From Calgary to Jasper to Dawson Creek: Which is the better way to go? (better road, easier drive) the Trans Canada--route 1 or Route 16? We will be driving back to Virgina from Alaska and I thought that, since we are so close, we should take a detour through Jasper and Banff National Parks on the way home.

Any advice?

Thanks,

I am not sure I understand the question. Neither Highway 16 nor the Trans Canada (highway 1)go to Dawson Creek.

If you are in Dawson Creek and want to visit Jasper, then from Dawson Creek, you have the winding route of Alberta 40 or the slightly longer route of
Alberta 43 to Whitecourt and then south to Highway 16 and west to Jasper.

Then to reach Banff you drive south on the Icefields Parkway and join Trans Canada 1 near Lake Louise.

From Banff, you then follow Trans Canada 1 to Calgary. From there I would head south to US I 90 for a run to the midwest and then south to I 80.

Eventually you will need to drop south to I 70 if you are headed to Virginia.

PS I think you could also take Trans Canada 1 through Alberta to Saskatchewan and then to Winnipeg. From Winnipeg, drop south on I 29 once you get to the US.
Follow I 29 all the way to Kansas City and turn east on I 70.

In Ohio you could drop south on I 77 depending on where you are going in Virginia.

I think that route might be more interesting, but Saskatchewan is a very flat province with wheat fields.
Manitoba gets a little more into woods and trees, but it is flat as well.

I am not sure how fast people drive on TC 1, but the sections of it I have driven are good roads.
If I recall correctly the speed limit was 120 kph on some sections which is near 75 mph.

Thanks Bob_Brown. I guess I wasn't really clear. The reason I started with Dawson Creek is that we will be traveling home from Alaksa on the Alcan, at least that far anyway. I saw route 40 but wondered if it is a good road or if we should drop down to Prince George and follow 16 to 93 (I really would like to drive the Ice Fields Parkway) or should we go all the way to Edmonton and then back west. Looking at the map, 43 and 40 from the Alaska Hwy. to 93 definitely look shorter; I just wasn't sure about the condition of the road. We don't mind windy roads--that's all we have where we live; I just don't want to ruin the car,although it is a 4WD.(although from what I read, that might happen on the Alcan, anyway).

BTW, do you think, driving from Alaska and knowing we won't get this far west again, that it is unreasonable to take this detour to Jasper and Banff on the way home?

Going up, I am trying to decide between driving the suggested route to Edmonton then to Prince Rupert where we will take the Ferry to Skaway or just take16 to the Alcan and drive on to Skagway. Any advice there?
Thanks for your help.

I don't think its unreasonable at all. I have not been to every place in western Canada but, of all the places I've been, the Jasper area and the Ice Field Parkway are very high on my list of the most beautiful places in the world. The extensive wildlife on view around the Jasper area is icing on the cake.

Have a great trip.

I have not driven Route 40, but the other route is a good road without much traffic.

I think the Icefields parkway is spectacular, but I have not been to Mt. McKinley (Denali if you prefer, as I do.)
From my present state of knowledge my opoinion is this: I would not miss it, and I have driven it north and south more than once. And, I would do it again!

The road from Jasper to Prince Rupert is ok. I drove it two summers ago and took the ferry south. (That is the one which unfortunately sank earlier this year. I was horrified at the loss of property but grateful that so few people died in the tragedy. Most of all, I stand in respectful awe of the people who risked their own safety to rescue people who had to abandon ship. I am sure there are more heroic people than we will ever know who participated in that effort.)

From what I have heard of the highway in Alaska, it can be rough. I have never driven it so I can only report hearsay evidence. I think the ferry would save your vehicle from some hard knocks.

I do know this much: the road from Edmonton to Prince Rupert is paved and a relatively easy drive other than a couple of stumbling blocks of towns where there is no bypass.

I found it a relatively uneventful drive. In Prince Rupert, be prepared for rain, and rain, and ...

In general you will find the paved roads in Alberta to be good. I never hesitate to take off down a provincial road because they are in general fair to good. Even the "little" ones have a good surface on them.

Thanks, so much Bob_Brown. I am leaning more and more towards taking the ferry from Prince Rupert to Skagway. At least that way, if we get dings in the car, I will only have to listen to my husband fuss on the way home and not both ways.

When we drove to Prince Rupert, we started from our accommodation near Lake Louise.
We drove north to Jasper and then turned northwest to Prince George. For the night we stayed in a motel in Vanderhoof. As I recall it was the North Country Inn. The room was fully acceptable and the restaurant was surprisingly good.

The next day we drove on to Prince Rupert. As usual it was raining!
We ventured out to eat and I don't recall where it was.

As I said earlier, the drive was uneventful. I thought the scenery would be a little more spectacular, but one can't have everything.

When we took the Queen of the North south to Port Hardy, we paid for a cabin. After about 4 hours I had seen the ship and the coast line. Something about the voyage made me drowsy and I sacked out in the cabin. It was a little small, and the bunks were a double decked affair.

I know you will not be riding that particular ship, or its successor, but the point is that you will want a place to sleep some. I thought the extra expense of a cabin well worth the money. For one thing, we could lock the door and we had our on private restroom.

I presume the Alaska ferry has similar accommodations.