peterl43

We are planning a trip to Banff/Jasper in July (fly into Calgary or Edmonton, but will fly out of Vancouver). With some flexibility on our travel dates we have the option of either driving from Jasper to Vanoucer or Banff to Vancouver. Does anyone have a view on the better drive? (I know that the Banff drive will be a bit longer but am more interested in the scenery along the way.)..thanks

Judy_in_Calgary

I believe the most scenic drive is Jasper - Lake Louise - Banff - back to Lake Louise - Golden - Revelstoke - Salmon Arm - Kamloops - Cache Creek - Lillooet - Pemberton - Whistler - Squamish - Vancouver.

How you get to Jasper in order to start the route I've mentioned is up to you.

That said, there is no ugly route from the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver. Or at least I should say that my thirty years of searching has not managed to identify an ugly route.

peterl43

Judy...thanks...in terms of lodging in Jasper, we're looking at Alpine Vilalge or Patricia Bungalows....in Banff, we've heard about Rimrock, Tunnel Mountain Chalets, Douglas Fir and Hidden Ridge..any advice?

tom22

I like the route Calgary - Banff - Jasper - Clearwater (Wells Gray PP) - Whistler - Vancouver.

There is to much traffic on the highway 1 and is in my eyes not so senic (you will miss Mt. Robson and the sea to sky highway).

Judy_in_Calgary

Alpine Village and Patricia Lake Bungalows are popular and good choices for Jasper.

In Banff, Tunnel Mountain Chalets, Douglas Fir and Hidden Ridge all are self-catering properties on the outskirts of the town. Being self-catering accommodations with separate bedrooms, they are especially popular with families.

The Rimrock is an impeccable, but expensive, hotel just outside of Banff townsite. It's in a totally different class from the other properties you mentioned. The others are clean and comfortable but moderate. The Rimrock is luxurious.

peterl43

Judy..thanks...is there any other lodging in Banff that you would recommend (aside from Rimrock) that might be similar to Alpine Village or Patricia Bungalows? (i.e. self catering, good for families...we've got 3 kids..12,15,18) but still fairly close to Banff....we'll have a car....thanks!!

Judy_in_Calgary

If you can get the 3-bedroom chalet at Douglas Fir Resort, that probably would be your best bet. It's in Banff townsite, but on Tunnel Mountain Road, which is on the outskirts of town. Probably a good compromise for a family with teenagers, in that it's close enough to the "buzz" of downtown Banff (lots of restaurants and lots of people), and yet far enough away from the buzz not to drive the parents nuts.

If you can't get that chalet, then I guess any one of those properties (Tunnel Mountain Resort, Douglas Fir Resort or Hidden Ridge Resort) will do.

You also could consider the self-catering chalets in the Lake Louise area. But be aware that, while they are well situated for scenery and hiking, they are not where it's all happening from a social point of view.

Paradise Lodge and Bungalows is about 1.5 miles or 2.5 kilometres from the village of Lake Louise. Baker Creek Chalets and Cathedral Mountain Lodge each is about 20 minutes' drive from Lake Louise (give or take).

Borealis

Having just stayed there, I have to say that the drive from Baker Creek Chalets (over snow covered roads) to Lake Louise Village takes only 10 to 12 minutes at the posted speed limit. In 20 minutes you will have time to stop at Morant's Curve and if you are lucky enough to see a train on the tracks, you'll be able to take a few photos against a great mountain backdrop - the theme of many postcards sold in the Rockies!!

If you take Judy's suggestion for a route to Vancouver, you'll miss seeing the Okanagan which in my opinion is a very picturesque area. My suggested route would be to drive south from Salmon Arm to Kelowna, then drive the Coquihalla Connector to Merritt, and then on to Spences Bridge, then south on the Trans Canada along the gorgeous Fraser River valley (a canyon in places) to Hope, and from Hope to Vancouver along the north side of the Fraser (highway 7).
Whatever you decide, it'll be a tough choice!!
Happy travels!!!

peterl43

Judy...we made our reservations for Banff and Jasper. We are flying in to Calgary on July 6 and out July 16. We are getting in late on the 6th..alot of the hotels around the airport or downtown are very pricey due to Stampede. Are there any other hotels that you know of which are on the way to Banff but may be more reasonable than the others (I don't know how close Stampede is to either downtown or the airport but thought that I might have better luck if I drove a little bit to Banff the night of the 6th)..thanks....

Judy_in_Calgary

I recommend that you stay near Calgary’s western city limits, either at Four Points by Sheraton Calgary West or at the Sandman Hotel and Suites Calgary West.

The airport is in the northeast quadrant of Calgary. By crossing over to the west side of Calgary at night, when traffic is light, you’ll place yourselves in a convenient position to start your journey to the mountains the next morning.

Of the two hotels that I've mentioned, the Sandman is the more reasonably priced one.

Having said that, I think a reasonably priced hotel anywhere in Calgary is something of an oxymoron at any time of the year, but especially during Stampede. Unfortunately for tourists, the booming oil industry is competing with them for accommodation.

Once you leave Calgary, there basically is nothing until you reach the Canmore area, just before the east gates into Banff National Park.