

It’s the second-largest city in interior British Colombia and is known for it’s hiking and mountain biking opportunities, as well as thrilling white water rafting tours. Whichever route you choose, you’ll end up in Kamloops. There are over 200 lakes in the area stocked with rainbow trout! If you’re tired of driving, Merritt is a nice place to spend the night with many places to stayas well as a friendly visitor center. This route will also take you through Merritt, which is known for its fishing opportunities. There’s an easy 3.5 km hiking trail you can take to see the old Othello tunnels. If you take highway #5, Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park is a great place to stop along the way. Driving on the Coquihalla Highway from Vancouver to Banff The mountains are crazy! This is the shorter route, so it’s the best option if you’re worried about time. But by the time we got to the other side, the sun was shining and the views were unreal. When I did the Banff to Vancouver drive for the first time I took the Coquihalla Highway, and I’ll never forget it.Īs we entered the highway, it was misty and foggy - you couldn’t see a thing. Highway 5 is a faster route, that also has gorgeous mountain views. I passed through this way while taking the train across Canadaand thoroughly enjoyed this section. Highway 1 is a slower, winding road with stunning views of the Fraser canyon. It’s a faster freeway that goes straight over the mountains, so it cuts down on the driving time by about an hour. You can either continue along highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon or take the Coquihalla Highway (BC-5N) to connect from Hope to Kamloops. Hope to Kamloops via the Coquihalla Highway (203 km) Afterward, there’s a choice of route you can take between highway 5 or continuing along the TCH Highway 1.

Avoid leaving during peak rush hour in the morning or afternoon, or you’ll be starting your road trip in heavy traffic.Īfter about two hours of driving, you’ll reach the town of Hope, which is a good place to stretch your legs or grab a snack. You’ll leave Vancouver on Highway 1, the main road that goes across Canada. I’ve included a ton of stops in this itinerary, but pick and choose what pleases you. While this drive can be done in one day, you’ll want to stretch it out to fully enjoy these stunning national parks. It’s a perfect Canadian Rockies road trip route featuring big mountains and adventures. It’s not only the shortest option but one of the best because it goes through four stunning national parks, including Glacier National Park of Canada, Mount Revelstoke, Yoho, and Banff. The shortest distance from Vancouver to Banff is the route that goes along the Trans Canada Highway One (the highway which goes across Canada). Best Driving Routes From Vancouver to Banff Vancouver to Banff Road Trip Itinerary 1 – National Park Heaven But if you aren’t feeling the campervan life, no worries, there a ton of accommodation options on each of these Vancouver to Banff drives. Although the latter is more expensive to rent, it could save you money in the long run because you won’t have to pay for accommodation. There are plenty of places to rent a car in Vancouver as well as campervans. You could turn any of these drives into an extended Canadian Rockies road trip.Īlright, let’s plan your dream Vancouver to Banff road trip!Ĭan’t read this right now? Pin it for later! While these drives take 12 hours or less, doing it in one day would be a shame because there are so many fun stops along the way. To help you decide what route is best for you, I’ve rounded up my three favorite driving routes from Vancouver to Banff with the main highlights. If you’re going round-trip, I recommend taking a different way there and back so you can see more of the incredible scenery in the Canadian Rockies. There are so many different routes you can drive from Vancouver to Banff. Spoiler alert: no matter what way you road trip Banff to Vancouver (or vise versa), the views will be gorgeous. I’ve done the Vancouver to Banff drive many different times, experimenting with various routes each time. Every spare chance I got while living in Edmonton, I’d hop in my car and explore a new place in Alberta or British Colombia. Thanks for reading!Įven though I’m from the east coast of Canada (Newfoundland), some of my favorite memories traveling in Canada are the road trips I’ve taken through the Canadian Rockies. This allows me to keep the site up to date and expand on resources. By clicking and making a purchase through the links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Instrumentals music Underground Rap Beat - Battle Hip-Hop Instrumental (prod.This post may contain affiliate links.
