veronicac2007

Hi there, we are leaving shortly on a 10 day road trip to Edmonton and then Drumheller from Victoria BC. We are hauling a 25ft travel trailer. We have two children so want to take plenty of stops. Can someone please take a look at out plan and offer any suggestions? We haven't really mapped out coming home. We would rather come home a faster, easier route, if possible.
*Day 1, Drive from Van to Kamloops and camp
*Day 2, Drive from Kamploops to Jasper and camp
*Day 3, Drive to Edmonton and stay for 4 days with friends
*Day 7, Drive to Drumheller and camp (we haven't decided if we should stay one or two days
That's all we really have so far. We would like to leave Drumheller and get home in just a few days. Is that reasonable?
Thank you for any advice you can offer!
V.

ltt

a suggestion. instead of stopping in kamloops, consider staying around well's grey provincial park/clear water. the park is really beautiful - if you have time they have one day white water rafting trips. plenty of waterfalls and great hiking. there is also a lake - dutch lake - that has decent swimming.
kamloops is a good spot just for a sleep but nothing too exciting.
it's not a long drive from clear water to jasper. i'd recommend at least 2 nights in jasper. if you want services for your trailer, whistler is a popular campground. if you want more secluded, no services, pit toilets but nice river and beautiful setting, consider snaring river campgound. a note...trains run frequently through jasper. you may want to consider bringing ear plugs for the night if you are a light sleeper.
if you are driving from edmonton to drumheller, i would recommend staying two nights. by the time you get there and set up, you'll want the evening and a full day to explore the area.
then just scoot back through banff.
if you have an extra day, stop in summerland/penticton for sometime at the beach

ShelliDawn

The most direct route from Drumheller/Calgary to Vancouver/Victoria is the TransCanada Highway and taking the route through Kamloops so you can take the Coquihalla to Vancouver. However, since you came through Kamloops on your to Alberta, you might want to go through Kelowna on the way back.

I would recommend stopping in either Banff or Yoho parks for your first stop. It's about a 4 hour drive between Drumheller and Lake Louise, add another 1/2 hour to get to Field. After that, it depends on how many days you want to spend on the road. Although, your post title says Vancouver, your post text says Victoria. On the assumption that you're returning to Victoria and have to factor in the ferry, I'd suggest another two days. That means a stop somewhere in the Okanogan and then home to Victoria on the third day.

Borealis

If you want an easy quick drive home, why not try doing your trip route in reverse? Start out by driving to Drumheller instead of Edmonton.
Drive home from Edmonton to Vancouver via Jasper-Kamloops-the Coquihalla-Vancouver etc.
The Yellowhead through Jasper to Kamloops is a much easier drive than the Trans Canada through the Rockies.

You could then break up your journey to Drumheller into several days, stopping for a while in the Okanagan (beaches for the kids, wineries for the parents ;-) ), and a little while in the Rockies too (Lake Louise, for example). Hauling a trailer plus two kids, it'll probably take about 3 hours to get from Lake Louise to Calgary. Drumheller is about 1.5 hours driving from Calgary (with no kids and no trailer we've made it in about an hour).

Just a suggestion anyway. . . . .

veronicac2007

Thanks for all of the input. We do live in Victoria but of thought it may be easier to explain from Vancouver. I wondered about coming back and visiting Banff etc but I was wondering about the trailer on what I have been told is very steep. Anybody travel this route with a trailer?
Thanks!
V.