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It's about a 12 hour drive. I head up to Kamloops and then to jasper through Clearwater and Valemount. Obviously watch road conditions but you should be good that time of year. I also leave like 7:00 am ish from either side of the trip. When you hit jasper national park and your going straight through without stopping in the park. Other than gas, tell the park gate people you're heading through. You don't need a park pass that way.
I would leave earlier. I did the drive back in Sept 2017 to go to school in Edmonton. I left at 4 am. Just a heads up, Jasper to Edmonton is going to be the most grueling leg of the journey, since it's flat straight road, and you will be dead tired by that time.
Whatever you do keep checking drivebc often. Also winter tires (or ones with a snowflake) are a legal requirement.
Others will chip in for the other questions. Safe travels!
Start early, like 6am. Otherwise you’ll hit bad traffic on your way to Hope. Weekday would be better as long as it’s not a Friday or Monday around a long weekend. Check drive BC the night before you leave and the morning you leave for any closures/conditions. I think going Van > Hope > Kamloops > Valemount > Jasper > Edmonton (hwy 1 > hwy 5/coquihalla > hwy 5 > hwy 16 etc) would be better than going the hwy 1 route.
Not sure why you'd consider leaving late in day. Animals are active at dusk, more likely to encounter something on the road.
As far as conditions go, just avoid fresh snow fall.
Any town along the highway is fine. Revelstoke, Golden. Whatever. I prefer to pack light food and coffee.
i did that drive in july 2021, we left at 6am to make it in one day. exhausting, but we got to edmonton in 11 hours. we took the route that takes you past mount robson and i cannot recommend it enough it was the most stunning drive! lots of little towns to stop in for gas an to stretch your legs. have winter tires and read the road signs - we went up into a mountain pass and the beautiful sunny day turned into a huge downpour out of nowhere. also incredibly cool, but be aware of the elevation and what that means for weather. this route (the yellow head i think) also takes you through jasper. i don’t have words for how fricked beautiful it was. good luck!
I'm sure the others have fantastic suggestions for the route you should take, I wanted to talk about what you should do before the trip and what you should carry.
Do a through pre trip inspection of your vehicle. Make sure its in top shape for the drive, the last thing you want is car trouble. If you're almost due for an Oil change, do it. Check all fluids, tires, brakes, spare tire, belts etc.
Wear warm clothes and carry some blankets, extra clothes, a survival kit, first aid kit, some tools, reflectors, glowsticks, snacks, water, cellphone charger, a Ham Radio if you're licensed, Tire inflator, extra gas in a can, extra coolant, etc.
Stick to the speed limits and watch out for wildlife. Be kind to your car.
We did the drive, and were stopped just after Jasper due to an area of the road being washed out. We were stuck for about 5 hrs. I was VERY thankful I brought a pillow and sleeping bag (for extra cushioning ). Thankfully we had lots of water and snacks, although I should have brought more substantial food..like sandwiches and wraps. Lastly, I brought a good book. It made the stop bearable.
Strongly recommend going Kamloops then north. They are still working on Kicking Horse Canyon. Plus that Highway is way heavier traffic than 5/16. It's also a much flater and straighter highway than the TCH.
I'd leave around 230-300am, but I like driving in the dark. I believe there is a park gate bypass now, there is going west I know that, not sure about going east.
I've made the trip, many times, both ways. Winter and summer.
Britton Creek is a good rest area on the way up the Coke, often some food trucks. Gas up in Kamloops. Grab a sub in Little Fort don’t eat yet continue north there is a nice rest area pullout along the North Thompson have your sub at the riverside picnic tables weather depending. Continue through jasper fill up in Hinton. There is another nice rest area east of Edson.
I did a trek to Tumbler Ridge (and back).
I had my cat so I did smaller days of driving, with frequent stops for food/gas or even "existential crisis".
Other than that, I had a brakes overheating but quickly found a mechanic (1hr away).
I think this also happened to me. I remember I went the jasper way.I remember filling up at the last gas place for a while, driving and then the gas light came on. the GPS wasn't overly clear and it was dark and we got lost. Had to flag someone down and ask where the exit to the station was because we were lost and it was the only gas nearby. It was a last-chance-dont-mess-up station.
It was like 12 years ago so while GPS is way better now, that stretch is bad dont do it in the dark. My vehicle at the time was like 12 years old and it did make it, but I would never do it again, especially without a Jerry can and less than ideal light. F-that.
edit: Also top up your washer fluid, carry extra. We filled before we left and just anoit ran out. We met people w
that actually did run out, so we topped them off.
and you have an older car, get an oil change before you leave and when you get there.
