Budget Car Hire
Kelowna

Kelowna's airport is compact and very easy to navigate, even after a late flight. Once you have your bags, simply look for the prominent "Car Rentals" and "Ground Transportation" signs in the arrivals hall. The rental counters are located together in a dedicated area directly opposite the main terminal exit, so you won't have to search far. The vehicle lots are just a short, well‑lit walk from the counters, making the whole process from baggage reclaim to driver's seat quick and straightforward.

Under normal conditions, the drive from YLW to downtown Kelowna takes about 20 to 25 minutes. However, on summer weekends, especially Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, expect heavier traffic that can extend the trip to 35–45 minutes. The main route, Highway 97 (Harvey Avenue), becomes quite congested with both locals and visitors heading to the lake or the wineries. To ensure a smoother start, try to travel outside these peak arrival times where possible.

For the most direct and least confusing route, stay on Highway 97 South the whole way. From the airport exit, clear signage will guide you onto the highway heading towards Kelowna. You will remain on this single main road as it passes through the city, becomes Harvey Avenue, and leads directly onto the William R. Bennett Bridge. This keeps you off complex city‑street navigation and on a primary, well‑marked thoroughfare all the way to West Kelowna.

A great option is to drive a couple of minutes south from the airport to one of the large shopping centres along Highway 97. Plazas with stores like Walmart or Costco have expansive car parks where you can safely pull into a space away from traffic. This gives you time and room to adjust mirrors, programme your navigation, fit car seats properly and organise luggage. It's much safer and more relaxed than trying to get set up at the side of a busy road.

The primary and best‑maintained route to Big White is via Highway 33, which is the standard for winter travel to the resort. From Kelowna you'll take Highway 97 to the clearly marked Highway 33 turn‑off and head east. While it is a mountain road with significant elevation gain, it is regularly ploughed, sanded and maintained throughout winter. For extra peace of mind, plan to drive in daylight and check road status on DriveBC before you set off.

Both the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C) and the alternative routes to Vancouver cross high‑elevation mountain passes that demand caution in winter. The Connector is direct but known for rapidly changing weather, including sudden snow, fog and icy sections. Alternatives, such as taking Highway 97 to the Coquihalla (Highway 5) or the Hope‑Princeton (Highway 3), also cross serious mountain passes with similar conditions. Whatever you choose, check DriveBC for the latest reports and ensure your vehicle has proper winter tyres.

To create an efficient tour of the Westside Wine Trail, focus your route along Boucherie Road. A good strategy is to start at one end of Boucherie Road and visit the wineries in sequence as you drive along it, which prevents unnecessary crisscrossing. For example, start at the north end and work your way south. Most wineries on this trail are well prepared for visitors and have ample, clearly marked parking, which helps minimise any parking‑related stress.

A great approach is to drive downtown in the morning and park for several hours in a central car park, such as the library parkade or the one near Prospera Place. From this single spot you can explore the downtown core, City Park and the waterfront promenade on foot. After you've enjoyed the city centre, return to your car in the afternoon for a scenic drive to a winery in East Kelowna or across the bridge to West Kelowna, thus avoiding multiple searches for downtown parking.

Visitors often find Harvey Avenue challenging due to the high volume of traffic and the frequency of traffic lights, especially between the bridge and Orchard Park Mall. The most common issue is needing to make a lane change in heavy, fast‑moving traffic to reach a specific turn‑off. To avoid this stress, know which lane you'll need well in advance and move over early. Also be prepared for speeds to slow considerably compared with highway sections outside the city.

Most lakeside hotels expect this and provide a designated short‑term pull‑in or loading zone at their main entrance. The best strategy is to use this area to quickly unload your bags onto the curb. If you're travelling with someone, one person can stay with the luggage while the other immediately moves the car to the hotel's long‑stay car park. This common courtesy prevents you from blocking the narrow lanes often found in these prime locations.

On a hot summer Saturday you'll want to arrive at popular spots like Gyro Beach or Boyce‑Gyro before 10:00 to secure a space in the main lots. If you arrive later and the lots are full, a good backup is to explore surrounding residential streets for legal on‑street parking, paying close attention to any posted time limits. Alternatively, consider driving to a slightly less crowded beach, perhaps further south in the Mission district, where parking may still be available.

For a low‑stress experience, consider the large surface car park next to Prospera Place, which typically has good availability on non‑event days. It's just a short, pleasant walk through the park to the main waterfront area. Another excellent choice is the multi‑storey Library Parkade on Ellis Street; it's centrally located, offers covered parking to keep your car cool and is only a few blocks from City Park and the lake.

For a safe and accessible sunrise photo location, the car parks at public beaches like Rotary Beach Park or Boyce‑Gyro Beach Park are excellent choices. These are well‑known, open areas that are not isolated, making them comfortable spots in the early morning. Another fantastic option is the designated viewpoint pull‑off on the west side of the William R. Bennett Bridge, which offers a secure place to park for a stunning panoramic view of the city and lake at dawn.

