If you want to see majestic mountains, raging rivers, and forests as far as the eye can see, a Vancouver to Banff road trip is right up your alley. Also, if you want to see wildlife such as elk, big-horn sheep, mountain goats, and bears, the Canadian Rockies is one of the best places in North America for all of this.
There are three routes to drive, and depending on your time, you can complete a circular journey encompassing two routes. Having lived on the West Coast of Canada, I am used to seeing the coastal mountains every day.
I have always enjoyed our local mountains and thought they were impressive. However, at an average of 5,000 feet (1,524 meters), they pale compared to the Canadian Rockies. The Rockies are double the elevation, with several peaks over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).
One year, Karen and I decided to do a “Canadiana Vacation.” I am a ‘born and raised Canadian,’ having lived in Vancouver for 25 years. However, I’m somewhat embarrassed to say that I had never been to beautiful Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.
Karen has been there many times, so she was my Tour Guide for our Banff road trip.
Why Drive Instead Of Fly?
To get to Banff from Vancouver, we could take a road trip, fly, or take the train. However, driving is the best way to get there for several reasons.
1. Not A Long Drive.
Driving non-stop from Vancouver to Banff takes about 9 hours, but I recommend a stop to break up the trip and enjoy the sights. We chose Golden, BC, a 7-hour drive from home. Other great stops include Revelstoke, Kamloops, or Kelowna, depending on your route.
2. The Beauty Is In The Journey.
Driving through BC to Alberta, I loved experiencing the shifting climates; coastal, desert, and alpine. Flying is faster but misses the true West Coast experience.
The best time to drive is June through September when the weather is warm. Winter travel is risky due to Coquihalla snowstorms, and BC requires winter tires from October 1 to April 30.
3. You Can Create Your Own Schedule.
Flying or taking the train means following a set schedule. On our road trip, we loved the freedom to leave when ready and stop for photos along the way.
4. Easier To Pack When You’re Driving.
I love road trips, because we have plenty of space for our gear. Along with luggage, we kept our camera gear handy, packed a cooler with snacks, and had hiking boots ready.
Next time, I’ll bring my own pillow—I’m picky, and even high-end hotels like Fairmont didn’t have great ones. A familiar pillow makes all the difference for a good night’s sleep.
5. It’s Cheaper To Drive.
If you live near Vancouver (e.g., Seattle), driving can be cheaper than airfare, depending on your group size. Since the pandemic, flights have become expensive, making driving a more affordable option.
Our one-way drive took one tank of gas in my economy car, SUVs may need more.
6. No Need To Rent A Car.
By driving, we could forgo the additional cost of a vehicle rental. While there are shuttle buses and tour companies such as Brewster that service the Banff area, it’s always better to have your own transportation in Banff and Jasper so that you have more flexibility.
National Park Fees
In order to stay in the Canadian Rockies, park-goers must purchase a park pass known as a Discovery Pass. The passes give admission to over 80 Canada National Parks. Purchase Discovery Passes online, at the park, or at certain MEC stores in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Langley, and Kelowna.
Choosing Your Route
The road trip from Vancouver to Banff follows the Trans-Canada Hwy (BC-1), making navigation easy. Jasper, about three hours north of Banff via the Icefields Parkway, offers stunning scenery with fewer crowds.
We drove to Banff via Golden, staying one night there, three in Banff, and one in Lake Louise before heading to Jasper for a few days. Our return trip followed BC Hwy 5.
For a scenic alternative, take BC Hwy 3 (Crowsnest Hwy), which passes Osoyoos, Cranbrook, Radium Hot Springs, and Kootenay National Park before Banff. It’s a longer, winding route but worth exploring.
| Vancouver to Banff | Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 | 9 hours 10 mins |
| Vancouver to Banff | British Columbia Hwy 3 | 12 hours 38 mins |
| Vancouver to Jasper | British Columbia Hwy 5 | 8 hours 15 mins |
Where To Stop Along The Way
There are several places to stop along the way if you want to break up the drive. Places like Kamloops, Kelowna, or Revelstoke, all in British Columbia, can cut the daily drive in half and make it easier for families with young children.
Regardless of which route you choose, the Othello Tunnels, just outside of Hope, offers a great pit stop. Located in the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, visitors have a chance to walk through some old train tunnels in a picturesque canyon.
