Wisconsin to Banff/East Glacier Route Suggestions

[LucyandDesi]

We're planning a 2.5 week trip this July from Central Wisconsin to Banff National Park and West Glacier. Our return trip includes a stop in Devils Lake ND for a couple of days of fishing before heading back to Wisconsin. We are "newbies" to the RV world so if anyone has any advice to keep us out of trouble with low clearances or steep grades, your suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated. We have a 2018 Chevy 3/4 ton diesel pulling a 30' KZ Durango 5th wheel.

Planned Route:
To Banff we'll go through Duluth, MN taking Hwy 2 West to Shelby, MT to avoid Minneapolis. From there, north on I-15N crossing the boarder into Alberta. Road changes to Hwy 4N through Lethbridge connecting to Hwy-3 (aka Crowsnest Hwy) to Fort McLeod then onto Hwy-2N through Calgary and continuing on Hwy 1 into Banff.

From Banff to St. Marys, MT (Glacier), Hwy 1 to Hwy-2 South until the US boarder crossing. Then US-89 into St. Mary's.

St. Mary's to Devils Lake, ND appears to be pretty basic except instead of taking on US-89S out of St. Mary's all the way down to Browning, it was suggested by the KOA to cutoff on Duck Lake Road East out of St. Marys down to Browning where we would conntect with Hwy 2 East and head towards Devils Lake and home as it cuts off some time and is the straightest/ least curvey route.

We have reservations in Banff at the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court for 6 days, and at the KOA in St. Marys Mt for 5 days. We're traveling with a French Bulldog and Boston Terrier so extending our trip to Yellowstone or the Tetons will be saved for a later trip until the fur babies get used to RV'ing.

Thank you for your input.

[LucyandDesi]

Thank you all so much for the feedback. I will definitely look into the route options you all mentioned and I've added Waterton National Park to the itinerary. Great information from everyone - so helpful!

[morley]

donkeydew wrote:
don't miss waterton national park. just across the border /canadian part of glacier np.well worth the time.

Totally agree Waterton is well worth the visit. One of the most beautiful areas in that part of the country. Have been there twice and except for the winds from Waterton Lake it is well worth it.

[padredw]

Highway 22 is worth considering as an alternative to 2 in Alberta. Much more scenic and you won't have to deal with Calgary traffic.

Agree. We stayed at the city RV Park in Claresholm, then went across on Alberta 540 to Alberta 22. Enjoyed the drive. Learned what "Texas Gates" are in Alberta. We call them "cattle guards" here in Texas.

[romore]

Highway 22 is worth considering as an alternative to 2 in Alberta. Much more scenic and you won't have to deal with Calgary traffic.

[donkeydew]

don't miss waterton national park. just across the border /canadian part of glacier np.well worth the time.

[Mortimer_Brewst]

Sounds like a great trip. I wouldn’t necessarily rule out the Twin Cities route. You don’t need to go through them. Instead take I-694 around the north side. Obviously avoid rush hour. To me, the traffic there never seemed all that bad. What’s unusual about the area is that some of the cloverleafs have tight turns and throw you out into traffic without much of an acceleration lane. This probably wouldn’t affect you though.