Vancouver to Calgary - help w/itinerary
Oct 10th, 2005, 01:04 AM
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Vancouver to Calgary - help w/itinerary
Excuse my laziness but I've been searching this forum for the best routes and I'm getting all confused with different advice from different people. So instead of piecing everything together, I'm going to ask for help:
We're flying into Vancouver in March, staying 2 nights there (we've been to Canada every year for the last 3 years).
Then we would like to leave Vancouver to go to Sun Peaks in Kamloops. I understand we take the TransCanadian HWY to Hope and then I get confused. Is Hwy 1 better or Hwy 5? Better meaning more scenic (we're coming from Hawaii-we don't get to see snow too often). How long will it take us to get there?
Then after a 4 night stay, we leave for Banff. Do we go along the Trans Canadian Hwy again? How long will this take?
If we station ourselves in Banff for 2 nights, is it reasonable to see Lake Louise, the town of Banff, and the icefields or are we pushing it?
Then we fly out of Calgary which I understand does not have too much to see so we decided to spend only 1 night before we leave.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also any "gotta eat" or "gotta see" advice.
Mahalo!
We're flying into Vancouver in March, staying 2 nights there (we've been to Canada every year for the last 3 years).
Then we would like to leave Vancouver to go to Sun Peaks in Kamloops. I understand we take the TransCanadian HWY to Hope and then I get confused. Is Hwy 1 better or Hwy 5? Better meaning more scenic (we're coming from Hawaii-we don't get to see snow too often). How long will it take us to get there?
Then after a 4 night stay, we leave for Banff. Do we go along the Trans Canadian Hwy again? How long will this take?
If we station ourselves in Banff for 2 nights, is it reasonable to see Lake Louise, the town of Banff, and the icefields or are we pushing it?
Then we fly out of Calgary which I understand does not have too much to see so we decided to spend only 1 night before we leave.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also any "gotta eat" or "gotta see" advice.
Mahalo!
Oct 10th, 2005, 06:27 AM
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The Trans-Canada (Hwy1) and Coquihalla (Hwy 5) are both scenic, but at that time of the year, I would take the Coquihalla. It's a 4 lane toll road all the way from Hope to Kamloops, and should take you about 2 hours if weather and road conditions are good.
From Kamploops to Banff, the Trans Canada is certainly the most direct and best way. It should take about 5 hours, but bad weather could make it longer. You will want to check ahead for conditions in the Rogers Pass section between Revelstoke and Golden, as it can be closed from time to time due to avalanches. However, I wouldn't worry unnecessarily about it as the highway is kept well cleared.
If you are not skiing in the Banff area, I think 2 nights is enough. You might want to save the Icefields for another time, as the facilities along it will be closed, and driving conditions could be poor, especially if you are not used to winter driving.
If it were summer, I would advise an extra night in Banff instead of Calgary, but in March I'd opt for Calgary. If you can get tickets, you could take in a Flames' game (a supposedly good team which is off to a very shaky start).
From Kamploops to Banff, the Trans Canada is certainly the most direct and best way. It should take about 5 hours, but bad weather could make it longer. You will want to check ahead for conditions in the Rogers Pass section between Revelstoke and Golden, as it can be closed from time to time due to avalanches. However, I wouldn't worry unnecessarily about it as the highway is kept well cleared.
If you are not skiing in the Banff area, I think 2 nights is enough. You might want to save the Icefields for another time, as the facilities along it will be closed, and driving conditions could be poor, especially if you are not used to winter driving.
If it were summer, I would advise an extra night in Banff instead of Calgary, but in March I'd opt for Calgary. If you can get tickets, you could take in a Flames' game (a supposedly good team which is off to a very shaky start).
Oct 11th, 2005, 05:02 AM
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March in the mountain passes will be "winter driving conditions". This means plan for snow and ice over the Coquihalla (Hwy 5) and through the Roger's Pass (TransCanada/Hwy 1). If you're not used to driving in these conditions I would suggest you try and rent a four wheel drive vehicle and ask if it is equipped with winter tires (not "All-Seasons"). I know that Hertz at the Vancouver Airport location rents Volvo wagons -- which would be my choice if I was making this trip.
