Google map indicates that going to Missoula is a detour if going directly to Whitefish, the west entrance to Glacier, from Spokane. So why do it?

No, I think this is doable. I cannot comment on Missoula though, so at this point will just assume that is not on the schedule.

You might try Priceline for a hotel (3*) at Spokane airport the night of your arrival. If you manage to win the airport Ramada, you can actually just walk across the street to it - it's right there at the airport, next to the rental car lot. That will let you pick up your car the next morning early and get on the road.

Spokane is our preferred airport when we visit Banff. You can go up I-95 into Canada, or return that way.

Canmore is only about 20 minutes from the entrance to Banff. When we visit Banff, we might stay in Banff or Canmore, and definitely come and go between spots. A good number of restaurants in Canmore. There is a farmers market there on the weekend that is nice; you can even buy elk or bison meat.

For Jasper, you should not plan that as a day trip but rather spend a few days there in itself. Same for Glacier, of course. The rest are close enough that you could really do any of them in a day trip from a home base, if you wanted.

Don't get a hotel room in Spokane. Get on the Amtrak Empire Builder about 1AM and be in Whitefish by 9:30 AM.
Rent your car there. What month are we talking about? The season to drive the Going to the Sun Road is short.
The road opened all the way through on June 15 this year. There has been at least 1 mudslide that closed the road for a while since then. I expect the road will be closed by snow sometime in mid October- maybe earlier.
US 89 north through St. Mary to the Canadian border is very interesting. Make sure you all have good passports.

From Spokane, take Interstate 90 to Highway 135 at St Regis Montana. Follow 135 till you reach Mt. Highway 200. Take 200
till you reach U.S. 93. Take 93 north to Kalispell, Mt. to U. S.Highway 2. Go east on U.S.2 to Glacier Park.
135, 200 and 93 are VERY scenic roads. Should take you approx. 5 hours from Spokane.
In the park, stop at the Apgar visitors center for info. on hiking. The Rangers there can line you up with hikes according to your ability and can inform you of the latest trail conditions.
Note that the border crossings around St. Mary's are only opened 7 AM till 10 pm. Check with Rangers in the visitors center for the latest on opening and closing border times. crossings.

CORRECTION FOR ASTEIN!!!!!!!

CORRECTION FOR ASTEIN!!!!!!!!!


Interstate 90 to St. Regis, Mt. At St. Regis pick up Mt. 135 till just outside Plains, Mt. where you will pick up Mt. 28.
Follow 28 till you hit U.S. 93 north to Kalispell, Mt. At Kalispell, pick up U. S. 2 to Glacier Park.

No to Missoula...unless you have a compelling reason.

Yes to Calgary. The view of the Rockies if you drive westward from Calgary to BC is absolutely spectacular.

Lake Louise is drop dead gorgeous.

Canmore is fine for a drive-through, or maybe a meal, but it isn't a "destination" in itself, more like an outpost of Banff.

Nice – someone who wants to spend 14 days rather than squeeze it into 7.

Here’s a circle trip that I’d do:

Don’t bother trying to get to Coeur d’Alene that first night (it’s not all that special – reserve your time for more dramatic areas – and you’ll be tired by the time you pick up your bags and rental car. IMPORTANT: check if your rental car place is still open for an 11:00 PM arrival !!). Stay near the airport or just east of downtown Spokane in Spokane Valley … lots of motels there.

Day 1:
Driving Spokane to Glacier: John’s advice above is right on … it’s the most scenic, AND the easiest driving, AND the fastest – seldom does a route have that combination.
Definitely I’d not aim for Missoula. If you want to stop in a town aim for Whitefish just west of Glacier – a ski town, lots of 20 somethings. Personally, I’d just shoot for Glacier.
WARNING about Glacier: most accommodations book far ahead and you might not find a place. Search now. If you’re camping there’s not quite the same problem.

Days 2, 3, & 4:
Spend time at Glacier … minimum one day minimum with a long hike & 1 day Going-to-the-Sun Hwy if you’re there when its open.

Day 5:
Skip Calgary … not enough time and its like many other cities (Denver, etc)
From Glacier north to Banff I’d drive the following route through the foothills and ranchland where the prairies meet the Rockies. It’s sort of a back-door to Banff and is definitely the most scenic + the best driving conditions (though NOT in winter): From Glacier drive US 89 north to Montana Hwy 17 (following the signs to Waterton Lakes National Park) to the Canadian border then Alberta 6 to Pincher Creek, there dodge west a few miles to Alberta 22, then north again to Longview, there head west on Alberta 541, which becomes Alberta 40 through Kananaskis to the Trans Canada Hwy. 1, thence west into Banff. Driving time 5 hrs + stops.
If you can steal an extra day go to Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada … if for nothing more than to see the magnificent Prince of Wales hotel located on a peninsula in the lake.

Day 6, 7, 8 – Banff and Lake Louise
Lots of potential hikes and scenery. 2 of my favorite hikes: (1) from Lake Louise hike the Plain of Six Glaciers trail to the Tea House and beyond, and (2) Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Google them.

Day 9 – drive the Icefields Parkway to Robson
Especiaalt don’t miss Peyto Lake not the Athabasca Glacier which use to comedown to the road (its retreated a bit .. now very touristy, you can take specialized Bombadier busses onto the glacier.

Day 10 – Robson – misc. hiking

Day 11 – drive back on the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise & Yoho

Days 12 - & 13 Yoho – a hike and stay at the Abbott Hut sounds fantastic if you can swing the reservations. If you can’t get reservations at the Abbott hut, hike and explore the Brugess Shale fields high in the mountains of Yoho … a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the world’s outstanding paleontology sites – Google it.

Day 14 – Drive the Trans Canada west to Golden, thence Hwy. 93 to Cranbrook, thence Hwy. Hwy 95 to Spokane