Best Route from Banff, AB to Vancouver, BC

A quencher at Herbies sounds great. We're not in a big hurry.

Tothill wrote:
Personally I find the Coquihalla to be a boring drive, compared to the Trans Canada Highway through the Thompson and Fraser Valleys. Yes it is quick, but not interesting.

Plus by taking Highway 5 you miss Herbies in Cache Creek. A great place to stop for either a burger or fried chicken and a Quencher, plus real cream soft serve.

There are several small Provincial Parks (no hook-ups except Steelhead at Savana) along the way to spend the night. As well as a number of priovate campgrounds. Historical sites marking the Gold Rush Trail.

You may be lucky and see Big Horn sheep grazing along the side of the Road in Spence's Bridge.

Take highway 5, the Coquihalla, if you are in a hurry. Take the TCH if you want to enjoy the trip and see the sights.

Or take a few days and head down through the Okanogan, visit some wineries, buy fresh fruit right from the orchard.

Another route, a bit more rugged and definitely some steep sections would be to travel from Cache Creek to Lillioet, then over the Duffy Lake Road (switchbacks), through Pemberton, down through Whistler, Squamish and into Vancovuer.

Lots of options much more scenic than the Coquihalla.

Now do not get me wrong, we do drive the Coquihalla, but only one way each trip and we generally are driving Vancouver to Calgary once or twice a year.

Personally I find the Coquihalla to be a boring drive, compared to the Trans Canada Highway through the Thompson and Fraser Valleys. Yes it is quick, but not interesting.

Plus by taking Highway 5 you miss Herbies in Cache Creek. A great place to stop for either a burger or fried chicken and a Quencher, plus real cream soft serve.

There are several small Provincial Parks (no hook-ups except Steelhead at Savana) along the way to spend the night. As well as a number of priovate campgrounds. Historical sites marking the Gold Rush Trail.

You may be lucky and see Big Horn sheep grazing along the side of the Road in Spence's Bridge.

Take highway 5, the Coquihalla, if you are in a hurry. Take the TCH if you want to enjoy the trip and see the sights.

Or take a few days and head down through the Okanogan, visit some wineries, buy fresh fruit right from the orchard.

Another route, a bit more rugged and definitely some steep sections would be to travel from Cache Creek to Lillioet, then over the Duffy Lake Road (switchbacks), through Pemberton, down through Whistler, Squamish and into Vancovuer.

Lots of options much more scenic than the Coquihalla.

Now do not get me wrong, we do drive the Coquihalla, but only one way each trip and we generally are driving Vancouver to Calgary once or twice a year.

As noted hwy 1 to hwy 5, quickest, easiest, scenic, awesome.

Highway 1 to Kamloops then south on 5 is the most direct route and quite scenic. Wonderful rail museum at Revelstoke. You could also turn south on 97 at Sicamous then onto 3 south of Penticton but the Hope-Princeton, a very passable road, may intimidate you with the grades and curves.

The Coq Highway... great summer road (nothing you want to take your rig over in winter)