Kamloops, with 90,000 residents, has all the comforts of a larger city. With first-class wineries, golf courses, and numerous lakes, it will put you halfway to Banff.
Should you be driving the Crowsnest Highway, Grand Forks lies halfway between Vancouver and Banff.
Golden
We decided to drive to Golden, BC, rather than make the 9-hour non-stop journey to Banff and stay overnight. Golden has added the Golden Skybridge Park, which includes Canada’s highest suspension bridge and other attractions.
We arrived at the Skybridge before it opened, then continued onto Banff.
Also in Golden, don’t miss your chance to see a local celebrity, Boo, the grizzly bear. Housed in a 20-acre natural habitat, Boo allows visitors to snap their pictures safely while observing him in a natural environment.
Yoho National Park
By traveling through Golden and into Yoho National Park, we were able to get a preview of the beautiful Canadian Rockies. Takakkaw Falls, Canada’s second-highest waterfall, wowed us with its spectacular spray and picturesque outlook.
We kick-started our Canadian Rockies vacation with a stop at the Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake, and some easy hiking in Yoho.
Best Time To Visit Banff
At 4,537 feet (1,383 m), Banff gets over 10 feet of snow, closing some roads and attractions in winter. Its winters are very long and its summers short.
Visitors can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, sleigh rides, and ice skating. We returned in winter, a few months after our summer trip, and loved experiencing these activities while enjoying the park without the crowds.
Summer brings heavy crowds and higher prices, so we visited in early September for fewer tourists. Still, traffic was often gridlocked in town. If visiting in July or August, stay near downtown to walk to shops and restaurants.
For fewer crowds but open attractions, consider June, September, or even May and October. It may be wetter, you’ll benefit from hotel availability, lower prices, and fewer tourists.
Cell Phone Coverage
Outside Banff and Lake Louise, there’s no cell coverage. We set our GPS destinations in town, and it still worked without signal, though you can’t input new destinations once out of range.
Navigating the Icefields Parkway was easy, with attractions along the way. If you’re unsure about driving without coverage, visit the Banff Visitor Centre for a free map.
Where To Stay In Banff
The town of Banff is within a National Park, and as a result, there are strict building codes to preserve the environment. Other than the expensive Banff Springs Hotel owned by Fairmont, you won’t find your typical chain hotels such as Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Four Seasons, etc.
Be prepared for high prices—there are no discount hotels in Banff. Weekday rates are cheaper, as prices rise on weekends when locals visit from Calgary.
We stayed at the Ptarmigan Inn, near downtown, with parking and an amazing buffet breakfast included. The room was comfortable in September, although without air conditioning, might be a potential issue in summer.
We also stayed at the pricier Fairmont Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise, where summer rates can exceed CAD 1000. The choice depends on location and preferences, whether by the lake or near the golf course.
For cheaper rates, book in winter. While Chateau Lake Louise’s restaurants are pricey, we found budget-friendly, gluten-free options nearby for Karen.
Looking For Wildlife
One of the best parts of driving to the Canadian Rockies is the ability to see wildlife. We saw the occasional mule deer near Golden and elk in Banff, but the best wildlife viewing was in Jasper.
We always kept our cameras and cell phones handy in case we wanted to pull over quickly and grab a quick shot. While hiking to Moose Lake in Jasper, we witnessed two moose swimming across Maligne Lake.
Whenever we saw cars pulled over on the highway and their hazard flashing, we knew someone had spotted wildlife. Keep in mind that these are wild animals, and you should always keep a safe distance from them.
Don’t be those types of tourists who try to walk too close to get a better shot. Karen always had her telephoto lens on her camera so she could get some fantastic pictures even from a distance.
Visitors can see wildlife outside the parks. Animals are not fenced inside national parks, so be sure to look for animals along your route during your road trip. Remember, most wildlife species are camouflaged and not easy to spot.
How To Save Money On A Road Trip To Banff
Karen and I prefer saving money when possible, which is why we drove to Banff instead of flying. We packed snacks and carried a cooler, reducing our overall costs.
