qzmp

We are driving the rockies for the first time in March from East to British Columbia. Which is the best option for driving this stretch for this time of year: via Edmonton and Jasper or via Calgary and Banff? Thanks for the help.

BAK

Are you going to be in Edmonton anyway?

Regardless; drive to Calgary, and the Calgary to Banff, and on to Vancouver.

Others can give you specifics on the routes.

It is a long and boring drive from Edmonton to Jasper. It's a short and fairly interesting drive from Calgary to the mountains.

BAK

HuberaSanti

I have driven both, including a 13 hour marathon between Edmonton and Vancouver. I would agree with BAK - the drive via Calgary is probably the more interesting. If you want to just drive though, there's nothing wrong with going through Jasper and along the Yellowhead Highway, you may get less traffic and shave a bit off the driving time.

Judy_in_Calgary

I trust you have a good reason for driving instead of flying in March.

Borealis

I agree with Judy. In March with the change of seasons there is an increased risk of avalanches, particularly on the Trans Canada #1 (Calgary through to Kamloops), so the Yellowhead (#16 and #5 in BC), which for the main part in the mountains travels through very broad valleys, is the safer route, and less likely to be closed.
What is your starting point? Knowing this will help in determining which of the two routes is faster, if indeed that is one of your considerations.