Canada RV Trip 2024

[Arsey]

We’re planning to rent an RV next summer and tour British Columbia for about 10 nights.
I know the area around Calgary/ Banff etc but that’s about all.
I’ve had a quick play for an hour or two and came up with this route based on RV parks that look ok and roughly where we want to go.



We’d probably spend more than one night at a couple of places such as Jasper and Whistler.

Anybody done similar and can tell me what I’m missing ? Ta

 

[Kitsilano]

Arsey.....exactly what months are you talking about - it makes a difference.
The British Columbia equivalent of Scotland's midges are called Blackfly and are no less vicious.
Depending upon the month, the roads will be full of RVs.
The Icefields Parkway from Banff, heading north to Jasper is a stunning bit of road.
Have you thought of going down towards Penticton (the region is called 'Summerland'), Kamloops, etc.
If you want to PM me I can put you in touch with a person who can help more. A camper with a 5th wheel who does all of this region and down into the U.S. (I realise that you are not going across the border).
BTW, that is a heck of a lot of mileage between stops on a 10-day trip with 2x nights layovers...

 

[Arsey]

Arsey.....exactly what months are you talking about - it makes a difference.
The British Columbia equivalent of Scotland's midges are called Blackfly and are no less vicious.
Depending upon the month, the roads will be full of RVs.
The Icefields Parkway from Banff, heading north to Jasper is a stunning bit of road.
Have you thought of going down towards Penticton (the region is called 'Summerland'), Kamloops, etc.
If you want to PM me I can put you in touch with a person who can help more. A camper with a 5th wheel who does all of this region and down into the U.S. (I realise that you are not going across the border).
BTW, that is a heck of a lot of mileage between stops on a 10-day trip with 2x nights layovers...

We were looking at July but might be too hot.
June is out as got a bike trip so possibly May.
Not looked at going to Penticton-I just through a route together to get an idea.

 

[Northern jock]

The only place I know there is Nelson, I did a mountain flying course there years ago, a great town in a great area, surrounded by big hills. An old hippy town, very laid back.

 

[Daffy]

We did a 2 week Canada RV trip back a few years ago, flew into Calgary and went Banff, up the ice fields parkway, lake Louise, glacier national park, Jasper and then across to the coast, via Kamloops, Whistler and then onto Vancouver and home. It was probably the best holiday we’ve ever had.

I’ll try to dig out the route and waypoints and post them up here.

 

[Arsey]

We did a 2 week Canada RV trip back a few years ago, flew into Calgary and went Banff, up the ice fields parkway, lake Louise, glacier national park, Jasper and then across to the coast, via Kamloops, Whistler and then onto Vancouver and home. It was probably the best holiday we’ve ever had.

I’ll try to dig out the route and waypoints and post them up here.

Ta. What month did you go ?

 

[Daffy]

We did it in 2013 so things may have changed a bit but I thought might you might be interested in some of the high points of our journey.

We landed in Calgary, rented a motorhome and drove up the ice fields parkway to Jasper and then across country to Vancouver.

Unfortunately I didn’t record a route but you can see the gist of our journey from the waypoints in the screenshot, I’ve got a Garmin file that I can e-mail to you (not sure if you can load them into MRA or if you’ll need Garmin basecamp) I have put a screenshot so you can do a bit of research. Its not on the list but Sulphur mountain is worth a walk up (or the cable car) - its close to Banff.

 

[Daffy]

Ta. What month did you go ?

We went in May 2013, there was lots of snow about but it was shorts and T shirts during the day

 

[Arsey]

We did it in 2013 so things may have changed a bit but I thought might you might be interested in some of the high points of our journey.

We landed in Calgary, rented a motorhome and drove up the ice fields parkway to Jasper and then across country to Vancouver.

Unfortunately I didn’t record a route but you can see the gist of our journey from the waypoints in the screenshot, I’ve got a Garmin file that I can e-mail to you (not sure if you can load them into MRA or if you’ll need Garmin basecamp) I have put a screenshot so you can do a bit of research. Its not on the list but Sulphur mountain is worth a walk up (or the cable car) - its close to Banff.