I'm a bit less pessimistic than "laverendrye" as to driving times having driven the route many times in all sorts of conditions. At that time of year I would say:
Kamloops to Revelstoke 2.5 to 3 hrs
Revelstoke to the top of Rogers Pass 1.5 hrs
Rogers Pass to Golden 1.5 hrs
Golden to Banff 1.5 hrs
Slides occur on the TransCanada along this route and can close the highway -- especially in March when the snow is wet. I would be sure to pull into the information booth in Kamloops (or ask at your hotel desk) before you head out and ask if there are any road closures.
Make sure to keep an extra container of window washing fluid in your car at all times. The road will be "mucky" and you'll go through more fluid than you can imagine. Also, watch the signs that indicate "next service station" its easy to get caught up with looking at the view and miss checking the gas tank.
I'm a bit less pessimistic than "laverendrye" as to driving times having driven the route many times in all sorts of conditions. At that time of year I would say:
Kamloops to Revelstoke 2.5 to 3 hrs
Revelstoke to the top of Rogers Pass 1.5 hrs
Rogers Pass to Golden 1.5 hrs
Golden to Banff 1.5 hrs
Slides occur on the TransCanada along this route and can close the highway -- especially in March when the snow is wet. I would be sure to pull into the information booth in Kamloops (or ask at your hotel desk) before you head out and ask if there are any road closures.
Make sure to keep an extra container of window washing fluid in your car at all times. The road will be "mucky" and you'll go through more fluid than you can imagine. Also, watch the signs that indicate "next service station" its easy to get caught up with looking at the view and miss checking the gas tank.
Oct 11th, 2005, 06:16 AM
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I have rented a car in Vancouver in march and the car was not equipped with winter tires (instead all season tires).
The big snow started the night before we wanted to leave Whistler and we saw a lot of car crashes on the sea to sky highway until we have reached Squamish.
I recommend to rent chains to avoid this situation.
I know, that some rental companies allow the rental of chains and others not. So you better ask before you sign the contract.
The big snow started the night before we wanted to leave Whistler and we saw a lot of car crashes on the sea to sky highway until we have reached Squamish.
I recommend to rent chains to avoid this situation.
I know, that some rental companies allow the rental of chains and others not. So you better ask before you sign the contract.
Oct 11th, 2005, 08:25 AM
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For a discussion on winter driving in this part of the world, see this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...9&tid=34672332
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...9&tid=34672332
Oct 13th, 2005, 08:13 AM
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We just did this drive in early September of this year. I found the stretch after Golden into Lake Louise to be the most stressful as we were in a fairly heavy rain and it was dark. I can imagine this could be a very tricky piece of highway in the winter time with snow and ice.
The drive is quite scenic and we really enjoyed it. Based on what we say and experienced I would say you should pay very close attention to the advice given by those experienced drivers above on winter driving in this area.
The drive is quite scenic and we really enjoyed it. Based on what we say and experienced I would say you should pay very close attention to the advice given by those experienced drivers above on winter driving in this area.
Dec 11th, 2005, 05:38 PM
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In March there can still be alot of snow around, personally I wouldn't be driving in it, but then I'm not all that good driving in the snow (I'm an aussie and got stuck in a snow storm on the parkway not a good experience).
The Icefields won't be open in March either so you won't be able to go out on the snowcoaches. You will be able to see the glacier but that is it.
To go to Lake Louise I would also suggest going out to Golden and Emerald Lake but all of that will take you a day Moriane Lake won't be open because of the snow. If you just want to see the town of Banff you could do that in a day if you have a car.
The Icefields won't be open in March either so you won't be able to go out on the snowcoaches. You will be able to see the glacier but that is it.
To go to Lake Louise I would also suggest going out to Golden and Emerald Lake but all of that will take you a day Moriane Lake won't be open because of the snow. If you just want to see the town of Banff you could do that in a day if you have a car.