The round trip from Vancouver to Banff, Jasper, and back was about 2,500 km (1,550 miles), which we covered on just over three tanks of gas. I drive a fuel-efficient mid-size car, so it would vary with an SUV or truck. Here are some of the ways we saved money on our trip:
- Bring a cooler and a grocery bag of your favorite snacks.
We loaded up a small camping cooler with granola bars, meat sticks, fruit, and water. This gave us our favorite “comfort food” during our road trip and reduced the need for frequent stops. Since Karen is Celiac, we carried plenty of gluten-free snacks, which are harder to purchase in Banff National Park.
- Reserve your accommodations early.
Karen is a master at finding good hotel deals. She found great rates on hotels that were located downtown or close to attractions we wanted to visit. If you don’t book early, you may find many hotels with no vacancies, or you’ll be paying a premium rate.
- Find reasonably priced hotels where breakfast and parking are included.
At expensive hotels such as Banff Springs or Chateau Lake Louise, breakfast and parking incur a fee. As a result, we paid about CAD 35/day for parking and over CAD 100 for breakfast for two. Ouch! However, at other hotels, we had complimentary breakfast and parking. Much more budget-friendly.
- A yearly Parks Canada Discovery Pass may be cheaper.
We needed a Parks Canada Discovery Pass to visit national parks in Canada. A daily pass per person is CAD 10.50, but an annual pass is CAD 72.25. Since we visited twice in one year, we saved money by purchasing an annual pass.
- Avoid the weekends.
Traveling from Sunday to Thursday can save money on hotel bookings. Most hotels charge a premium for Fridays and Saturdays as locals spend their weekends in the parks.
Camping?
Karen and I used to camp, but now we prefer comfy hotel beds and amenities like flush toilets instead of roughing it in tents or campers. For families with kids, camping can save money, and the scenic Rocky Mountains make it a popular choice for some.
We considered renting an RV for the road trip from Vancouver to Banff, but the total costs—rental, site fees, gas, mileage—weren’t any cheaper. Plus, some roads aren’t RV-friendly. If you already own a camper or trailer, it can be more cost-effective than hotels during peak season.
A Vancouver To Banff Road Trip With An Electric Vehicle (EV)
For many EV owners, there is a common fear of ‘Range Anxiety’ where you fear running out of electricity and being stuck in the middle of nowhere without a charging station in sight!
Ten years (or even five years) ago, this was a real problem where it was difficult to make long road trips in EVs. However, this is no longer a problem, depending on the vehicle you are driving and where you are driving in North America.
Tesla has invested significantly in building out its Supercharger network. They are building and opening new charging stations every week and currently have about 25,000 charging stations worldwide.
In addition to Tesla charging stations, ChargePoint has over 30,000 stations globally. In Canada, the Petro Canada network of gas stations also has EV charging stations installed “every 250 km (150 miles) or less from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Victoria, British Columbia” (according to their website).
Bottom line, regardless of which EV you have, you should be able to find a charging station along your way.
The only inconvenience is that EV charging can take 30 minutes for the Superfast Charging stations or up to 6 hours for the slower charge stations. The technology and speed of charging are improving every year, so check online for the latest info.
If you run out of power and get stuck before you can reach a charging station, some new businesses are offering remote charging services where they will come to you and give you enough of a charge to get to your town to charge.
We noticed when we left the Greater Vancouver area there were fewer electric vehicles on the highways. Although there were plenty of charging stations in the Canadian Rockies, we saw very few EVs utilizing them.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Banff and Jasper was on my Bucket List for a while, so it was perfect that we got to make the trip recently. The drive from Vancouver to Banff and then to Jasper will be etched in my memory forever. It’s one of the most scenic and awe-inspiring drives I have ever taken.
The mountains, seeing wildlife, picturesque lakes, and glacial-fed rivers have reinforced how we are all connected on this planet earth and how real climate change is.
While we got to visit many of the places that Banff and Jasper are known for, I couldn’t wait to go back. So, three months later, we flew to Calgary and enjoyed a whirlwind five-day winter escape in Banff.
During those five days, I got to ice skate on Lake Louise, go dog sledding in Canmore, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, and hiked Johnston Canyon to see its frozen waterfall.
While our summer drive from Vancouver was easy, inexpensive, and the best way to see the Canadian Rocky Mountains, I wouldn’t recommend it in winter. I hope you can make the trip someday soon!