Whistler is not very big, but it's also not small and you can't walk everywhere (especially if you are staying outside of the village). There are three main bases in Whistler: Creekside (south), the Main Village and the Upper Village (Blackcomb base). There is gondola access from each of these bases but if you are staying outside of these areas you will need to take some sort of transport to one of the bases to upload. 

GET THE BUS:

The buses in Whistler are great. They come often, on time and can get you anywhere you need to go. It also saves you from driving a rental car in the snow and finding parking (which is expensive and can be a long walk from the gondola). Kids 5 and under ride free.

The buses run all year but the schedules change based on the season. You can find the bus route map here and the current bus schedule here.

TAKE A TAXI:

If you need to get somewhere quickly and don't want to wait for the bus, you can call a taxi. They are not cheap but it's the quickest way to get around if you don't have a car and you'll never be going more than 10-15 mins within Whistler!

Whistler Resort Cabs: +1 604-938-1515
Whistler Taxi: +1 604-932-3333

RENT A CAR:

Having a car will give you the most freedom and is the best option if you are coming in the summer. There are so many things to see and do around Whistler, a car will give you the opportunity to explore way more and even visit Squamish and Pemberton. You can get around on the Valley Trail with bikes in the summer but kids don't always want to bike very far so having a car gives you valuable options!

In the winter, having a car can be more trouble than it's worth because of the snowy roads and lack of parking. If you are staying in the Main Village, Upper Village or Creekside, you won't need a car as you can walk to the gondola. If you are staying outside of those areas and you are not close to a bus stop then you will need a rental car!

You can book a rental car here.

PARKING #1, 2 AND 3 ON ABOVE MAP:

Day lots 1-5 (#1 on the map above) are in the Main Village. These lots have fees depending on the time of day and year. 

Day lots 6-8 (#2 on the map) are free and are located at Base 2. Only open in winter.

Creekside underground (#3 on the map) is also free and is located in Creekside.

HOTEL SHUTTLES:

Some hotels offer free shuttles within the resort just for staying there! 

USE THE VALLEY TRAIL:

The Valley Trail connects all of Whistler with a beautiful, winding, paved trail perfect for walking and biking. The valley trail is mostly accessible the whole year though it can get slippery and snowy. This is a super fun way to get around in the summer hopping from lake to lake on bikes.