bowlsman

Hello all, Can I have some comments as to how realistic it is to drive from Calgary to Vancouver in 5 days (4 overnight stops). We (just two seniors) want to stop at the most scenic points but we are not great walkers! Ideas on medium to good hotels / motels on the way would also be useful. We will be travelling next July.
Thanks in advance

ShelliDawn

It's very realistic to make the drive in 5 days. I routinely make the trip in 11 hours only making stops for gas/food a couple of times.

I'm sure Judy will have some excellent itinerary suggestions for you, but some more details would probably be helpful. For example, are there any places between Calgary/Vancouver that you know you would like to stop and see? How much driving are you willing/able to do per day?

bowlsman

Thanks for your quick response. I do not know the area at all but I feel that Lake Louise, Banff and Jasper are all places to see. Whilst I am quite happy to drive for 5 or 6 hours / 300 miles per day, I do not want to see fabulous scenery only through a windscreen at 55 mph! I look forward to more responses.

ShelliDawn

Hi,

I'm surprised Judy hasn't replied; she's very good at suggesting itineraries. I did a search and found her website which has some suggestions which may be helpful to you:

http://groups.msn.com/CalgaryandCana...kiesTravelTips

She has a 6 day VANCOUVER - ROCKIES - CALGARY itinerary which you could modify and do in reverse.

Where you end up going sort of depends on where you want to spend your time. The above route is very Rockies intensive and doesn't really have any stops in BC. You could simply drive between Calgary and Vancouver and pick places to stop along the way. There's always something beautiful to see along the way.

There's a number of routes you can take to Vancouver as well.

1. Calgary -> Banff -> Lake Louise -> Golden -> Revelstoke -> (Kamloops or Kelowna) -> Vancouver

2. Calgary -> Crowsnest Pass -> Cranbrook -> Creston -> Nelson -> Osoyoos -> Hope -> Vancouver

3. Calgary -> Banff -> Radium Hot Springs -> Cranbrook -> Creston -> Nelson -> Osoyoos -> Hope -> Vancouver

Please note that I'm not suggesting that you stop/stay overnight at all of the towns on the route. They're listed so you can follow the route on a map.

The first one is the most direct and probably the more popular route making the second and third are more "out of the way".

The second one misses Banff/Lake Louise completely and that may be unacceptable to you. However, what you do get is a beautiful drive south of Calgary along the foothills with the mountains rising on one side of the car and the prairies stretching to the horizon on the other before you turn west into the mountains at Crowsnest Pass. It's one of my favourite drives.

The third one is sort of a hybrid of the first two as it goes through Banff, but then turns south to Radium. On that route you drive through Kootenay National Park.

I hope that sparks some ideas for you.

If you do decide to go through Kamploops, I recommend NOT taking the Coquihalla highway (#5) to Hope. Instead stay on the #1. The Coquihalla was built for a faster route and isn't that scenic. It also is a toll highway. The #1 is very scenic and because everyone's taking the faster Coquihalla, it's a pleasant drive from a traffic standpoint.

bowlsman

Thanks again for your response.

Having looked at your further comments and Judy's website I can pretty much work out what we will do. Our trip is still a while away but I will let you know how we got on - though not until next July!

Many thanks again.

Judy_in_Calgary

>>>>>>I'm surprised Judy hasn't replied<<<<<<

LOL. My husband and I were in the mountains for a few days.

You provided great information, ShelliDawn, and bowlsman seems to have sorted things out, so all is well.

bowlsman

You are both so good, I really appreciate it. Things have become a little bit more complicated! We are now meeting my sister (she lives in Winnipeg) at Calgary. Trip now looks like: Calgary - Banff - Jasper - Edmonton (To drop my siter at her daughter's home!) - Then we are off again to Jasper - Kamloops - Vancouver (All in six glorious days) and then a nice restful cruise to Anchorage! If I think of anything else that I need to know I will post accordingly.

ShelliDawn & Judy - if you ever need help with the UK, please email me.

Regards,

bowlsman (Harry)

bowlsman

Thanks again to all of you who have replied to my question. We have listened and acted accordingly. I shall let you know how we got on when we return at the end of July.

Many thanks.

lucielou

Hello Everyone

We are doing the same journey this year, Landing in Calgary, and making out way to Vancouver, but we are taking 21 days to spend a few days in each place. I'm having a hard time, wondering where to stay between Jasper and Vancouver, as its a very long drive, so we thought a night in sun peaks and a night in Harrison lake, does that make sense?

Also if anyone has any suggestions as to what area is best to stay in Vancouver, i'd really appreciate it. We plan to spend the final 10 days in Vancouver, so thought renting a place would be best. We have to firt two nights sorted out in Calgary, but still a bit lost as to where to stay in Banff, and Jasper.

Also, I would really appreciate advice on the best Car Rental company. This is our first trip to Canada, we've wanted to take this trip for years, but werent in a financial position to do it until now, and even though i'm really excited, i feel very daunted by all the planning required, so If there are any kind folk out there who would like to help me with any of the above, i would be eternally grateful.

Lucie

lucielou

Sorry about my typo's in the previous post, its should read " we have the first two nights sorted out in Calgary"

lucielou

Just topping!

We have our accommodation for Calgary,Banff, and Jasper sorted, but we would really appreciate any info on a suitable area to stop for one night on the way to Vancouver from Jasper, we thought Harrison, but have been told its very quiet/dead, so our other idea was maybe Sun Peaks, but we are finding it difficult to get accommodation here for one night.

We hoped to get a family room ( sleeps 4) but if necessary we will take 2 doubles/twins.

We were hoping for a budget of around 200 CAD for the night.

Thanks in advance.
Lucie

bowlsman

Hello,

We will be staying in Sun Peaks at the Delta. I have spoken to the hotel and they were very friendly. b & b for one night was no problem. In Jasper we have a room booked at the Park Place Inn which has been very well recommended

lucielou

Hi Bowlsmann

Many thanks for your response, I shall check out the Delta.

Lucie