I will be travelling with my 16yr old son and 13yr old daughter. Flying into Seattle Aug 1 and spending 4 nights in Glacier Natl Park MT Aug 6-10. We will be driving and would like some ideas of things to see and do on the way to Glacier and back to Seattle Aug 19th. Would like to travel both through Canada and the U.S. Thanks a lot!!!!!

I am topping for you to see if otheres more knowledgable than I about this route will see it and respond.

My problem is (and maybe others share this?)I don't know what parts of Canada you are referring to...what towns did you envision driving through on the route you have in mind?

First off, how many weeks do you have to make the whole trip? I've been through quite a bit of that area fairly recently and can give you some advice, but if you don't have sufficient time, most of the advice would be wrong. Do you have a passport? What kinds of things do you want to see? Scenery (lots of that), history (yup, that too), industry (I've toured some factories), culture?

I would love to know from where you are traveling, just so I could sense what might be new or unique to you, vs. things you've done/seen before.

But despite what the noter above said, you did give sufficient parameters to inspire us to get you started.

First of all, you need to get 550 miles from Seattle to West Glacier, MT. Online sources say that is 8 hours of actual driving.

Might be a good idea to work your way backward, night-by-night, as follows:

Night of the 5th of August: With reasonably scenic areas between Missoula and West Glacier, I think it might be good to spend the last night in Missoula, so you can see plenty on the last part of the drive and arrive at your August 6th destination in plenty of time and quite fresh.


Night of the 4th of August: I think I'd stay in Spokane or Coeur D'Alene (the latter is 165 miles from Missoula) Areas around Lake Coeur D'Alene are popular among tourists - research them if inclined to stay nearby.

Night of the 3rd of August: (NOBODY else is going to endorse this town for lodging - and I understand why, BUT I'm going to say "Yakima, Washington" because it is convenient to your chance to see Mount Rainier on the way out of the Seattle area)

(IF you wake up early on the morning of August 3rd, somewhere in the Seattle area {it's a Monday, so maybe stay SOUTH of Seattle toward Auburn/Enumclaw to avoid the rush hour, and be closer to the destination} ... then drive southeast to Enumclaw, and via Hwy 410 on a fairly spectacular path, perhaps even detouring to "Paradise", in Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park. Upon getting your fill of Mt. Rainier up-close and personal, then continue eastward on EITHER Hwy 410 or Hwy 12 toward Yakima. Yakima is UNspectacular no matter the time of day or night, but it serves as a convenient spot for you to sleep.

Upon departing Yakima, start out on Interstate #82 toward Ellensburg, but consider taking the Yakima River Canyon Road just a mile or two out of Yakima. Both roads get you to Ellensburg (in about 30 miles) but the road along the river is more appealing than the interstate, which just goes up one dry, barren hill, and down the next, and then up a steep, dry, barren hill, and down the next. You can't get lost on the river route, for once you see civilization and no more river, you're in Ellensburg, and you go under the "Interstate 90" freeway. Stop in Ellensburg for the food of your (children's) choice and then drive EAST toward Spokane.


Night of Sunday August 2nd... I think I'd try to get a room in the Auburn or Enumclaw areas south of Seattle, only for early-morning convenience.

Night of August 1... somewhere in the downtown Seattle area... do the big touristy things... Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Seattle Center, Water front, etc.

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OK, so I feel quite good about those nights... and now let me stay on the path while I am on a roll!
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So you leave Glacier on August 10th... well aware, after four days, that Glacier driving is SLOW.

Go out the east end of Glacier and up into Canada from there, headed toward Calgary.

I'd make Calgary by nightfall and stay there on August 11th, then I'd spend part of the next day looking around Calgary before driving off to Edmonton, which is perhaps 175 miles to the north.

As soon as you get there, take the kids to the West Edmonton Mall (westedmall.com)... it is the 2nd-largest mall in the world, and was first for many, many years. It should be fun merely chasing your kids around the place. Pay special attention to where you parked, and write down what store/entrance you used on the way in.

There is a full-sized amusement park on the premises, along with a waterpark which is quite impressive too. (too many things to even ponder now)

I'd stay in Edmonton for TWO nights... these being the nights of August 12 and 13... (maybe give in and stay near the mall???) The rest of the area is worth exploring, but I think the kids may get a big charge out of the mall.

Then drive due west to Jasper, Alberta for the night of August 14 (try to get plenty of rest that night for the scenic trip to follow the next day)

From Jasper go south on Hwy #93, which is called the Icefields Parkway and then maaaaaaaaybe spend some time sightseeing in the area of Banff/Lake Louise before heading west on the Trans Canada Highway (#1).

Then see how far you can get before wanting to stop for the night of August 15 (Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, etc.) It is a 280-mile, 5-hour drive from Salmon Arm to Vancouver, so do as much as you can the night before.

I would do two nights IN Vancouver. It is a stunning city with lots to see and do. I'd use Priceline.com to get a room in the middle of downtown, so you'll have a 'home base' while you go out and explore on foot.

It is true that Vancouver is prooooooooobably worth a 3rd night, but you'd have to squeeze somewhere earlier in your trip from Glacier along the way.

So again, NIGHTS OF AUGUST 16 AND 17 IN Vancouver and then drive toward Seattle soon after awakening on the 18th.

IF your flight from Seattle to (home) is EARLY on the 19th, then strategically place yourself near the airport in Seattle for that last night.

I hope this all makes sense, and at least inspires you to think.

Let me list the nights I mentioned in perfect order:

(oh, wait, GOOD, my earlier nights were ONE OFF !!!! (SO you have a 3rd night for Vancouver after all))

NIGHTS of:

August 1 - downtown Seattle
August 2 - South of Seattle, ideally Auburn or Enumclaw, for a quick start toward Mount Rainier

August 3 - Yakima, WA
August 4 - Spokane/Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
August 5 - Missoula, MT
August 6 - Glacier
August 7 - Glacier
August 8 - Glacier
August 9 - Glacier
August 10 - Calgary
August 11 - Edmonton
August 12 - Edmonton
August 13 - Jasper, Alberta
August 14 - Revelstoke/Salmon Arm/Kamloops, BC
August 15 - Vancouver downtown
August 16 - Vancouver downtown
August 17 - Vancouver downtown***
August 18 - (perhaps near Seattle airport)
Fly home on August 19


*** option being to trade the last Vancouver night for one extra in Seattle, depending upon what you wish to see

Great work, NW! I can help with Calgary and Salmon Arm parts, but kind of unwilling without feedback from OP...