Icefields Pkwy (93) Banff to Jasper
We're planning a trip to Banff and Jasper for early September this year. I'm planning a two week stay in Banff followed by a one week stay in Jasper. To get from Banff to Jasper, my Garmin system re...
Forum Discussion
All,
Thanks for the feedback! I'm now planning to drive and enjoy the parkway.
Since the parkway was a “numbered route” I didn't think that commercial trucks would be prohibited unless there were some physical road barriers that were not visible in Google Maps of the area. That's why I asked the question and thanks for letting me know about the restriction!
I use the “RV” setting in Garmin BaseCamp on my PC to plan my trips and then transfer the route to my Garmin RV 660LMT GPS for actual navigation. That “RV” setting takes into account my rig's length, weight, and height to plan my route around any roads with low overhangs, restricted weight bridges, tight curves, and very steep grades. That “RV” setting doesn't have a “commercial truck” bypass to ignore the parkway's restriction and explains why it routed me via Edmonton. When I set that segment to the “Car” setting, it plotted me right though the parkway. You just can't get that type of detailed information from a paper map (but I always carry one with me when they are available because electronics do-dads are known to fail when you really need them). In the past my old “car” GPS routed me down some single lane dirt roads. It's no fun to have to back-up a 30 ft TT for half a mile because your GPS routed you to a covered wood bridge with a 10 ft overhead clearance and a 4 ton weight limit.
My Canyon can be stingy on gas when pulling my 7,000 lb TT on a flat road with the wind. I got 150 miles driving from Buffalo to Syracuse NY on 2/3 tank of gas (14 gals) about 11 mpg. But it does drink gas when driving though mountains. I got only 9.5 mpg when I drove through and around the mountains of northern Vermont and New Hampshire last Fall. With that mileage, I might have been able to drive the parkway from Banff direct to Jasper on one tank-full. However, now that I know I can drive the parkway, I'll plan a day or two in Lake Louise and full-up there to avoid the high priced gas on the parkway.
Thank you all for your help!
Thanks for the feedback! I'm now planning to drive and enjoy the parkway.
Since the parkway was a “numbered route” I didn't think that commercial trucks would be prohibited unless there were some physical road barriers that were not visible in Google Maps of the area. That's why I asked the question and thanks for letting me know about the restriction!
I use the “RV” setting in Garmin BaseCamp on my PC to plan my trips and then transfer the route to my Garmin RV 660LMT GPS for actual navigation. That “RV” setting takes into account my rig's length, weight, and height to plan my route around any roads with low overhangs, restricted weight bridges, tight curves, and very steep grades. That “RV” setting doesn't have a “commercial truck” bypass to ignore the parkway's restriction and explains why it routed me via Edmonton. When I set that segment to the “Car” setting, it plotted me right though the parkway. You just can't get that type of detailed information from a paper map (but I always carry one with me when they are available because electronics do-dads are known to fail when you really need them). In the past my old “car” GPS routed me down some single lane dirt roads. It's no fun to have to back-up a 30 ft TT for half a mile because your GPS routed you to a covered wood bridge with a 10 ft overhead clearance and a 4 ton weight limit.
My Canyon can be stingy on gas when pulling my 7,000 lb TT on a flat road with the wind. I got 150 miles driving from Buffalo to Syracuse NY on 2/3 tank of gas (14 gals) about 11 mpg. But it does drink gas when driving though mountains. I got only 9.5 mpg when I drove through and around the mountains of northern Vermont and New Hampshire last Fall. With that mileage, I might have been able to drive the parkway from Banff direct to Jasper on one tank-full. However, now that I know I can drive the parkway, I'll plan a day or two in Lake Louise and full-up there to avoid the high priced gas on the parkway.
Thank you all for your help!
