A standard rideshare from Downtown Vancouver to Grouse Mountain costs about $25 at normal demand, and the likely range is $22 to $30. The distance is 12 km and the drive takes about 20 minutes.
How we got that price
The estimate uses average rideshare rates, not Uber’s own pricing. Those rates are a $2.50 base fare, $1.15 per km, $0.35 per minute and a $2 booking fee. The first three are multiplied by a demand factor.
The Uber app shows the actual upfront price, and it can differ from ours.
When demand is high
A busy period (1.2 times) puts the fare near $30. Very busy (1.5 times) is about $37, and a peak (2 times) is about $49.
That is a wide gap for the same ride, so it pays to look at the app before you commit. If the number is high, waiting a little can bring it down.
Larger vehicles cost more again. Comfort is about $31, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $36, and Premier is about $54.
Taxi fare up to Grouse Mountain
We did not find a published taxi tariff for this area. Two published tariffs, from Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi, use a $3.75 flag fee and $2.18 per km. For 12 km that is a meter estimate of about $30. The meter would also add charges for any waiting and extras.
Companies differ, so ask for a quote when you phone. Vancouver Taxi is on 604-871-1111, Yellow Cab Vancouver is on 604-681-1111, and MacLure’s Cabs is on 604-831-1111.
Getting there and back
A mountain destination is a place where people tend to arrive and leave around the same hours, so a ride back may cost more than the ride out. Check the app before you head down, and allow extra time if you are catching something afterward.
Wear what suits the weather, since you may be standing outside while you wait for the car. Share the exact meeting point in the app, and tell the driver if you have skis, a bag of gear or anything else that takes space. If your group is large, XL is the safer pick.
Anyone who uses a wheelchair should phone ahead and reserve an accessible vehicle.
A taxi at $30 is above the normal rideshare price of $25, yet it matches the busy rideshare figure and sits below the very busy and peak ones. So the cheaper choice depends on the hour you travel. Check the app first, then phone if the number looks steep.