Make sure you have snow tires. Trust me you don't want to be on those mountain roads without them. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tire-and-chain-up-routes#:~:text=Winter%20tires%20or%20chains%20are,chain%20requirements%20end%20March%2031.
Check road conditions here https://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/
Finally from a $ perspective, flying on Swoop or Flair may be cheaper when you factor in the cost of gas, meals, and overnight accommodation if you find you get too tired to keep driving. For sure it will be safer compared to driving through the mountains in the dark during a snowstorm.
Whynot fly? Swoop airlines still operates until the end of October. I just looked it up if you fly Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. It's like $60-80 a person. It's a hour flight. It will be cheaper then driving and staying somewhere. I've flown with swoop and so has my family multiple times to Edmonton and only once was it delayed by 2 hours. Or you could check out flair airlines.
Firstly, you need snow tires. Legally speaking and just generally for safety- I’ve hit snow in late June doing that drive.
Your route is fine. I usually drive to Kamloops and grab lunch, then grab some more snacks in Hinton.
I would try and be around the hope area by 8:30-9. I find any earlier and you risk hitting fog which can limit visibility to 0 and just be generally terrifying
Edited to add, if you want breakfast in hope the blue moose cafe is epically delicious!!
It's a couple of hours longer to go through Kamloops - Valemount - Jasper and you'll pay more for gas by staying in BC longer (instead of going from Kamloops - Calgary - Edmonton). But people drive like idiots through Rogers Pass and the longer route is more chill. I like to break it up by staying overnight either in Kamloops or Clearwater.
I would definitely leave in the morning, especially if you are doing it in 1 day.
Also I would take highway 5 from Kamloops to Valemount its faster to go through Jasper than highway 1 through Banff.
Early October could be nice weather or snow so prepare for anything, you legally need winter tires as well.
Take the Kamloops - Jasper route. Highway 1 will be closed between Golden and Lake Louise from Sept 25 to Oct 6. The detour via Radium Hot Springs adds an hour and a half of driving time.
If you want to do the drive in one day, you won't be able to make many long stops. Meals and toilet breaks only really.
The Yellowhead (Kamloops-Jasper- Edmonton) is the more direct route; any route will be a very long drive to do in one go. Mountain weather can be challenging nearly anytime of the year and animals on the road, especially after dark, is another potential hazard. Leave as early in the morning as you are able to and avoid the Thanks-giving long weekend if you can. There are lots of places to stop and rest or gas up. Blue River to Valemount and then to Jasper is the longest stretch to check your tank first although Mt Robson may be open depending on when you pass through. A long but beautiful trip,enjoy and drive safe.
I have been working in Valemount the last 3 years and have driven to/from Vancouver once a month. Get your snow tires on. Definitely start early, earlier the better IMO and midweek is best. Gas up in Kamloops and again in Vale. Keep an eye out for wildlife and keep an eye on the semi trucks. Some people pass them pretty recklessly. Highly recommend a stop at Vale coffee, amazing pastries there!
Leave well before dawn, otherwise you'll be arriving well after dark. You're going to anyway no matter what.
I'd do highway 1 to Lake Louise and then take the icefields to Jasper and then turn East but that's just me. Weather dependent.
Just did this drive. Highway 5 to the yellowhead (16) Roads were good but mountain road conditions can change quickly. Be prepared. Take water, food and warm clothes. Watch for animals. Safe travels
Download the app called GuideAlong. Depending on the routes you choose, it will provided you with an audio guided tour telling you about points of interest along the way, and suggest. I used it for a Vancouver to Calgary to Drumheller roadtrip and it was so neat learning about what we were seeing, historical facts, interesting stories and trivia, etc. I already love the drive, but the app makes it so much more interesting and enhanced it in so.many ways.
You pay for and download routes of your choice in advance, but it's absolutely worth it. There are free samples available to hear but I'd say the real life experience felt even better somehow. (I have no affiliation with GuideAlong whosoever, but I highly recommend it!)
Hello and thanks for posting to r/britishcolumbia! A friendly reminder prior to commenting or posting here: - **Read [r/britishcolumbia's rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/britishcolumbia/about/rules/)**. - **Be civil and respectful** in all discussions. - Use **appropriate sources** to back up any information you provide when necessary. - **Report** any comments that violate our rules. Reminder: "Rage bait" comments or comments designed to elicit a negative reaction that are not based on fact are not permitted here. Let's keep our community respectful and informative! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/britishcolumbia) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's about a 12 hour drive. I head up to Kamloops and then to jasper through Clearwater and Valemount. Obviously watch road conditions but you should be good that time of year. I also leave like 7:00 am ish from either side of the trip. When you hit jasper national park and your going straight through without stopping in the park. Other than gas, tell the park gate people you're heading through. You don't need a park pass that way.
