Where to stay between West Glacier and Banff Village 1

[cinberk]

We will be on a 6 week trip in our 32' 5th wheel. I have the whole trip booked, except for the one night between West Glacier and Banff Village 1. Full hook-ups or dry camping, we're flexible. But it would be nice to be near a cute town with a cafe, for a "cook's night out". Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

You are going through some stunning and beautiful terrain. Waterton National Park (townsite CG) would be awesome for an overnight, and explore some of the waterfalls and lake, also the Kootney's. There's an overflow for Camping Lake Louise, and some boondock by the Glacier centre 93. Emily and Mark Fagan did wonderful photos and write ups as always when they came through these areas last year. Check out Roadslesstraveled.us

[Uncle_Rj]

We've done this drive quite a few times. There are two ways to go :

1) Around the east side of Glacier and through Babb and up the east side of the Rockies in Canada.
2) Through Whitefish and up the west side of the Rockies through Fairmont BC. Take Hwy 93 at Radium instead of going all the way to Golden and taking Hwy 1.

I'd do #2 as it is a bit shorter and much more scenic. Other posters have given you some good tips for camping on that route but the two I'd pick for a bit of a splurge are:

1) Riverside Campground in Kimberley, BC. Just outside of the town of Kimberley where you will find some fantastic German Restaurants.

2) Fairmont Hot Springs RV Resort. The hot springs pools are right next door to the RV Resort. The restaurant at the Riverside golf course is ok. There are also restaurants in the Lodge by the hot springs. You can easily walk to both the hot springs and the Lodge from the RV park.

A good place to stop for a bite en-route is Café Jax on the main street in Eureka, just south of the US/Canada border. It was on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and is really good.

[jimbob3ca]

From West Glacier to Banff is only about seven hours driving time if you go through Whitefish and cross into Canada at Roosville, then continue north on 93/95 towards Radium. Depending on your needs, (hookups?) there is a nice private campsite across the highway from Ft. Steele. You can walk to Ft. Steele in 10 minutes from there. There is a restaurant in Ft. Steele, others are a 20 minute drive into Cranbrook. There is also a private campsite at Fairmont Hotsprings which gives you the option of a swim and restaurants nearbye. Either stop divides the drive nearly in half. Premier Lake Provincial Park is about 20 minutes off the main highway on a paved road except for the last few miles. Reservations can be made there. Whiteswan Provincial Park is also 20 to 30 minutes off the highway,(no reservations) but the road is gravel, and will have large logging trucks from Mon. to Fri. for sure and maybe also on weekends. There is also a National Park campsite at Radium. However, this being free entry into all National Parks this year, this may be very busy.

[SideHillSoup]

Follow 93 from Whitefish up the the Canadian Boarder at Roosville. Once you get to Hwy 3 head west towards Cranbrook, and before you get to Cranbrook you will come to a Hwy Jct ( 3 & 93/95) take 93/95 north towards Farimount Hot Springs / Radium Hot Springs.

About 4 miles from this Jct is the Heritage Site of Fort Steele, great place to stop for a look at a 1890's MWMP outpost.
There are a couple of campgrounds near Fort Steele however if it were me I would make a reservation and stay at Premier Lake PP.
Fort Steele

Across the Hwy and up a couple hundred yards is an Esso Station lots of room for a truck and 5th Wheel , diesel pump is on the left as you pull in.

Fairmount Hot Springs or Radium Hot Springs both have campgrounds, do a bit of research to find what you like there as also a couple of BC Provincial Campgrounds on this route.

Premier Lake and Whiteswan Lake
Premier Lake is on a paved road 10 km off the main Hwy. and reservations should be made
Premier

Whiteswan lake is 25 Kms up a gravel road there are also Hot Springs up there called Lussier Hot Springs.
Whiteswan

From Radium to Banff it is about 1.5 hr drive, ( non-stop) however you will most likely have a park pass and will be stopping a lot to see the sights in Kootenay National park on the way.

Soup.

[Rocky2]

We stayed at Fort Steele last summer. Decent campground located near Fort Steele Park. Well worth a stay before heading on to the national parks. We stayed at Lake Louise rather than Banff before heading on to Jasper.

[romore]

Be sure to reserve a site in Banff NP, it may already be booked up for this year. Canmore is a short distance away and outside the park so there may be more options.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We took Hwy 93 to Hwy 95 to Hwy 1. Easy border crossing into CA. There is a nice RV Resort in Fairmont Hot Springs BC. Fairmony Hot Springs Resort on Fairmont Resort Road. We didn't stay there but looks nice. There are a couple of restaurants nearby.

[Veebyes]

That is almost a "You can't get there from here" request. Quick look shows that you will have to first get around to the east side of GNP. Once you do that, find Hillspring, AB. Google Great Canadian Barn Dance. The restored barn is attraction enough but it is the site of a CG, & depending on night, a decent feed & barn dancing, local band. A little hokey but fun.

From there it is not a bad run to Banff.

Don't like that? Option #2 is Granview Rec Park, Granum, AB. Nice town park far enough from the highway so no noise.

Done both of them.