pirlbeck wrote:
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!
Thinking about it again, and based on the 2 factors you mention, that you've already done the sightseeing thing along the AB/BC border, and you're time constrained and want to get to Alaska ASAP, I don't really think you'll have too much trouble with traffic in and around Calgary or Edmonton northbound, if you were to follow your suggested route. Depends on what you call "traffic". We've driven that route a few times and neither was really problematic for us heading north or south through them on #2.
However you choose to go, good luck with it. It's an interesting trip to the 49th state, and once you get there, too. Well worth the drive.
Again, thinking about our trip, you're more likely to get caught along 97 somewhere in BC or YT by the relentless construction/pilot car escorts, than by traffic in Alberta.
Here are 3 websites you might find useful for predicting construction zones.
http://www.drivebc.ca/http://ykdemo.telenium.ca/en/map.html#x=-14994434&y=8996079&z=0&lb=1&rb=1&l=60This one not as likely, but you never know.
http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/Highways/Highway-Conditions