Icefields Pkwy (93) Banff to Jasper

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!

There is one grade that is long and steep. You won't be doing the speed limit up that one unless you have a lite trailer and powerful TV. As mentioned previous avoid Saskatchewan River Crossing at all cost. Gas is outrageous and so is the stuff inside the store.

I believe Ice Fields is closed to commercial (truck) traffic. That may be why the GPS is recommending the round about way.

GPS is good, but you need to understand how it does its routing.

People have gotten funny routes from Google Maps in and around Yellowstone. Currently most roads in the park are closed for the season, and the route finding software is trying to work around an inconsistent set of 'closure' indications.

Paper maps aren't perfect either. You still need to know how to interpret 'closed seasonally' or 'scenic route' indications. I don't want to go back to the days when I had to do all my route finding on a AAA atlas.

Instead of filling up at Saskatchewan river crossing which has crazy prices, take a side trip to the east over to the Nordegg area. Beautiful area and you can fill up at David Thompson Resort or the townsite itself much cheaper. There are many campgrounds in this area as well so you may want to consider camping a day or two.

There are a few steep hills but nothing too bad that would stop you from towing it and lots do. You may have a tough time finding a place to park the rig though if you want to stop at some of the smaller parking lots such as Sunwapta falls, horseshoe lake etc.

You may want to consider doing a few out and back day trips with your truck from Banff and Jasper so you can see some of these areas.

I'd also suggest a trip out to Mt Robson, west of Jasper.

Another reason to use road maps instead of GPS.

You must have some weird setting in your Garmin. No problem to drive up the parkway. There is gas available along the parkway (can't remember the name of the stop) but it's outrageously expensive.

A beautiful drive we have done many times. Do stop at the Interpretive center and take a tour on a glacier on a Snow Coach.
Fuel up before going on the Icefields Hwy as the only fuel stop is at Saskatchewan River Crossing, and the prices are frankly, a rip off!

We drove it both south to north and then reverse when we went to Alaska in 15. There is a fuel station about half way between Lake Louise and Jasper. The only long pull is at the Athabaskan glacier northbound we had no problem with it. Enjoy.

You won't have any problems driving your rig on the Icefields Parkway. Excellent scenery, many observation points.

Fuel, can you go 180 miles (288 Kms) on your tank of fuel?

Columbia Icefields.
Besure to stop here, lots of big rig parking, another favourite of ours is Peyto Lake and the Athabaska Falls areas

When you programmed your Garmin, did you have it programmed to trucks (it thinks COMMERCIAL trucks) which are NOT permitted on the Icefields Parkway. RVs are very common.

Ken

We drove Calgary to Banff to Jasper in a rent car, not towing. But I don't remember anything that would keep me from going back towing my 5er. Road is paved all the way. One pass to go over, but not bad in any way that I recall.

When in the Banff area, take a side trip along 1A from Banff to Lake Louise and you may see some of these. We saw 5 in one group right beside the road.