snewt770

We (two adults) are driving from Spokane to Banff on Sunday morning. Which route is fastest - Coeur D'Alene I-95 all the way into Banff or the route through Penticton, Kelowna that leads to the Trans Canadian Hwy west of Revelstoke? Or is there an even better route one would suggest? Travel time is most important, but enjoying a beautiful drive would be nice if drive times are fairly equal. We're leaving soon, so a prompt response would be much appreciated!

elbegewa

Spokane via Hwy 95 & Cranbrok to Radium Hot Springs, then Hwy 93 through Kootenay National Park to Banff is fastest and easiest driving by far - about 7 or 8 hrs

I can't imagine why you would even think about going west from Spokane to Penticton then up to the Trans Canada then east to Banff unless you just wanted to do a *long* driving tour. Mind you, it would be a beautiful trip, but it would take about 12 hrs.

Both, IMHO, have about = scenery (partly mountains, partly lakes, partly mundane terrain), though Okanagon Lake north of Penticton is an attractive destination in itself.

The drive on the Trans canada from Revelstoke east will have *lots* of traffic, while the Hwys 95 & 93 from Cranbrook to Banff will have far less traffic once you get north of the horrible traffic through the suburbs just north of Coeur D'Alene.

I've driven Seattle to Calgary round trip about once every year for the last 20 years by a great variety of routes. The easiest & fastest is Seattle - Spokane - Cranbrook - Crowsnest Pass - Calgary (somewhat similar to the above recommended route). My next best choice would be Seattle - Kamloops - Revelstoke - Trans Canada Hwy. - Banff - Calgary.

tomfuller

If this is with a rental car, get on the Empire Builder at 1:30AM in Spokane and ride to Whitefish MT. Rent your car in Whitefish or Kalispell.
The lakes of Idaho are beautiful but not as nice as Lake Louise.