3 Weeks: Idaho to Vancouver, Banff, Glacier

[ellisfam]

We are planning a road trip for next summer from our home in SE Idaho up to Vancouver/Quadra Island, then over Jasper/Banff, down through Glacier NP and back to our home.

We aren't stopping in Yellowstone because we live an hour from it, and already go there about eight times a year. We are a couple with 4 kids (ages 8-10). Our kids are very good travelers, so I'm not really worried about time in the car but I don't want to rush the trip either. We have been to Quadra Island before and we want to spend five nights there. We have been to Glacier NP, but never to Jasper/Banff.

Does this seem like a reasonable itinerary? Anything major we are missing? Thanks!

Day 1 - Home to Boise
Day 2 - Boise to Bend
Day 3 - Bend to Seattle
Day 4 - Seattle
Day 5 - Seattle to Vancouver
Day 6 - Vancouver to Quadra Island
Day 7-10 - Quadra Island
Day 11 - Quadra to Vancouver
Day 12 - Vancouver to Kamloops
Day 13 - Kamloops to Jasper
Day 14 - Jasper
Day 15 - Jasper
Day 16 - Banff
Day 17 - Banff
Day 18 - Banff to Glacier NP
Day 19 - Glacier
Day 20 - Glacier
Day 21 - Glacier to Home

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I think you've got a pretty solid and reasonable plan.

I would suggest that in addition to Jasper and Banff, you give yourself some time for Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, just to the BC sides of Jasper and Banff. In a lot of ways, I actually enjoyed those parks as much, if not more, than their more well known siblings. I would also make sure that at least a day of your time is dedicated to the Icefields Parkway, which runs between/through Jasper and Banff.

So, I guess, I would at least consider giving a little bit more time to the Banff/Jasper areas, perhaps spending less time or even skipping Glacier since you've been their before, or if you don't have a compelling reason to go to Bend, that's another place you could look at trimming out to save a little time, as it is also a bit out of the way.

Of course, if you stick with what you have right now, it will certainly work too, those are just somethings I would consider doing.

[ellisfam]

Thanks! We might be able to add a couple extra days in the Jasper/Banff area. We aren't on a tight schedule.

We are seeing someone in Bend, that's why we added it.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[ellisfam]

Another question... There are a lot of different driving routes from Vancouver to Jasper. Does anyone here have a favorite?

[Rick Quinn]

Hello:

Take Canada Highway 1 all the way, through Kamloops and on to Banff. Along the way you'll pass several other Canadian National Parks: Mt. Revelstoke, Canada's Glacier National Park (much different than the US version), and Yoho (highly recommended--check out Emerald Lake)! You'll pass by Lake Louise on your way into Banff (warning: parking near Lake Louise is a nightmare in the summer), Jasper is north from Banff; take the Icefields Parkway for beautiful views. And when returning to the U.S., Canada's Waterton Glacier National Park is adjacent to Glacier National Park on the U.S. side. Even if your time is limited, it's possible to pass through all of those parks in a single trip.

Enjoy--the whole area is gorgeous!

Rick

DSC_0032_08-10-2015_110416_TPZ-CCB1-sm.jpg
Emerald Lake, Yoho

[ellisfam]

Hello:

Take Canada Highway 1 all the way, through Kamloops and on to Banff. Along the way you'll pass several other Canadian National Parks: Mt. Revelstoke, Canada's Glacier National Park (much different than the US version), and Yoho (highly recommended--check out Emerald Lake)! You'll pass by Lake Louise on your way into Banff (warning: parking near Lake Louise is a nightmare in the summer), Jasper is north from Banff; take the Icefields Parkway for beautiful views. And when returning to the U.S., Canada's Waterton Glacier National Park is adjacent to Glacier National Park on the U.S. side. Even if your time is limited, it's possible to pass through all of those parks in a single trip.

Enjoy--the whole area is gorgeous!

Rick

Thanks! So do you recommend going from Kamloops to Banff up to Jasper, then back down? Rather than going from Kamloops to Jasper, then down the Icefields Parkway to Banff, then onto Glacier?

Also, if I can drop Bend, would Crater Lake, OR (I know it's out of the way) or Mt Rainer be good add-ons?

[Rick Quinn]

I would go from Kamloops to Banff, in order to pass through those other wonderful parks. Crater Lake and Mt. Rainier are both fabulous, well worth going a bit out of your way.

I have a website with pretty cool photo slide shows of all of these areas:

Crater Lake

Mount Rainier

Yoho, Revelstoke, Canadian Glacier, and Kootenay National Parks

Banff and Jasper

Give the pages a minute to load, and the slide shows play automatically.

Rick

[ellisfam]

Thanks, Rick. Your photos are beautiful!