I am starting to plan a road trip to WA, OR, BC and Alberta. Since one of us is disabled and can only do limited walking on flat surfaces, the trip will be mostly a scenic drive. This is a 2200 mile drive in about 2 weeks. However, I'd really like it to be a bit more leisurely drive with time for some sightseeing other than just "driving by." Suggestions on what to do and/or what to cut out would be greatly appreciated.

Day 1: Arrive Portland in evening (from FL)
Day 2: Explore Portland (first time)
Day 3: Drive to Columbia River Gorge and keep going to Spokane
Day 4: Drive to Kalispell
Day 5: Drive through Glacier NP to Calgary
Day 6: Drive through Banff NP to Lake Louise
Day 7: Drive to Jasper NP - go to ice fields?
Day 8: Leave Jasper after lunch, and drive to Kamploops
Day 9: Drive to Vancouver
Day 10: Vancouver
Day 11-12: Ferry to Vancouver Island and drive to Victoria. Visit Butchart Gardens
Day 13: Ferry to port near Olympic NP
Day 14: Drive along coast to Portland for red-eye flight to FL

Comments - negative or positive, most welcome! Thanks. Susan

Well, it is do-able in the sense that you can make it to the places you mention in the time allowed, but it seems like you will spend all your time in the car just getting to places.

I think that you should decide between the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver/Victoria, then cut one of those out.

For me that would be WAY too much time in the car every day for 2 weeks. But that's a very personal choice I guess. If you've done this kind of trip before and enjoyed it?

For a more enjoyable trip, I would I would fly in and out of Seattle and eliminate Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, and Calgary.

Seattle
Glacier NP
Waterton NP, Alberta
Banff
Jasper
Kamloops
Vancouver
Victoria
Lake Crescent Lodge, ONP
Seattle

I should have mentioned that driving is surprisingly slow-going in Canada. For one thing, even the most major highways go through towns--stoplights and all.

Agree, that you should cut out one of the regions. Not sure I would cut out Portland/ Columbia River gorge though. I like that you are spending a little more time in Vancouver/ Victoria at the end.

Thanks all for your suggestions. Sounds like a need to add at least a week to make this route less crazy or make some tough decisions on what to cut!

Now, what about renting a car and driving it in USA and Canada? Any problems doing this? (Many, many years ago, my parents found they couldn't take a rental car over the border.)

Thanks again for comments.

SWR

Sounds like a great trip. If you love driving, and it seems you do and as well, given one of your are disabled, I really encourage you to do what you have set out to do. We have done several road trips and covered incredible distances and had a ball doing it.

We have done most of the places you have mentioned so a few ideas for you to consider - and I put these ideas to you not knowing just how disabled one of you are. I assume you are able to venture away from the car a little.

Calgary - visit the site of the winter Olympics.
Banff-coffee at the Fairmont Banff Springs - but a pay a visit on your bank manager and ask for a loan before you go!
Banff - take the cable car to the top of the mountain and look over Banff. Fantastic view.
When you do Lake Louise also do Moraine Lake, especially in the morning when the sun catches it as it rises. Wow!
Banff to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway. Be prepared - it's spectacular. Stop or stay at Numtijah Lodge. Great place to stop.
Peyto Lake - easy to get to and you can virtually drive up to within about 25 metres of the lake with a very short walk to the lookout. Being glacial fed, it is beautiful.
Take a snocoach ride onto the Columbia Icefield. Now when we were there several years ago, there was an Inn directly opposite the Athabasca Glacier. We stayed there overnight and did the trip onto the glacier. Both HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Have a blast and you better have plenty of memory cards for your camera!

Maybe a combination of adding another week if you are able to do that, and skipping a couple places on the original list? That would still make for a great road trip, just a bit less fast-paced.

<Now, what about renting a car and driving it in USA and Canada? Any problems doing this?>

This is directly from Budget's website:
"Traveling from the U.S. to Canada

If you’re a U.S resident, you may drive a Budget car into Canada. However, you must advise us upon vehicle pickup that you plan to drive to Canada so we may issue a Canadian Non-Resident Insurance Card. This applies to rentals of all U.S.-registered cars."

It also says that rules at licensee owned locations may vary, so you will have to check with the specific rental location and find out what they allow and require for going to Canada.

FWIW, driving 2200 miles in 2 weeks works out to less than 200 miles a day. That doesn't sound excessive to me at all, and since one of you is disabled and can only do limited walking, it sounds like you won't be doing a lot of stopping so you should be fine.