Mountains behind you.
Ocean in front of you.
And absolutely no compelling reason to be in a hurry.
Welcome to Comox.
Sitting on the east coast of Vancouver Island in the Comox Valley, this waterfront community gives you beaches, marine adventures, wildlife, local food and spectacular views — while Courtenay, Cumberland and Mount Washington are all close enough to completely change the day whenever you feel like it.
Comox is also perfectly positioned on a Vancouver Island road trip north from Nanaimo toward Campbell River.
The problem?
You might not want to keep driving.
Here are some of the best things to do in Comox, BC.
Why Visit Comox?
Comox gives you a distinctly coastal version of the Comox Valley.
While neighbouring Courtenay connects you with the river and valley and Cumberland pulls you toward the forest, Comox points you toward the water.
Around Comox, you can explore:
- Beaches
- Marina and waterfront
- Coastal parks
- Wildlife
- Kayaking and paddling
- Local food
- Hiking
- Nearby islands
- Comox Valley farms
- Mountain adventures
- Camping
And then there’s the view.
Ocean in the foreground.
Coastal mountains beyond.
Not bad infrastructure for a road trip stop.
1. Explore the Comox Marina + Waterfront
Start where Comox meets the water.
The marina and surrounding waterfront make an easy introduction to the community.
Walk.
Watch the boats.
Look across the water.
Find something to eat.
Then continue walking because the mountains in the distance keep making you stop.
You don’t need to overcomplicate this one.
Sometimes being beside the ocean is the activity.
2. Visit Goose Spit Park
If there’s one Comox coastal stop that deserves to be on the route, Goose Spit is it.
The narrow stretch of land extends into the surrounding waters, creating expansive coastal views and a completely different perspective on the Comox shoreline.
Walk the beach.
Watch the tide.
Look for birds.
Bring coffee.
Stay for sunset.
This is the kind of place where the original plan becomes increasingly irrelevant.
3. Check the Tide
The east coast of Vancouver Island changes dramatically with the tides.
That means the beach you see at 10:00 a.m. may feel like a completely different landscape later that afternoon.
Before heading out:
Check the tide.
Low tide can expose large sections of shoreline and tidal habitat.
Higher water transforms the coastline again.
Don’t just visit a beach.
Watch it change.
4. Explore Kin Beach
Comox and the surrounding coastline offer several places to get close to the water, including the Kin Beach area.
It’s another option for travellers looking for a slower coastal stop away from a packed itinerary.
Bring food.
Walk the shore.
Look toward the mountains.
And if you’re travelling by campervan?
This is precisely why you wanted wheels in the first place.
5. Look for Wildlife
Comox’s location along the coast and surrounding estuarine environments makes wildlife part of the experience.
Depending on season and location, you may encounter:
Bald eagles
Seals
Marine birds
Deer
and other wildlife throughout the broader valley.
Keep looking offshore, too.
The best wildlife sighting is often the one nobody scheduled.
Our Vancouver Island Wildlife Guide can help you build a larger wildlife-focused road trip.
6. Go Kayaking
Want a completely different perspective on Comox?
Get on the water.
Kayaking and other paddling experiences can provide access to coastal scenery you simply don’t get from the road.
If you’re unfamiliar with local waters, consider an appropriate guided experience.
Weather.
Wind.
Tides.
Currents.
Marine traffic.
They all matter.
The ocean gets the final vote.
7. Explore the Comox Valley Food Scene
Come hungry.
The broader Comox Valley has a strong agricultural and local-food identity, which means eating should be considered part of the itinerary rather than the thing you squeeze between activities.
Look for:
Local farms.
Bakeries.
Restaurants.
Markets.
Food producers.
Coffee.
Lots of coffee.
Find something grown here.
Eat somewhere independent.
Talk to someone who lives here.
That’s how a place starts feeling like more than another pin on Google Maps.
8. Stop at a Farm or Market
One of the advantages of exploring the Comox Valley by road is being able to stop when something catches your attention.
Farm stand?
Pull over.
Seasonal market?
Investigate.
Sign advertising berries?
Obviously berries.
Availability varies throughout the year, so check current information if you’re travelling specifically for a particular market or producer.
Otherwise?
Leave some room for accidental discoveries.
9. Explore Courtenay
Comox and Courtenay are neighbours.
Treat them like it.
Courtenay gives you a different side of the valley with its downtown, river environment, shops, restaurants and access toward the surrounding forests.
Instead of asking:
Comox or Courtenay?
Ask:
What are we doing first?
Our complete Things to Do in Courtenay BC guide can build that side of the trip.
10. Spend a Day in Cumberland
Then go farther inland.
Cumberland feels completely different again.
The historic community is surrounded by forest and has become particularly associated with mountain biking and outdoor recreation.
Comox:
Ocean.
Cumberland:
Forest.
Same valley.
Very different day.
11. Head Up Mount Washington
And now things get even more ridiculous.
From the Comox Valley, you can travel from sea level toward the mountain environment around Mount Washington.
