Seattle to Banff route planning

[The AD]

My wife and I are driving from Seattle to Banff next week. Anyone have any suggestions on what route to take? We're driving up Wednesday and returning Saturday, so we want a route that will be fairly quick, but scenic. We're not planning to stop anywhere along the way other than to eat, pee, etc.

Tips on what to avoid are equally welcome!

[Karl Stall]

Shit, I still owe you that trip report. Hopefully, I can post it tonight and pm you some additional beta on the trip.

sorry......

[The AD]

That's ok, KS. I'm holding you to it, though!

[PlayHarder]

The Trans-Canada is probably going to be your best route, relatively fast and any of the highways are equally scenic.
Hwy 3 that runs south is a cool drive, but narrow, twisty and likely alot of motor homes and campers. Still a good route, but slower than the #1(Trans-Canada).

[Buster Highmen]

Take some time, enjoy the trip, follow the Columbia up through Washington to Rossland and stop in Nelson, eat at the Outer Clove, stay at the Ainsworth Hotsprings, then ferry hop to drive the next day up to Banff.

I think the quickest way is the Coquillhalla Tollway to Kamloops and then across through Revelstoke.

[13]

Why not do a loop? Hwy. 2 in WA blew me away when I was in the N. Cascades.

There's plenty of border crossings from what I understand.

[The AD]

If it was just me, I'd probably take a couple more days, but the wife doesn't like being away from the house for more than a few days, so I think it's straight thorugh. Not to mention I've already got a room booked in Banff for Wednesday night.

A loop is a possibility, but I'd be more concerned with the route in Canada rather than the U.S. since I've been through many of the mountain highways in Washington.

[PlayHarder]

With that in mind, I'd suggest the Trans-Canada using the Coquihala section (it is a toll road, though) through Kamloops on the way out. Then take hwy 97(I think) from Lake Louise south through Invermere/Radium to Hwy 3 and west going back.
With family spread from Calgary to Van. Isle, I've made that drive more times than I can remember over my 33 years of life and never fail to see something new and cool every time.
Are you guys bringing bikes or is this more of a romantic getaway kind of thing? If you're up for it, I'll be riding on Banff on Saturday and you & the wife are welcome to join. PM if interested.

[The AD]

On a related note, any suggestions on good places to eat? Let me add the caveat that my wife is a vegetarian!

Approx how long is the drive from Kamloops to Banff?

[PulverSchwein]

Originally posted by The AD
Approx how long is the drive from Kamloops to Banff?

Just did it last Sunday, sucking exhaust from copious numbers of smelly motorhomes, takes around 5+ hours during daytime. I also agree you should make a loop (hustle out on #1 and return via #3 highway). Bring your swimsuits and stop for a quick dip in the shuswap lakes an hours or so east of Kamloops. Beautiful!!

[The AD]

Originally posted by PulverSchwein
Just did it last Sunday, sucking exhaust from copious numbers of smelly motorhomes, takes around 5+ hours during daytime.

Hell, that ain't bad. I was thinking 6 hours. It looks like the total drive should be doable in 12 hours. Kamloops is right around the halfway point.

[PlayHarder]

12 hours should be about right, although construction and traffic can sometimes screw that up.

[mntlion]

banff you have LOTS of options for food (like 200+) , but for the veg's people you are in beef country.

Banff does have a vegi rest. sunfood cafe. 2nd floor of a quiet mall Sundance I think
Sukiaki house for sushi.
st. james gate for bar food
edan for 5+* dining

again LOTS of options

PM me if you want to

most places will have veg on the menu and do lots of nice options meetless.

[White Chocolate]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen

I think the quickest way is the Coquillhalla Tollway to Kamloops and then across through Revelstoke.

I went up there for spring break once. It took us 11 hours one way from bellingham to banff. We came back to the south into idaho, and then back over. I think they are the both similar time wise. The Coquillhalla highway though, talk about a seriously kick ass drive. two words: Yak Peak Coming back the other way was really awesome also. I remember crossing the columbia river where it was maybe 15' wide. Damn it, now i want to go back

[Snow Dog]

Originally posted by PlayHarder
With that in mind, I'd suggest the Trans-Canada using the Coquihala section (it is a toll road, though) through Kamloops on the way out.

And miss the Fraser canyon? It only adds an hour (not including RVs) and Hells Gate is always worth a short break (rockfall from building the rail line narrowed the river and created big big rapids).

[The AD]

Thanks for the info so far everyone! My feeling right now is we'll take the quickest route there (via TransCanada and Coquihalla Hwy) and then decide if we want to take a different route back.

[two_planks]

I-90 to St Regis, Mt. OVer to kallispell and through Glacier National Park via Going to the Sun Road. Hit up Waterton National park in S. Alberta. Stop in Lethbridge for the night and come drink with me. North to Calgary and over to banff. A little more distance wise but lots of good shit along the way.