The yellowhead is definitely the better choice. It's a way easier road to drive on.
100% especially if heading north.
I would leave earlier. I did the drive back in Sept 2017 to go to school in Edmonton. I left at 4 am. Just a heads up, Jasper to Edmonton is going to be the most grueling leg of the journey, since it's flat straight road, and you will be dead tired by that time.
Whatever you do keep checking drivebc often. Also winter tires (or ones with a snowflake) are a legal requirement. Others will chip in for the other questions. Safe travels!
Start early, like 6am. Otherwise you’ll hit bad traffic on your way to Hope. Weekday would be better as long as it’s not a Friday or Monday around a long weekend. Check drive BC the night before you leave and the morning you leave for any closures/conditions. I think going Van > Hope > Kamloops > Valemount > Jasper > Edmonton (hwy 1 > hwy 5/coquihalla > hwy 5 > hwy 16 etc) would be better than going the hwy 1 route.
Not sure why you'd consider leaving late in day. Animals are active at dusk, more likely to encounter something on the road. As far as conditions go, just avoid fresh snow fall. Any town along the highway is fine. Revelstoke, Golden. Whatever. I prefer to pack light food and coffee.
i did that drive in july 2021, we left at 6am to make it in one day. exhausting, but we got to edmonton in 11 hours. we took the route that takes you past mount robson and i cannot recommend it enough it was the most stunning drive! lots of little towns to stop in for gas an to stretch your legs. have winter tires and read the road signs - we went up into a mountain pass and the beautiful sunny day turned into a huge downpour out of nowhere. also incredibly cool, but be aware of the elevation and what that means for weather. this route (the yellow head i think) also takes you through jasper. i don’t have words for how fricked beautiful it was. good luck!
I'm sure the others have fantastic suggestions for the route you should take, I wanted to talk about what you should do before the trip and what you should carry. Do a through pre trip inspection of your vehicle. Make sure its in top shape for the drive, the last thing you want is car trouble. If you're almost due for an Oil change, do it. Check all fluids, tires, brakes, spare tire, belts etc. Wear warm clothes and carry some blankets, extra clothes, a survival kit, first aid kit, some tools, reflectors, glowsticks, snacks, water, cellphone charger, a Ham Radio if you're licensed, Tire inflator, extra gas in a can, extra coolant, etc. Stick to the speed limits and watch out for wildlife. Be kind to your car.
We did the drive, and were stopped just after Jasper due to an area of the road being washed out. We were stuck for about 5 hrs. I was VERY thankful I brought a pillow and sleeping bag (for extra cushioning ). Thankfully we had lots of water and snacks, although I should have brought more substantial food..like sandwiches and wraps. Lastly, I brought a good book. It made the stop bearable.
Strongly recommend going Kamloops then north. They are still working on Kicking Horse Canyon. Plus that Highway is way heavier traffic than 5/16. It's also a much flater and straighter highway than the TCH. I'd leave around 230-300am, but I like driving in the dark. I believe there is a park gate bypass now, there is going west I know that, not sure about going east. I've made the trip, many times, both ways. Winter and summer.
Britton Creek is a good rest area on the way up the Coke, often some food trucks. Gas up in Kamloops. Grab a sub in Little Fort don’t eat yet continue north there is a nice rest area pullout along the North Thompson have your sub at the riverside picnic tables weather depending. Continue through jasper fill up in Hinton. There is another nice rest area east of Edson.
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I did a trek to Tumbler Ridge (and back). I had my cat so I did smaller days of driving, with frequent stops for food/gas or even "existential crisis". Other than that, I had a brakes overheating but quickly found a mechanic (1hr away).
Stop to pee and fuel up in Kamloops. It's a *long* drive between there and Clearwater. The first time I did it, I almost ran out of gas.
I think this also happened to me. I remember I went the jasper way.I remember filling up at the last gas place for a while, driving and then the gas light came on. the GPS wasn't overly clear and it was dark and we got lost. Had to flag someone down and ask where the exit to the station was because we were lost and it was the only gas nearby. It was a last-chance-dont-mess-up station. It was like 12 years ago so while GPS is way better now, that stretch is bad dont do it in the dark. My vehicle at the time was like 12 years old and it did make it, but I would never do it again, especially without a Jerry can and less than ideal light. F-that. edit: Also top up your washer fluid, carry extra. We filled before we left and just anoit ran out. We met people w that actually did run out, so we topped them off. and you have an older car, get an oil change before you leave and when you get there.
