Best way to get from Seattle to Lake Louise/Banff area
Feb 24th, 2014, 07:38 AM
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Best way to get from Seattle to Lake Louise/Banff area
Our family of 4 will be in Seattle in early August. We would like to take a quick trip to see Lake Louise/Banff. Is this doable? Is there an inexpensive train? Is it a crazy idea?
Feb 24th, 2014, 09:54 AM
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How many days do you have for this? It's at least a long day's drive each way (commonly broken into 2 days each way), plus whatever time you can spend there. Personally, I would says it's much too far for a "quick trip."
Feb 24th, 2014, 12:35 PM
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I agree that it's not a quick trip.
There is no train that does that route. You'd have to drive (or bus) and it's a solid 10hrs of driving, not counting the border crossing or delays due to traffic or bad weather. Plus, it's gorgeous country, so you don't want to be zooming through.
Also, the first Monday in August is a holiday in most of Canada (including Alberta), and is often the busiest weekend of the summer. So, for that long weekend, you'd need to book accommodations as far in advance as possible.
There is no train that does that route. You'd have to drive (or bus) and it's a solid 10hrs of driving, not counting the border crossing or delays due to traffic or bad weather. Plus, it's gorgeous country, so you don't want to be zooming through.
Also, the first Monday in August is a holiday in most of Canada (including Alberta), and is often the busiest weekend of the summer. So, for that long weekend, you'd need to book accommodations as far in advance as possible.
Feb 24th, 2014, 12:42 PM
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I recall having once driven from Jasper, AB to Seattle in 10 hours of Driving time, in a day, and the online mapping features suggest that Banff would add a tiny bit to that.
(long, contemplative pause) I dunno, I would say that I'd base part of my feeling on whether you should do so on just where you are from. For if, say, you were from the Gulf Coast, and wanted to see the mountains... then maybe it is worth it to you to make the trip. But if you were from Colorado, it wouldn't enhance much of what you've already experienced.
Furthermore, you could get to the west entrance to Glacier National Park, Montana in just over eight hours of driving time, with no international boundaries to slow you down.
The speed limits are liberal en route to Montana, with few people on the roads for most of that stretch, and no concerns about foreign issues if anything goes awry.
Also, there are considerable mountain options in various directions from Seattle, most of which demand FAR less time than ten hours one-way.
I guess we'd want to know your inspiration for seeing Banff/Lake Louise before we could best help you to decide whether or not to go for it.
(long, contemplative pause) I dunno, I would say that I'd base part of my feeling on whether you should do so on just where you are from. For if, say, you were from the Gulf Coast, and wanted to see the mountains... then maybe it is worth it to you to make the trip. But if you were from Colorado, it wouldn't enhance much of what you've already experienced.
Furthermore, you could get to the west entrance to Glacier National Park, Montana in just over eight hours of driving time, with no international boundaries to slow you down.
The speed limits are liberal en route to Montana, with few people on the roads for most of that stretch, and no concerns about foreign issues if anything goes awry.
Also, there are considerable mountain options in various directions from Seattle, most of which demand FAR less time than ten hours one-way.
I guess we'd want to know your inspiration for seeing Banff/Lake Louise before we could best help you to decide whether or not to go for it.
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