View attachment 276221

Ok that’s great ta

 

[Daffy]

This is a quick hash up of the route, the photos were lake Louise on 13/5/13, it looks cold but it was shorts and T shirt in the sun, saying that it did get cold in the evenings

 

[Arsey]

This is a quick hash up of the route, the photos were lake Louise on 13/5/13, it looks cold but it was shorts and T shirt in the sun, saying that it did get cold in the evenings

View attachment 276226
View attachment 276224
View attachment 276225

That’s brilliant, ta

 

[mikeyboy]

We went in 2012.fly drive
Flew into Calgary,onto moraine lake,jasper,Clearwater,whistler,then onto Vancouver,
There we jumped onto a small cruise ship,up the inner passage to steward ,picked up another car and drove to Valdez,
Then back on the marine highway to anchorage,flight to Seattle then home.
That’s a long story cut short.
Amazing trip.
We went in June.

 

[mikeyboy]

My daughter spent a summer in Canmore .
January thru till October.
I can ask her about mozzies etc if you like

 

[Arsey]

We went in 2012.fly drive
Flew into Calgary,onto moraine lake,jasper,Clearwater,whistler,then onto Vancouver,
There we jumped onto a small cruise ship,up the inner passage to steward ,picked up another car and drove to Valdez,
Then back on the marine highway to anchorage,flight to Seattle then home.
That’s a long story cut short.
Amazing trip.
We went in June.

Sounds great. Looks like we’ll be doing Vancouver both ways as we don’t fly to Calgary anymore . Last 2 weeks in May looks like being the dates now .


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[Rex800]

We went in 2017 started in Vancouver spent 2days on Vancouver island then did similar to what your thinking and dropped off and flew out of Calgary. Many of the Rv rental companies have suggested routes on their websites. Went in August, fairly quiet and no flies.


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[Kitsilano]

Arsey,
Can I suggest something to consider:
If you get a cheap airfare from YVR to Calgary and stick with your original plan....otherwise there's a lot of re-tracing of steps OR a massive circle to drive. (Note: in Alberta, you can definitely expect snow into mid-May).
As others have affirmed, the Icefields Parkway, north from Banff is an exceptional visual experience. Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise. May will likely avoid Blackfly. Have a mooch online re: Penticton, Kelowna, Nelson, Cranbrook, Radium Hot Springs....Crows Nest pass, etc. Lots of info, you just have to know that you can never see it all in one go and everyone will have a different opinion. (The west coast of Vancouver Island is another experience altogether...)

Re: Whistler...You could ditch the camper as you return to Vancouver and then use a rental car to drive up to Whistler (via the old logging town of Squamish) for a couple of nights (rental mountain bikes there). That would be an easier way to do it, IMHO.

 

[Arsey]

Arsey,
Can I suggest something to consider:
If you get a cheap airfare from YVR to Calgary and stick with your original plan....otherwise there's a lot of re-tracing of steps OR a massive circle to drive. (Note: in Alberta, you can definitely expect snow into mid-May).
As others have affirmed, the Icefields Parkway, north from Banff is an exceptional visual experience. Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise. May will likely avoid Blackfly. Have a mooch online re: Penticton, Kelowna, Nelson, Cranbrook, Radium Hot Springs....Crows Nest pass, etc. Lots of info, you just have to know that you can never see it all in one go and everyone will have a different opinion. (The west coast of Vancouver Island is another experience altogether...)

Re: Whistler...You could ditch the camper as you return to Vancouver and then use a rental car to drive up to Whistler (via the old logging town of Squamish) for a couple of nights (rental mountain bikes there). That would be an easier way to do it, IMHO.

Some great advice ta


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[rjsmith26]

Arsey - I know the Kelowna area / the road from Vancouver via Merrick. We travelled this in June, there is a high point on the route which in June was easily passable but still snow on it. Kelowna is nice with a great lake / water sports etc all focused around the lake - the RV park you look to be targetting looks to be on the outskirts of town (to me the town was nothing too special - when we picked accomodation with took the cost pain to be on the lake and it was worth it), didn't want you to stay where you planned and feel disappointed.

Other pointless but maybe useful info - we stopped on the trip from Vancouver to Kelowna in Hope, roadside diner with plenty of bear protection - had done no research, seems quite a lot of the first Rambo movie was filmed there if thats your bag.

Other pointless inputs - Merrick we stopped for fuel, the Nashville country and western centre of Canada - "yeee haaa get those dancing shoes on come on!" I like a bit of country but it looked on the edges like a film set for Rockford Files Motel scenes from the late 70's / early 80's, but again each to their own.

Enjoy the trip am sure you won't be disappointed as the scenery is spectacular.

 

[Arsey]

I’ve tweaked/shortened the route

 

[Flintlock]

Re going in July - brother lives about 100 miles NW of Calgary - weather con vary big time there in July - they had high temps (and alot of forest fires - further north)