Forum Discussion

pirlbeck's avatar
pirlbeck
Explorer
May 16, 2017

Portland,OR to Revelstoke, BC route suggestions needed.

In mid June we will be heading from the Portland, OR area up to Glacier, Banff, Lake Louise and the Jasper area of Canada. We will be leaving Portland sometime around noon on a Sunday and we have a reservation Monday night at Revelstoke, BC. I am looking for opinions on the best route and the best place to cross the border. It appears we have a choice of 3 major routes. I5 north to the Trans-Canada hwy, or head east out of Portland and then north on US-97, or head north on I5 to Tacoma, and then I90 east to US-97.

I know traffic can be bad on I5 going north through Seattle, but I would think on Sunday it may not be real bad.

Also, recommendations for quick things to see along the way and a place to stay Sunday night would be welcome. We are traveling in a truck camper if it makes a difference.

Thanks!
Roads and Routes
  • Paul_Clancy's avatar
    Paul_Clancy
    Explorer
    May 18, 2017
    rhagfo wrote:
    Paul Clancy wrote:
    Not a big fan of 97. Long stretches with no cell. Much of it 2 lane through passes ( blewett) where dangerous passing seems the sport. Lots of odd jogs to stay on route as 97 joins and leaves other roads. Yes 5 is crowded but people can go around you. I guess that is what it comes down to. Where you are more relaxed driving.


    Really only an issue if you are traveling 5 to 10 mph below the posted limit, which in stretches is 65.

    Olympia to Everett to be down right ugly!! That is on either I5 or 512/410/167/I405. I did the last route as a daily commute from Puyallup to Bellevue for too many years, and that was 20 years ago.

    Just last fall, for a trip to the San Juan's, I chose to turn left at Olympia, and take 101 up along Hood's Canal to Port Townsend and the ferry to Whidbey Island to avoid that road.

    Never below limit. Set cruise at 65 and go. I live a block off 97 and far prefer Hwy 97c to hwy1 to i5. Op will find out what he likes.
  • pirlbeck's avatar
    pirlbeck
    Explorer
    May 17, 2017
    OK, thanks for all of the help. I just booked one night at Haynes Point Provincial Park. I got the last site available for that night.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2017
    Paul Clancy wrote:
    Not a big fan of 97. Long stretches with no cell. Much of it 2 lane through passes ( blewett) where dangerous passing seems the sport. Lots of odd jogs to stay on route as 97 joins and leaves other roads. Yes 5 is crowded but people can go around you. I guess that is what it comes down to. Where you are more relaxed driving.


    Really only an issue if you are traveling 5 to 10 mph below the posted limit, which in stretches is 65.

    Olympia to Everett to be down right ugly!! That is on either I5 or 512/410/167/I405. I did the last route as a daily commute from Puyallup to Bellevue for too many years, and that was 20 years ago.

    Just last fall, for a trip to the San Juan's, I chose to turn left at Olympia, and take 101 up along Hood's Canal to Port Townsend and the ferry to Whidbey Island to avoid that road.
  • Paul_Clancy's avatar
    Paul_Clancy
    Explorer
    May 17, 2017
    Not a big fan of 97. Long stretches with no cell. Much of it 2 lane through passes ( blewett) where dangerous passing seems the sport. Lots of odd jogs to stay on route as 97 joins and leaves other roads. Yes 5 is crowded but people can go around you. I guess that is what it comes down to. Where you are more relaxed driving.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2017
    I've stayed at 2 parks at Osoyoos. At the south end of the lake, on the Washington side is a park with open grassy sites. It used to be a state park, but I think it's been transfered to the county or town.

    Haynes Pt Prov. Park is on a long narrow peninsula. Because all sites are close to the water it's quite popular.

    Population and activity jumps noticeably when you cross the border. This is a relatively remote part of Washington, but a popular vacation area for BC. Osoyoos is of the driest and hottest parts of Canada. Plus orchards and wineries.
  • DRKMinWA's avatar
    DRKMinWA
    Explorer
    May 17, 2017
    On a typical Sunday in the spring/summer I5 is real ugly from Olympia to Everett, well actually from Portland to Burlington. I live in the area and plan trips that avoid I5 on Sunday. It can take as long as 3 hours to go from Olympia to Seattle. Hwy 97 is a good alternative in my opinion.
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    May 17, 2017
    pirlbeck wrote:
    OK, thanks for all of the replies.

    Looks like we will be heading east and then up Hwy 97. Staying at Osoyoos sounds like a good plan time and distance wise. Could someone familiar with the campgrounds make a recommendation for which one? If I could reserve a site at one through the Parks Canada site would be great. I don't really want to set up another account for just one night and it looks like the BC campgrounds are on a different system.


    At Riverside there is Margie's RV park. nice quite place. take Kindal Street off 97 goes right to Margie's google map it. there two in Orevillre River oaks and Bain's know nothing about them.

    after that not much for overnight RV parks until you cross.
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    May 17, 2017
    pirlbeck wrote:
    OK, thanks for all of the replies.

    Looks like we will be heading east and then up Hwy 97. Staying at Osoyoos sounds like a good plan time and distance wise. Could someone familiar with the campgrounds make a recommendation for which one? If I could reserve a site at one through the Parks Canada site would be great. I don't really want to set up another account for just one night and it looks like the BC campgrounds are on a different system.


    At Riverside there is Margie's RV park. nice quite place. take Kindal Street off 97 goes right to Margie's google map it.

    after that not much for overnight RV parks until you cross.
  • pirlbeck's avatar
    pirlbeck
    Explorer
    May 17, 2017
    OK, thanks for all of the replies.

    Looks like we will be heading east and then up Hwy 97. Staying at Osoyoos sounds like a good plan time and distance wise. Could someone familiar with the campgrounds make a recommendation for which one? If I could reserve a site at one through the Parks Canada site would be great. I don't really want to set up another account for just one night and it looks like the BC campgrounds are on a different system.
  • Y-Guy's avatar
    Y-Guy
    Moderator
    May 16, 2017
    Personally I avoid any driving on I5 from Olympia to Marysville any more. Years ago we took two trips to Calgary and Edmonton, once up through I5 and Canada 1 then 5, then the other trip we took Hwy 97. The drive along Okanagan Lake is stunning, and who knows maybe you'll catch a glimpse of Ogopogo.

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