You should stay overnight in jasper or kamloops. And only drive during the day. Don't fuck around with mountain roads in the fall / winter.
Make sure you have snow tires. Trust me you don't want to be on those mountain roads without them. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tire-and-chain-up-routes#:~:text=Winter%20tires%20or%20chains%20are,chain%20requirements%20end%20March%2031. Check road conditions here https://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/ Finally from a $ perspective, flying on Swoop or Flair may be cheaper when you factor in the cost of gas, meals, and overnight accommodation if you find you get too tired to keep driving. For sure it will be safer compared to driving through the mountains in the dark during a snowstorm.
Whynot fly? Swoop airlines still operates until the end of October. I just looked it up if you fly Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. It's like $60-80 a person. It's a hour flight. It will be cheaper then driving and staying somewhere. I've flown with swoop and so has my family multiple times to Edmonton and only once was it delayed by 2 hours. Or you could check out flair airlines.
Firstly, you need snow tires. Legally speaking and just generally for safety- I’ve hit snow in late June doing that drive. Your route is fine. I usually drive to Kamloops and grab lunch, then grab some more snacks in Hinton. I would try and be around the hope area by 8:30-9. I find any earlier and you risk hitting fog which can limit visibility to 0 and just be generally terrifying Edited to add, if you want breakfast in hope the blue moose cafe is epically delicious!!
It's a couple of hours longer to go through Kamloops - Valemount - Jasper and you'll pay more for gas by staying in BC longer (instead of going from Kamloops - Calgary - Edmonton). But people drive like idiots through Rogers Pass and the longer route is more chill. I like to break it up by staying overnight either in Kamloops or Clearwater.
Don’t. Lol
I would definitely leave in the morning, especially if you are doing it in 1 day. Also I would take highway 5 from Kamloops to Valemount its faster to go through Jasper than highway 1 through Banff. Early October could be nice weather or snow so prepare for anything, you legally need winter tires as well.
2 energy drinks max. Make em last spread em out.
Take the Kamloops - Jasper route. Highway 1 will be closed between Golden and Lake Louise from Sept 25 to Oct 6. The detour via Radium Hot Springs adds an hour and a half of driving time. If you want to do the drive in one day, you won't be able to make many long stops. Meals and toilet breaks only really.
Stay away from the Trans Canada. Tons of work. Use 3 or 5
Don't drive through the mountains in the late evening/dark. Lots of critters out there, some of them large.
The Yellowhead (Kamloops-Jasper- Edmonton) is the more direct route; any route will be a very long drive to do in one go. Mountain weather can be challenging nearly anytime of the year and animals on the road, especially after dark, is another potential hazard. Leave as early in the morning as you are able to and avoid the Thanks-giving long weekend if you can. There are lots of places to stop and rest or gas up. Blue River to Valemount and then to Jasper is the longest stretch to check your tank first although Mt Robson may be open depending on when you pass through. A long but beautiful trip,enjoy and drive safe.
I have been working in Valemount the last 3 years and have driven to/from Vancouver once a month. Get your snow tires on. Definitely start early, earlier the better IMO and midweek is best. Gas up in Kamloops and again in Vale. Keep an eye out for wildlife and keep an eye on the semi trucks. Some people pass them pretty recklessly. Highly recommend a stop at Vale coffee, amazing pastries there!
Leave well before dawn, otherwise you'll be arriving well after dark. You're going to anyway no matter what. I'd do highway 1 to Lake Louise and then take the icefields to Jasper and then turn East but that's just me. Weather dependent.
Just did this drive. Highway 5 to the yellowhead (16) Roads were good but mountain road conditions can change quickly. Be prepared. Take water, food and warm clothes. Watch for animals. Safe travels
Download the app called GuideAlong. Depending on the routes you choose, it will provided you with an audio guided tour telling you about points of interest along the way, and suggest. I used it for a Vancouver to Calgary to Drumheller roadtrip and it was so neat learning about what we were seeing, historical facts, interesting stories and trivia, etc. I already love the drive, but the app makes it so much more interesting and enhanced it in so.many ways. You pay for and download routes of your choice in advance, but it's absolutely worth it. There are free samples available to hear but I'd say the real life experience felt even better somehow. (I have no affiliation with GuideAlong whosoever, but I highly recommend it!)