Travel time?

Done that area a couple of times. Figure speed average way under 50mph. It is about all 2 lane. Then there is the border crossing. You never know how busy that will be. It could be a minute. There could be a line, either way, & a half hour would not be unusual in the line.

Then there is the weather. That alone can be like a box of chocolates.

St. Mary Montana, up HWY 2 to Calgary, then Banff

In August, 2017, we pulled out fifth-wheel down from Banff to Waterton Lakes National Park (in Canada, adjoining Glacier National Park in US).

This is a drive of 245 miles or approximately 5 hours, or a bit less, via Canada 2. (we actually took Alberta 22, which is a bit shorter (235 miles).

Direct from St. Mary, East Glacier, up Canada 2 is 258 miles--I would figure a bit more than 5 hours.

I’ve been up there several times. Not really sure what you want to accomplish by taking a “quick trip” up into the Canadian Rockies, but I would advise taking a that “quick trip” to Glacier NP instead. Make the Calgary/Banff NP trip a separate trip at a later time. The Canadian Rockies are too special to nibble like leftover scraps. I have always said that our beautiful Glacier NP is merely an hor ‘d oeuvre before crossing the border and traveling through Banff NP to Jasper NP. For a “quick trip” I suggest Glacier NP and then head over the border to Watertown Lakes NP which joins Glacier on the Canadian side. Just be aware that both parks have been impacted by major forest fires the past few seasons.

I have been to both glacier NP and Banff last year. If you have the time it is definitely worth it as a scouting trip. Highlights in Banff are Johnston canyon, lake Louise and if crowds don’t bother you, bow falls right in the town of Banff. As for going through castle junction straight to radium, or going through golden, both have great things to see. I have heard that emerald lake near field is beautiful. We like the canyon RV resort in radium and tunnel mountain in Banff. The are pretty rv park like and less rustic, but that works Us with the young kids. Lots of the small parks Canada campgrounds close mid sept, but their website has the closing dates on everything. Pack winter and summer clothes, easy,to have -10 C and a foot of snow and then +30C two days later in Banff in sept.

Waterton is also worth a stop, it is basically the Canadian side of glacier. Red rock canyon was really cool, the rocks in the water were the colour of raw beef.
We crossed at the chief mountain border crossing, but it isn’t opened year round so check ahead.

MDKMDK wrote:

TxGearhead wrote:
Good info. I will likely take a tour bus for the GTTS road. I think going up the east side to Lake Louise and looping back down the west side on 95 will work for me.

Excellent idea. (just noticed the size/length of your setup - they won't let you drive GTTS while hooked up) :S

So your saying go to Lake Louise and then backtrack to Castle Junction and go west on 93 to Radium Hot Springs?

GTTSR....No, I can't take the cabover on it. Not worth taking it off for just a few hours. I could be pretty far on down the road in that time. If/when we take the 5th wheel, yes unhook and drive it.

We've got a packed schedule this summer and early fall. Two new grandbabies due July 1, and reservations/tickets into September. If the wife wants to stay close to the new babies, I might be able to skip something and squeeze this in this year by myself.

We have RV'd to that area 2 times and visited without the RV several times. All were great trips even in winter. Here are a few experiences.
1. It can snow any month of the year in the Banff area. We have experienced it.
2. On one July 4th trip for a week, we found the high elevation lakes still frozen and with a lot of snow still around.
3. Bring your Texas winter clothes--they will work great in the summer in Banff!

TxGearhead wrote:
Good info. I will likely take a tour bus for the GTTS road. I think going up the east side to Lake Louise and looping back down the west side on 95 will work for me.

Excellent idea. (just noticed the size/length of your setup - they won't let you drive GTTS while hooked up) :S

Lake Louise and the eastern part of Yoho National Park as far as Field or Emerald Lake are must sees. The Castle Mountain - Radium route is more scenic than the Golden -Radium section. Both are good roads.

Good info. I will likely take a tour bus for the GTTS road. I think going up the east side to Lake Louise and looping back down the west side on 95 will work for me.

We arrived in Kalispell around the 20th of May and spent 10 days on the west and east side of Glacier then on to Waterton National Park in Alberta. It was great. We then drove through Calgary and up in to Banff. Agree with the earlier post about the drive from Calgary to Banff as just beautiful. Canadian schools don’t close till near the end of June so not crazy busy but there were crowds. We found the campground at Lake Louise to be a bit quieter than Banff, more to my taste as well. Highway to the top in Glacier did not open until arond 4th of July, so we did miss that.
Consider making a loop, time of year will matter.