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The Journey Less Ordinary.... By Car!
If you are driving (the most common way of arriving), Mussel Beach is about 4.5 hours drive from Victoria or 3 hours drive from the Nanaimo ferry terminal (serviced by the Vancouver ferries at Tsawwassen and at Horseshoe Bay). This drive is an interesting and challenging one, with amazingly beautiful scenery.
Google Directions
Here are directions on Google Maps from various starting points:
Driving Instructions
beyond Nanaimo, the directions are the same:
Head North out of Nanaimo on HWY-19 N/Inland Island Hwy N, drive 14 km
Take exit 60 for HWY-4 W toward Port Alberni
*You should see a billboard for Storm - The Tofino Surf Shop soon before this exit!
**Pay close attention and do not miss this exit! Turning around is tricky.
Once over the hill and at Port Alberni you should watch your speed (it's a giant 50/60 zone), fill up on gas, as well as pay your final respects to civilization (fast food, wal-mart, etc). All of these things can be accomplished from the main highway without turning off, which will quickly lead to getting totally lost.
At the bottom of the hill follow the signs to the right for Highway 4, Tofino and Ucluelet. Drive another 84km.
As you continue along Highway 4, you will drive past Sproat lake then climb up into Sutton Pass. After the pass the road gets extremely challenging with lots of turns and changes in elevation. Drive slowly and carefully through this part and watch for large trucks coming the other way!
Finally you will reach the majestic Kennedy Lake, and the highway follows its south shore to the Ucluelet/Tofino Junction and the Info Centre.
Turn LEFT at Tofino-Ucluelet Hwy, and drive 1.4 km south
Turn LEFT at Port Albion Rd, and drive 4.0km.
You will cross over a single lane bridge.
Continue about 1km past the single lane bridge and you will see a gravel logging road to your left, with several signs including ones for Mussel Beach Wilderness Campground.
Turn LEFT onto the gravel logging road.
Follow the signs to Mussel Beach Wilderness Campground. These will direct you the right way down the logging road and also warn you of potential hazards along the way.
The drive finishes with about 20-30 minutes on this slow logging road, but don't be scared - any road worthy car should be fine to get all the way there. A truck or 4x4 is not required. Remember, rough roads lead to smooth people!
Parking on Site
There is now ample parking on-site in multiple lots, so your car is going to be within walking distance of your camp site.
Scenery en-route
Your journey will encompass the following breathtaking scenery:
Local Attractions
Since you are driving, you might want to take advantage of some of the great local attractions while in the area.
- If you do no other sight-seeing in the area, you really owe it to yourself to visit Long Beach (Pacific Rim National Park). It's about a 15 minute drive north of the T-Junction. There is pay-parking in day lots all along the beach.
- The town of Tofino is also very worth visiting. It is at the north end of the peninsula, about 25 minutes drive past the T-junction.
Horseshoe Bay Ferry Warning
In the busy traffic of the summer holiday season, the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal has proven to be extremely reliable at being completely unreliable, at least as far as staying on schedule goes.
Generally speaking, the first ferry in the morning is right on schedule, then things deteriorate rapidly from there. Often there are lengthy sailing waits, that have been known to cut short many a Soundwave experience. It is our sincere
recommendation (especially if you do not have access to assured loading passes for
the ferry, or have been unable to secure a vehicle reservation for your sailing out of
Horseshoe Bay), that you consider traveling from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on
the Duke Point, Nanaimo route. This ferry ride is a little longer (which isn’t a bad thing)
and, in our experience (vast), can often actually get you on the road sooner and without all the aggravation.
If you’re fixated on taking the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo route...then cool, but please don’t be dumb. Call ahead to make a vehicle reservation and get there at the very LATEST, 1/2 HOUR PRIOR to your sailing (or your reservation will not be honoured). Also, if you have a reservation you can go through any of the ticketing booths and thereby avoid any lineups to make it in time for the 1/2 hour before cutoff.
This way you can start your weekend off without a single major headache festering.
You’ll have a way better time this way ... we promise!
Gas Stations on the way back
On your journey back, if you are not planning to visit Tofino first you will probably need to get gas in Ucluelet:
- Follow the logging road back to Port Albion Road
- At the end of Port Albion Road, turn LEFT towards Ucluelet
- Follow the road for about 5km and you will come to several gas stations. A little further into the town of Ucluelet will net you restaurants, groceries, and anything else you might need.
- To get back, go back north and turn right at the T-junction, following the signs back towards Port Alberni.