The most direct and scenic drive to Penticton is straight down Highway 97 South, which follows the edge of Okanagan Lake for much of the journey. A perfect place for a break is the charming town of Summerland, roughly the halfway point. Here you can stretch your legs at Rotary Beach or grab a coffee in the village. The town of Peachland also offers a beautiful waterfront promenade that is ideal for a quick, refreshing stop.

To navigate around festival congestion in towns like Oliver or Osoyoos, timing is everything. Check the event schedule online beforehand and plan to drive through these towns before the main activities, like parades, begin — usually arriving before 10:00. Leaving Kelowna very early in the morning is your best strategy. For the return, waiting until late afternoon or early evening can also help you miss the peak traffic from departing crowds.

When driving on Highway 97 through Peachland and Summerland, the road narrows and the speed limit decreases, often causing traffic to slow behind RVs or heavy trucks. Passing lanes are limited, so the best approach is to be patient and enjoy the exceptional lake views. Rather than getting frustrated, treat it as an opportunity to drive at a relaxed pace. If you're not in a hurry, use one of the many scenic pull‑offs to let faster traffic by.

Access to Myra Canyon is via the Myra Forest Service Road, an unpaved gravel track. It is generally well maintained in summer, and a standard hire car can handle it if you drive slowly and cautiously. At the end of the road you'll find a large designated car park right at the entrance to the trestle trail. On busy summer weekends this lot can fill up, so arriving earlier in the day is a good idea.

The parking area at the main lookout on Knox Mountain is quite small and fills up quickly. To avoid the frustration of searching for a spot, plan to drive to the top on a weekday morning or mid‑afternoon. Weekends and the hours around sunset are the busiest times. If you arrive during a peak period, a great alternative is to park in the larger lot at the base of the mountain and enjoy the popular walk up to the viewpoint.

Driving the William R. Bennett Bridge during peak rush hour — eastbound in the morning and westbound in the late afternoon — can involve significant delays with slow, stop‑and‑go traffic. Unfortunately, there are no other vehicle crossings of the lake in this area, so there are no alternative routes. The only effective strategy is avoidance: plan your travel across the bridge for mid‑day, later in the evening, or on weekends to miss the daily commuter congestion.

To minimise time in bridge traffic, group your activities by location. Do grocery shopping and errands in West Kelowna, which has a full range of stores and services. Then dedicate whole days to exploring one side of the lake at a time. For instance, spend one day on wineries and beaches on the west side and another day exploring downtown Kelowna and the Mission, rather than driving back and forth across the bridge multiple times a day.

For the most convenient shopping stops, head to the major retail centres along Highway 97. The area near Orchard Park Mall in Kelowna and the commercial district along the highway in West Kelowna both feature large supermarkets and retailers. These locations are built for high traffic, offering expansive car parks that are easy to navigate and have straightforward exits back onto the main road, making them ideal for visitors.

The easiest areas for a first‑time visitor are generally suburban neighbourhoods like the Mission or Glenmore, which feature wider streets and a more predictable grid layout. The main commercial strip of Highway 97 is also straightforward, though busy. The town centre can be trickier, with a number of one‑way streets and heavy pedestrian traffic. Some of the hillside residential areas also have very steep and winding roads that require more careful attention.

For visitors to the UBCO campus there are several clearly signed pay‑parking lots for public use. The larger surface lots, such as Lot H or Lot G, are often the easiest for visitors to find a space in. To avoid the busiest times, try not to arrive right when classes are changing over, which typically happens on the hour. Arriving mid‑morning or early afternoon on a weekday usually makes for a less chaotic parking experience.

If you encounter smoky conditions that reduce visibility, your top priority should be safety. Slow down significantly, switch on your dipped headlights to be more visible to other drivers, and increase the following distance between you and the vehicle ahead. Avoid using full beams, as the light can reflect off the smoke and impair your vision further. Always check DriveBC for road advisories before heading out, as conditions can change quickly.

The drive from Kelowna to Vernon is mostly a flat, valley‑bottom trip along Highway 97. However, the route from Vernon up to Silver Star Mountain Resort involves a steep and winding mountain access road. As you gain elevation expect a noticeable drop in temperature and a significant change in weather. It can be sunny in the valley while snowing at the resort, so always be prepared for winter conditions on the mountain road.

To create a comfortable itinerary, focus on wineries located on flatter, more accessible terrain. The wineries along the main stretch of Boucherie Road in West Kelowna or in East Kelowna are great choices as they don't require navigating steep, twisting backroads. Combine these stops with nearby lakeside parks, which are also on main roads. Breaking up the drive with frequent stops for fresh air and scenery will help ensure everyone enjoys the day.

