I'm a complete beginner, the wife and I are planning our first RV trip with our seven month old baby daughter.We begin in Seattle on Sep. 5th, and plan to get to Vancouver Island on Sep. 8th. We'd like to spend a couple of days on the island, then a couple of days in Vancouver. From there on to Jasper, Yoho and Banff (time-permitting, Wells-Grey as well).We would like to finish in Calgary by the end of September and head south across the border before it gets too cold.Is our time-table reasonable? Any advice would be appreciated - especially about the vancouver-Jasper part of the route - about where to stop, what to see, hidden gems, etc.We'll be driving a 24' foot motorhome (class C I believe...)

Going to Vancouver Island I'd consider either the Port Angeles or Anacortez ferries. Some claim the cost is lower that the BC ferry, but more importantly you will take the BC boat to Vancouver.However if I'm aiming to the see the northern parts of the Island, I prefer to to take the Tssawassen (sp?) to Duke Pt ferry, which bypasses most of the city traffic in both Vancouver and Victoria.For even more ferry rides consider the Sunshine Coast loop - ferry to Powell River, and then SE to Vancouver.As for your inland route, I'd go NE to Jasper, and then south through the parks. Wells Gray is a natural stop along the way from Kamloops to Jasper. Allow 1-2 nights there.The fastest way (freeway) to Kamloops is hwy 5 from Hope. Hwy 1 along the Frasier Canyon is more scenic (and flatter). Hwy 99 through Whistler to Lillooet is even more scenic, but has some serious grades on the Duffy Lake portion. Still, European tourists in rental class C's take it all the time.At Lake Louise you can take a side trip (maybe overnight) into Yoho, and then continue south to Banff.From Banff you can return to BC via Kootenay NP, Radium Hot Springs, and then into the USA on US93, 95, 395, etc. Or even stay on BC3 back to Hope.Or you can continue in Alberta through Kananaskis County, a set of Alberta parks that are just as scenic. Hwy 3 is an easy way back over the continental divide.

We just returned from a similar trip. Did not go to Vancouver. Crossed at Sumas. Went to Othello Tunnels in Hope. Up hwy 1 thru Hells Gate, Wells Gray (a do not miss), Jasper, 93 Icefields Parkway to Banff. A stop at Lake Louise is a must as day trip from Banff, also a day trip to Radium Springs. We left and went through Yoho NP, Glacier Np, Revelstoke NP.... Then out through the Okanagan (sp) Valley at the Yosoos Crossing. In the States we took Hwy 20 through Winthrop and Cascades NP. We are in Sedro Woolley now. We were in Canada from the 7th to the 25th and we did and saw a lot but were not rushed. We did some short hikes and the Glacier tour Banff Gondola, couple boat tours. No rafting ....these old bones wouldn't approve. Seen lots of wildlife. No reservations, most parks have overflow but we managed to get hook ups. Did reserve in Jasper just because I didn't know what to expect for campgrounds.Enjoy your trip.

We are on Vancouver Island right now and wished we had spent our whole vacation here. Our trip was the reverse of yours seeing Radium Hot Springs, Banff, Lake Louise, Revelstoke and Vancouver first. There is a lot of space between sites and a lot of sight seeing.On Vancouver Island we are staying at Living Forest Oceanside in Nanaimo, BC. It is the best campground we have stayed at in all of our years of camping. If you are interested it is best to make reservations although at the time of the year you are going it may not be necessary especially if it is not on a weekend. We are coming back and spending a couple of months on the island.Note if you have an RV the BC ferries charge $6.10 per foot for each foot over 20 foot (motor home + toad or tow vehicle + camper); however, on Wed and Saturday after 4:00 it is reduced to $2.00 per foot. Make reservations for the reservable sites or show up early.Hope you have as much fun as we are having.

Personally if I was short on time with so much to see I would skip the Vancouver Island portion of the journey trading that in for a tour up through the Okanagan (Hwy97) then onwards (Trans Canada Hwy 1} to Yoho, Banff...

You may want to post this in "Rving in Canada and Alaska".

planning 3-4 weeks from vancouver | Good Sam Community

Rollnhome
Explorer
Jul 27, 2014
We just returned from a similar trip. Did not go to Vancouver. Crossed at Sumas. Went to Othello Tunnels in Hope. Up hwy 1 thru Hells Gate, Wells Gray (a do not miss), Jasper, 93 Icefields Parkway to Banff. A stop at Lake Louise is a must as day trip from Banff, also a day trip to Radium Springs. We left and went through Yoho NP, Glacier Np, Revelstoke NP.... Then out through the Okanagan (sp) Valley at the Yosoos Crossing. In the States we took Hwy 20 through Winthrop and Cascades NP. We are in Sedro Woolley now. We were in Canada from the 7th to the 25th and we did and saw a lot but were not rushed. We did some short hikes and the Glacier tour Banff Gondola, couple boat tours. No rafting ....these old bones wouldn't approve. Seen lots of wildlife. No reservations, most parks have overflow but we managed to get hook ups. Did reserve in Jasper just because I didn't know what to expect for campgrounds.
Enjoy your trip.
paulj
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2014
Going to Vancouver Island I'd consider either the Port Angeles or Anacortez ferries. Some claim the cost is lower that the BC ferry, but more importantly you will take the BC boat to Vancouver.

However if I'm aiming to the see the northern parts of the Island, I prefer to to take the Tssawassen (sp?) to Duke Pt ferry, which bypasses most of the city traffic in both Vancouver and Victoria.

For even more ferry rides consider the Sunshine Coast loop - ferry to Powell River, and then SE to Vancouver.

As for your inland route, I'd go NE to Jasper, and then south through the parks. Wells Gray is a natural stop along the way from Kamloops to Jasper. Allow 1-2 nights there.

The fastest way (freeway) to Kamloops is hwy 5 from Hope. Hwy 1 along the Frasier Canyon is more scenic (and flatter). Hwy 99 through Whistler to Lillooet is even more scenic, but has some serious grades on the Duffy Lake portion. Still, European tourists in rental class C's take it all the time.

At Lake Louise you can take a side trip (maybe overnight) into Yoho, and then continue south to Banff.

From Banff you can return to BC via Kootenay NP, Radium Hot Springs, and then into the USA on US93, 95, 395, etc. Or even stay on BC3 back to Hope.

Or you can continue in Alberta through Kananaskis County, a set of Alberta parks that are just as scenic. Hwy 3 is an easy way back over the continental divide.

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