top 10.
The Kootenay Highway ranked second in the world, with a score of 99.24 out of 100. The Sea to Sky Highway ranked seventh, with a score of 88.15. That gives Canada two of the highest-rated EV road trip routes in the world according to iSelect’s index.
That should not be surprising to anyone who has road-tripped through British Columbia. Canada’s western mountain routes already offer some of the best scenery in the world. The difference now is that EV infrastructure is starting to make those drives more accessible for electric vehicle owners.
Why the Sea to Sky Highway Works So Well for EV Drivers
The Sea to Sky Highway is not a long cross-country endurance test. That is part of what makes it such a good EV route.
The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is short enough for many modern EVs to handle comfortably, but scenic enough that you will want to stop anyway. Instead of treating charging as an inconvenience, you can build it into the trip.
Stops like Squamish, Shannon Falls, Brandywine Falls, Whistler Village, and Pemberton give travellers natural breaks along the way. For EV drivers, that means charging can happen while you eat, hike, shop, or take photos instead of sitting around watching a battery percentage crawl upward.
Best Stops on a Sea to Sky Highway EV Road Trip
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is a great place to start if you are coming from Vancouver. It has waterfront views, ferry traffic, cafes, and a relaxed village feel before the highway begins climbing toward Squamish.
Shannon Falls
Shannon Falls is one of the easiest scenic stops on the Sea to Sky Highway. The short walk to the waterfall makes it a perfect break on the way to Squamish or Whistler.
Squamish
Squamish is one of the best stops on the route. It has food, coffee, outdoor shops, hiking access, and views of the Stawamus Chief. It is also a practical place to stop, stretch your legs, and check your charge before continuing north.
Sea to Sky Gondola
The Sea to Sky Gondola is one of the most popular attractions along the route. It offers sweeping views over Howe Sound and the surrounding mountains, making it an easy way to turn the drive into a full day trip.
Brandywine Falls
Brandywine Falls is another easy stop between Squamish and Whistler. The walk is short, the waterfall is impressive, and it is a good reminder that the Sea to Sky Highway is not just about getting to Whistler.
Whistler
Whistler is the main destination for many Sea to Sky road trips. In summer, it is great for hiking, biking, patios, lakes, and mountain views. In winter, it becomes one of North America’s most famous ski destinations.
Pemberton
Pemberton is a quieter extension of the trip beyond Whistler. It offers mountain scenery, farmland, and a slower pace for travellers who want to continue past the busiest part of the route.
Tips for Driving the Sea to Sky Highway in an EV
Plan Your Charging Stops Before You Leave
Even on EV-friendly routes, it is still smart to plan your charging stops ahead of time. Check charger locations, charging speeds, plug types, and whether stations are available or out of service before you start driving.
Do Not Wait Until Your Battery Is Almost Empty
The Sea to Sky Highway is not the place to play battery roulette. Mountain roads, weather, traffic, and detours can all affect range. Keep a buffer so you are not stressed if a charger is busy or unavailable.
Expect Range to Change With Terrain and Weather
EV range can drop in cold weather, heavy rain, strong winds, or mountain driving. The Sea to Sky Highway includes elevation changes, so it is better to plan conservatively.
Charge While You Stop
The best EV road trips are the ones where charging fits naturally into the route. Stop for lunch in Squamish, explore Whistler Village, or take a scenic break while the car charges.
Download Charging Apps Before You Go
Do not wait until you are in a parking lot with weak signal to download a charging app. Set up your accounts, payment methods, and route planning tools before you leave home.
Best Apps for Planning an EV Road Trip
For an EV road trip, we would use a mix of navigation, charging, and general travel apps.
Useful apps include:
- Google Maps for navigation
- PlugShare for charger reviews and locations
- A Better Routeplanner for EV route planning
- Your vehicle’s own charging/navigation app
- Booking.com or Google Maps for hotels and food stops
- Weather apps for road and mountain conditions
For more trip-planning tools, see our guide to the best travel apps for 2026.
Is the Sea to Sky Highway Worth Driving Without an EV?
Absolutely. The Sea to Sky Highway is one of Canada’s great scenic drives whether you are driving an electric vehicle, hybrid, or gas-powered car.
The EV ranking simply shows that the route is becoming more accessible for modern travellers. The scenery was already there. The charging infrastructure is what makes it easier for EV drivers to enjoy the route with more confidence.
What This Ranking Means for Canadian Travel
The Sea to Sky Highway’s global ranking is part of a bigger shift in travel. Sustainable travel is no longer just about choosing trains over planes or staying in eco-lodges. For many travellers, it now includes how they drive, where they charge, and whether road trips can be done with lower emissions.
Canada has the scenery. The challenge has always been distance. As charging infrastructure improves, more Canadian road trips will become realistic for EV drivers.
That is good news for travellers, but it is also good news for smaller communities along the way. EV road trips encourage people to stop longer, spend locally, and build their route around towns, restaurants, viewpoints, parks, and overnight stays.
Sea to Sky Highway EV Road Trip Checklist
Before driving the Sea to Sky Highway in an electric vehicle, make sure to:
- Check your vehicle’s real-world range.
- Map chargers before leaving Vancouver.
- Download charging apps and set up payment.
- Check whether your hotel has EV charging.
- Leave a battery buffer for mountain driving.
- Watch the weather and road conditions.
- Plan scenic stops around charging breaks.
- Bring a regular charging cable if your vehicle supports it.
- Avoid arriving at chargers with critically low battery.
- Have a backup charging location in mind.
Final Thoughts
The Sea to Sky Highway has always been one of Canada’s most spectacular drives. Now it is also being recognized as one of the best EV road trips in the world.
That combination makes sense. The route is scenic, manageable, practical, and packed with places worth stopping. For EV drivers, that is exactly what makes a great road trip. You do not want to plan your entire day around charging. You want charging to fit into a journey you already wanted to take.
From Vancouver to Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton, the Sea to Sky Highway proves that EV travel does not have to mean giving up adventure. It just means planning the route a little smarter.
And honestly, if your charging stop comes with mountain views and a coffee in Squamish, that is not exactly a hardship.
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