My wife and I are leaving in a few days for Alaska from western Iowa. We did the Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise thing last year so the plan is to get to Alaska ASAP. I am self employed and only have a max of 5 weeks for this trip. Our plan is to head west and north to I90 and stay on I90 until Spearfish, SD and then take 212 to Billings, MT and then 12, 191 and 87 to Great Falls (Mapquest route) and then head north toward the Sweet Grass, MT border crossing on I15. Not real sure of our timing at this point, but my main concern is the traffic we could hit around Edmonton and especially Calgary. Any good short cuts or ways around these 2 cities?Traveling in a pickup camper if it makes a difference.Thanks!

When we did it 2 years ago, we traveled from southeastern Michigan (southwestern Ontario, actually) north through the Michigan UP, then west to Minot, ND, and crossed at Portal. Then we let the GPS point us generally north and west towards Lloydminster at the Sask/Alberta border, and then we just skimmed Edmonton on our way to Dawson Creek. It was a very stress free trip, little traffic and decent amenities along the way. You could head north from where you are and cross at Portal, too. On our way back, we headed south to Montana, and had to navigate both cities on Hwy 2. Not pretty.

MDKMDK wrote:When we did it 2 years ago, we traveled from southeastern Michigan (southwestern Ontario, actually) north through the Michigan UP, then west to Minot, ND, and crossed at Portal. Then we let the GPS point us generally north and west towards Lloydminster at the Sask/Alberta border, and then we just skimmed Edmonton on our way to Dawson Creek. It was a very stress free trip, little traffic and decent amenities along the way. You could head north from where you are and cross at Portal, too. On our way back, we headed south to Montana, and had to navigate both cities on Hwy 2. Not pretty.Thanks for the reply. I should of added that due to the high Canada fuel prices we wanted to stay in the States for as long as possible.

Understood. Me too.;) We always try to travel in the US for fuel pricing.The good (better?) news is, Saskatchewan and Alberta have the lowest fuel prices in Canada. Most of that route is through those 2 provinces, until you hit northern BC and the Yukon Territories.

We are going to Banff soon and crossing over on I-15 also. I was looking at taking 22 around Calgary to 1 west of Calgary.

You could continue on to Missoula and up north to Kalispell and then and cross into Canada at the Roosville border crossing on Highway 93 and up through the east Kootenays in Britsh Columbia to the TransCanada Highway at Golden BC. You could then go east to Lake Louise and up the Icefield Highway through Jasper and then north to Alaska. This route will get you a long ways west past Calgary and Edmonton and keep you in the US to take advantage of gas pricing. you will also see some pretty nice cointry along the way.

Edmonton and Calgary bypass??? | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

morley
Explorer
May 23, 2018
You could continue on to Missoula and up north to Kalispell and then and cross into Canada at the Roosville border crossing on Highway 93 and up through the east Kootenays in Britsh Columbia to the TransCanada Highway at Golden BC. You could then go east to Lake Louise and up the Icefield Highway through Jasper and then north to Alaska. This route will get you a long ways west past Calgary and Edmonton and keep you in the US to take advantage of gas pricing. you will also see some pretty nice cointry along the way.
southernsky
Explorer
May 23, 2018
We are going to Banff soon and crossing over on I-15 also. I was looking at taking 22 around Calgary to 1 west of Calgary.
MDKMDK
Explorer
May 23, 2018
Understood. Me too.;) We always try to travel in the US for fuel pricing.

The good (better?) news is, Saskatchewan and Alberta have the lowest fuel prices in Canada. Most of that route is through those 2 provinces, until you hit northern BC and the Yukon Territories.
pirlbeck
Explorer
May 23, 2018
MDKMDK wrote:
When we did it 2 years ago, we traveled from southeastern Michigan (southwestern Ontario, actually) north through the Michigan UP, then west to Minot, ND, and crossed at Portal.
Then we let the GPS point us generally north and west towards Lloydminster at the Sask/Alberta border, and then we just skimmed Edmonton on our way to Dawson Creek. It was a very stress free trip, little traffic and decent amenities along the way.
You could head north from where you are and cross at Portal, too.

On our way back, we headed south to Montana, and had to navigate both cities on Hwy 2. Not pretty.

Thanks for the reply.

I should of added that due to the high Canada fuel prices we wanted to stay in the States for as long as possible.
MDKMDK
Explorer
May 23, 2018
When we did it 2 years ago, we traveled from southeastern Michigan (southwestern Ontario, actually) north through the Michigan UP, then west to Minot, ND, and crossed at Portal.
Then we let the GPS point us generally north and west towards Lloydminster at the Sask/Alberta border, and then we just skimmed Edmonton on our way to Dawson Creek. It was a very stress free trip, little traffic and decent amenities along the way.
You could head north from where you are and cross at Portal, too.

On our way back, we headed south to Montana, and had to navigate both cities on Hwy 2. Not pretty.

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Edmonton and Calgary bypass???

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