My Route from Shelby,MT to Whitecourt,AB any comments?

Going up hwy 2 through Calgary isn't bad. Fast flowing traffic and 3 or 4 lanes. I would suggest going through after 6pm or during the day in the week. Rush isn't really bad but it will be more relaxed if you miss rush hour.

Really I would just come up hwy 2, to Leduc cross over west to hwy 60, crank a left to hwy 16 right to highway 43 and up to white court. You can do hwy 22 but it is a lot slower and single lane. It really depends on your expectations.

Thanks to all my new Canadian friends for all this great information, I really appreciate it!

Uncle Rj wrote:
If you have more time, Hwy 3 to 22 and north to Black Diamond is more scenic but the highway is not divided. Both this route and the one you have suggested involves getting from Black Diamond to Cochrane. This route is a royal PITA (pain in the ....) because of all the stops and turns. It is a nice road, just one that we never take with our trailer.

Been there, done that, too. Listen to your Uncle Rj and avoid the Black Diamond Route. We finally left 22 with our trailer and crossed over to 2 to avoid the roller coaster hills, right angle bends, and stop signs.

Generally, the "A" series highways are the old routes. For example, 1A used to be the route from Calgary to Banff until the current TransCanada highway was built (Hwy 1). There are portions of Highway 2 that have been replaced or upgraded. The original sections are 2A and the new sections are 2.

The "X" series are usually connectors or small spurs off the main highways. For example, Highway 22 generally runs north-south. Highway 22x runs east-west and connects Highway 2 to 22.

Here's a link that explains it better:

Alberta Highways Link


Given that the "A" series are usually old routes, you can expect them to either not be twinned, go through towns or have reduced speed limits etc.

The "X" series may be as good or better than the regular numbered roads. 22X is twinned over most of the route but 22 is only two lanes.

While we are talking about routes, I noticed many time in Alberta there will be a highway for example 2, then a 2A or a highway 22 and then a road 22X. Is there some significance how the roads are named and the type of road?
Thanks!

I'm assuming that you are not stopping en route from the border to Cochrane.

The route I would pick to save time would be to take highway 2 to the south side of Calgary and then take 22X (Stoney Trail) east to 201 (also Stoney Trail) and follow that all the way around Calgary to 1A (Crowchild Trail) to Cochrane. No stops, all off ramps and you avoid most of the city. The south side (22X) and the NW side of 201 is the only place you'll encounter significant traffic, even in rush hour.

The other way around Calgary that I'd recommend is a bit slower but has less traffic. Take Hwy 2 to 22x but go west towards Bragg Creek and hook up with Hwy 22 there. Take 22 straight to Cochrane.

If you have more time, Hwy 3 to 22 and north to Black Diamond is more scenic but the highway is not divided. Both this route and the one you have suggested involves getting from Black Diamond to Cochrane. This route is a royal PITA (pain in the ....) because of all the stops and turns. It is a nice road, just one that we never take with our trailer.

To put this in perspective; we store our trailer close to Cochrane and camp south of Longview during the summer. We NEVER take the trailer from Bragg Creek to Black Diamond via Hwy 22 and usually just go right through the city.

I can understand your apprehension about driving through Calgary, but you won't have any issues taking either of the two routes I've suggested because you are just skirting the outskirts of Calgary with both of them. Most of the time you can just stay in the right hand lane and take off ramps and exits.

What Flyboy320 said.....or, once you clear Sweetgrass/Coutts border crossing,drive a few miles or so up to 501 turn left(West), which is a good 2 lane road and you're in the country, to Hwy #2, turn right and go through Cardston to #5. Turn left(west) and you drive by Waterton National Park gates and onto hwy #6. You are driving next to the mountains which will be on your left. Great scenery. Take #6 through Pincher Creek to the traffic circle and turn right. If you need gas/fuel go through the traffic cirle and there are a couple of stations across the street. If you turn right and keep going there's a wally mart on your right if you want to stop and shop or keep going to hwy #3 and turn left(west) to hwy 22(Cowboy Trail) and then on up to Cochrane. Hwy #22 is a good 2 lane highway and you drive through the foothills. I haul a 35ft 5er. Just another option for you.

Scenic trip is to take hwy 3 to Hwy 22 (Cowboy Trail) and just follow it to Cochrane. Good paved 2 lane road. Leisurely drive. Great mountain views.