Depending on the season, the area can offer hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing, skiing and other mountain recreation.
Always check current conditions and operating information before heading up.
Then appreciate what just happened:
You started the day at the beach.
12. Explore Strathcona Country
The Comox Valley also puts you within reach of the mountain wilderness associated with Strathcona Provincial Park.
This is where casual road-trip exploration can turn into something considerably more serious.
Mountain trails.
Lakes.
Backcountry.
Wilderness.
If you’re heading into remote areas, prepare accordingly.
Check current trail and weather conditions.
Carry appropriate equipment.
Tell someone where you’re going.
The wilderness is spectacular precisely because it isn’t downtown Comox.
13. Take a Scenic Drive
You don’t always need a named attraction.
Comox Valley roads can take you between coastline, farmland, forest and mountain views surprisingly quickly.
So build some deliberate nothing into the itinerary.
Pick a direction.
Drive.
Stop when something looks interesting.
That’s not getting lost.
That’s research.
14. Find Somewhere for Coffee
Yes, coffee gets another section.
Because this is a road-trip guide.
Explore independent cafés around Comox and the broader valley.
Grab something.
Walk toward the water.
Congratulations.
You now understand JUSTGO’s advanced travel methodology.
15. Watch the Sunrise
Comox sits on Vancouver Island’s east coast.
Use that information.
Get up early.
Find the waterfront.
Look east.
Wait for the light.
On a clear morning, the combination of water, mountains and sky can be spectacular.
And because everyone else is sleeping?
Even better.
16. Stay for Sunset
Then do the opposite.
Goose Spit and other coastal areas can deliver beautiful evening conditions as light moves across the landscape.
Sunset doesn’t always mean staring directly west at the sun.
Sometimes the best part is watching the mountains, clouds and water change colour around you.
Stay five more minutes.
Comox With Kids
Comox works well for family road trips because the activities can be simple.
Beach.
Park.
Wildlife.
Food.
Paddling.
Farm.
Mountain.
Nobody needs to spend eight consecutive hours being culturally enriched.
Sometimes kids just need a beach and something to eat.
Our Vancouver Island With Kids guide has more family road-trip ideas.
Comox on a Rainy Day
Rain?
You’re still on Vancouver Island.
Find a café.
Explore local shops.
Eat something.
Head toward Courtenay.
Take a scenic drive.
Or put on waterproof clothing and walk the coast anyway.
The Comox Valley doesn’t stop existing because the weather app turned blue.
Check our Things to Do on Vancouver Island When It Rains guide for more ideas.
Parksville to Comox Road Trip
Travelling north from Nanaimo?
Build the journey:
NANAIMO
↓
PARKSVILLE
↓
QUALICUM BEACH
↓
COURTENAY
↓
COMOX
Now the drive itself has become several days of Vancouver Island.
Which is much more interesting than trying to set a personal record between Nanaimo and Campbell River.
Comox to Campbell River
When you’re ready to continue north:
COMOX
↓
CAMPBELL RIVER
From Campbell River, the Island starts opening into much more remote territory.
Continue toward:
Sayward
Woss
Telegraph Cove
Port McNeill
Port Hardy
Our Campbell River Travel Guide and North Vancouver Island Road Trip pick up from there.
How Long Should You Spend in Comox?
You can experience Comox in a day.
But if you’re exploring the entire Comox Valley, give yourself two or three days.
That gives you enough time to combine:
Comox
Courtenay
Cumberland
and potentially Mount Washington.
Four very different Vancouver Island experiences without moving accommodation every six hours.
Camping Around Comox
Camping in the broader Comox Valley can put you close to beaches, forests and northbound road-trip routes.
Depending on your plans, look at public and private camping options throughout the surrounding region.
Reservations, facilities and operating seasons vary.
Our Vancouver Island Camping Reservations Guide and Best Campgrounds on Vancouver Island can help with the planning.
Best Time to Visit Comox
There isn’t one Comox season.
Summer brings long days and popular coastal activities.
Spring turns the valley aggressively green.
Fall can bring quieter road trips and changing weather.
Winter creates one of the Comox Valley’s coolest contrasts:
Ocean below.
Snowy mountain recreation above.
Different season.
Same road trip.
Exploring Comox by Campervan or RV
Comox fits beautifully into a northbound Vancouver Island campervan or RV adventure.
Start around Nanaimo.
Explore Parksville.
Slow down in Qualicum Beach.
Spend time in Courtenay and Comox.
Then continue toward Campbell River.
JUSTGO campervan and RV experiences are available from the Nanaimo area, with current vehicle bookings and fleet operations managed through Island RV Rentals in Lantzville.
Don’t Pick Between the Ocean + Mountains
That’s the wrong question.
Comox lets you wake up beside the ocean, explore the valley and end the day looking toward the mountains.
Tomorrow?
You can go there.
Or head north.
Or stay beside the water.
That’s the point.
You don’t need to know exactly where the trip ends before you start it.
Discover what’s out there.
JUSTGO. 🚐🌊🏔️