Getting Here & Parking

Q: Why are you implementing a carpool incentive program? Why now?

A: Traffic and parking are important elements of the guest experience at our resort, and we are committed to implementing tactics that help make your arrival as seamless as possible. After taking a deep dive into our current parking practices and resort traffic patterns, analyzing our own parking capacity and constraints, learning from other resorts across our network, and much consideration and conversation here in-resort, we believe that trialing a program that incentivizes carpooling will have a positive impact on vehicle driving behaviour.

Q: What are the details of the program? When will it start?

This is a trial program that incentivizes carpooling by providing free priority parking access to vehicles with four or more residents and guests of Whistler. We will launch it on November 22, 2024 – our target opening date for the Winter 2024/25 season and will use Creekside Garage P1 and Upper Lot 7. The program will run on peak days between 6:00-11:00am. Qualifying vehicles will receive priority access to these lots. After 11:00am, these lots will open to all vehicles.

Q: Which lots will be part of the carpooling program?

A: Creekside Garage P1 level and Upper Lot 7.

Q: Is there a fee or will reservations be required?

A: Parking in these lots remains free and no reservations are required at this time.

Q: What are the hours of the carpooling program?

A: Creekside Garage P1 level and Upper Lot 7 will be carpool-only for vehicles with 4+ occupants between 6:00am-11:00am on weekends and peak days during the winter season. After 11:00am, these lots will open to all vehicles.

Q: What qualifies as a “peak day”?

A: Peak days are defined as weekends (Saturday & Sunday), stat holidays and holiday periods including December 27-30 inclusive, Family Day (February 17) and Presidents Week (w/o February 17), Easter (April 18 weekend) and Spring Break (March 17-28). 

Q: How are you defining the “weekend?”

A: We define the weekend period as Saturday and Sunday.

Q: How will this program be implemented?

A: Our parking team will support the implementation of this program by managing and monitoring access to the designated carpool lots to ensure that those vehicles that qualify are granted access during the allotted entry times of 6:00am-11:00am. The team will then facilitate the opening of these lots to all vehicles.

Q: Do Creekside P1 and Lot 7 have accessible parking?

A: Yes. Creekside P1 and Lot 7 each have four accessible parking spaces. Lots 6 and 8 each have two, with Lot 6 receiving an additional two for the upcoming winter season. Creekside’s overheight, and levels P2 and P3 each have four accessible parking spaces.

Q: What if four people plus gear won’t fit in my car?

A: If you are unable to carpool with 4+, you may park in the Municipality’s paid parking lots 1-5 or our free lots 6-8. You may also park for free in the remaining levels of the Creekside Garage. If you are in-resort, there are plenty of public transit options available, as well.

Q: Where can I park for free on weekends and peak periods?

A: Currently, free parking is offered at the Creekside Garage (other than the P1 level), as well as Lots 6, 7 and 8. As previously noted, level P1 of the Creekside Garage and Upper Lot 7 will be the locations of the free trial carpool program during weekends and peak periods, from 6am-11am, for vehicles with 4+ occupants. After 11:00am, any remaining spots in these two lots will be opened to the public, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle.

Q: How will this program positively impact the arrival experience at Whistler-Blackcomb?  

A: Data and recent parking programs at other resorts show that incentivizing carpooling improves overall parking and traffic flow efficiency by increasing overall occupancy and decreasing the total number of cars on the road. 

Q: How will my experience be impacted if I am not carpooling with 4+ people?  

A: For those not carpooling with 4+, there are the Municipality’s paid parking options in Lots 1-5, as well as plenty of other free lots, including Lots 6 and 8, and the remaining levels of the Creekside Garage. After 11:00am, level P1 of Creekside Garage and Upper Lot 7 will become available to all vehicles, regardless of number of passengers in the vehicle. If you are in-resort, there are plenty of public transit options available, as well.  

We are confident this free trial carpool program will positively impact all of those visiting Whistler-Blackcomb by reducing traffic congestion to and around the resort, through the removal of vehicles from the road. Reduced congestion will also improve space availability in our parking lots.  

Q: Will you be offering a shuttle from Creekside to the Main and Upper Villages? 

A: We currently do not have plans to provide a shuttle service from Creekside. However, as a reminder, Whistler Mountain is serviced by the 10-passenger Creekside Gondola.  

Q: Is paid reservation-based parking coming to Whistler Blackcomb in the future?  

A: We are not considering this option for the 2024/25 winter season. We are always evaluating our options and taking in feedback related to our parking and arrivals experience. 

Q: Is this trial carpool program part of a bigger plan to improve resort traffic and parking at Whistler-Blackcomb?  

A: This carpool program is a trial within a year-long parking study to objectively measure, observe, estimate and record key parking and mobility characteristics of the vehicle traffic attracted to the resort on typical and peak days.  

We are constantly analyzing data and examining our own practices related to parking and arrivals/traffic flow and are committed to ongoing improvement. The results of this program will inform decisions related to our parking and arrivals experience in future seasons.