When kerb space is tight, the best strategy is to use designated passenger loading zones, often marked in white, which allow brief stops. If none is available, the safest and most efficient method is for the driver to do a quick circuit of the block while the passenger waits on the pavement with their luggage. This allows for a very quick stop to load the bags without double‑parking or blocking a lane on a busy street.

For a safe place to adjust bikes and kit, the large, well‑lit car parks of community parks like City Park or Mission Creek Regional Park are excellent options. These areas are public, generally busy, and offer plenty of open space to work without being too close to traffic. Supermarket or shopping centre car parks also provide a secure, well‑lit environment, especially if you need to stop in the evening.

Drivers new to the area are often caught out when the speed limit on Highway 97 drops significantly as it enters Kelowna's commercial core and transforms into a city street. Speed limits also decrease abruptly when entering towns such as Peachland and Lake Country. Be especially vigilant for school and playground zones, which have much lower limits at certain times and are strictly enforced.

A great strategy is to focus on a cluster of beaches within walking distance of each other. For example, park once in the downtown area near City Park and walk to Hot Sands Beach, then continue along the waterfront promenade to Tugboat Bay. Another approach is to park at a central beach in the Mission area, like Boyce‑Gyro, and walk or cycle along the scenic Abbott Street corridor to reach other nearby beaches and parks.

The drive from YLW to Lake Country is straightforward: simply head north on Highway 97. The main potential confusion for visitors is identifying the correct turn‑off for the specific part of Lake Country they are heading to, such as Winfield, Oyama or Carr's Landing. The highway signs appear quickly, so having your sat‑nav active and knowing the name of your exit ahead of time is the best way to avoid missing it.

For an early morning flight, it's wise to leave your downtown hotel about 2½ to 3 hours before departure. The drive to YLW can take anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes during the morning commute. This timeline provides a comfortable buffer for unexpected traffic, allows time for car hire return and ensures you can get through security and to your gate without feeling rushed.

When driving at night in the Okanagan, especially on rural roads or highways outside the city centre, be vigilant for wildlife. Deer are very common in the region and frequently cross roads, particularly at dusk and dawn. Reduce your speed, scan the road edges and use full beams when there's no oncoming traffic to give yourself the best chance of spotting an animal in time to react safely.

The most frequent mistake visitors make is staying on Highway 97 (Harvey Avenue) for too long and missing the key downtown turn‑offs. To reach the waterfront you need to turn north onto streets like Pandosy or Ellis, but the signs can be easy to miss amid the busy commercial landscape. Many drivers only realise their error once they're heading towards the bridge. Using a sat‑nav and knowing you need to turn off the main highway is the key to finding the waterfront.

The drive between Kelowna and Kamloops is roughly two hours, and breaking it up can make it more enjoyable. A perfect place for a stop is Vernon, located about 45 minutes north of Kelowna, where you can find coffee shops and parks. Another good option for a shorter break is the historic town of Falkland, roughly halfway and offering a pleasant spot to stretch your legs before continuing the second half of your journey.

During a concert or hockey game the streets immediately around Prospera Place become very congested and nearby car parks fill quickly. A smart strategy is to park in a downtown parkade a few blocks away, like Chapman or Library Parkade, and enjoy a short walk to the venue. For a faster exit after the event, parking further south of the arena allows you to access main roads like Pandosy Street, helping you avoid the worst of the traffic heading for Highway 97.

Staying in hillside neighbourhoods such as the Upper Mission or on the west side often means navigating very steep and winding roads. Driveways can also be narrow and sharply inclined, requiring careful manoeuvring. While this is manageable in summer, winter conditions can make these streets challenging. If you're visiting in snowy season, a vehicle with good winter tyres is highly recommended for better traction and safety on these inclines.

Mobile signal can be unreliable in more rural areas where some wineries are located. The most practical solution is to download the map of the Kelowna region to your chosen navigation app before you leave your accommodation. This allows your phone's GPS to continue providing directions even without a data connection. It's also a good idea to quickly review the route beforehand so you have a general idea of the key turns.

After driving in snowy conditions your hire car will likely be covered in snow, slush and road salt. It's sensible to plan for a few extra minutes at the airport return area. Before you pull into the designated return lane, take a moment to brush any heavy snow off the roof and windows. This simple step makes the vehicle check‑in process smoother for staff and helps you gather all your belongings without getting wet or dirty.

For a relaxed evening, plan to cross the bridge to Westbank (the main town centre of West Kelowna) in the mid‑afternoon, after the lunch rush but before the evening commute. After exploring the area, drive up to a viewpoint along the Boucherie Road wine trail for a beautiful sunset. Following the sunset, enjoy an early dinner at a restaurant in West Kelowna. This schedule lets you drive back to Kelowna later in the evening and avoid peak westbound and eastbound rush‑hour traffic.