Seattle to Calgary

[kemer]

Has anyone driven from Seattle to Calgary? Using Canada Highway #1?
Wondering how the road is with a Class A. Will probably continue on to Regina and Winnipeg. Suggestions welcomed.

[dougsee3]

I would go both ways for a Vacation for the scenic trip. Go west to Spokane and Coeur D Alene, then up to Cranbrook and then (on to Calgary. I like the scenery better going west to Kamloops and down to Hope on the # 1 Trans Canada Hwy for the home trip. But if you only going one way on your trip to Calgary take the #1 Trans Canada from Seattle.

[bluebarry1964b]

Rickieblue wrote:
TransCanada Highway is very nice when there is no snow. Calgary area is nice. I recommend checking out some dinosaur attractions in the Calgary ..Brooks area. I was told that 90% of the dinosaurs that are in worldwide museums, come from this area. There is an area called the Badlands that are like the Badlands in the states....scorpions, rattlesnakes, sagebrush and such. Alberta is considered a semi-arid desert. It is a way cool area to visit!!..Have Fun!!

Drumheller is south of Calgary. It's where many dinosaur fossils were found over the years. Many years ago they had an extremely interesting dinosaur museum there. Well worth checking out if you're interested that part of earth's history.

As far as the trans-Canada highway goes... it's the major highway that runs right across Canada, so once you're out of the mountains of British Columbia/Alberta it's a good highway. The highway in the mountain areas is typical of mountain highways with twists & turns, etc, if I remember it correctly. Been a lot of years since I was on it.

[ArchHoagland]

I did that route many years ago. Discovered three things.

1. The steepest mountain climb I've ever been on anywhere.

2. Canada Day is July 1. It's like our 4th of July. No campground space anywhere.

3. Calgary Stampede is first week of July. Really really NO campground space.

Wound up in Edmunton before I could find an RV park with space available.

[slickest1]

Coming from Seattle you will cross into Canada a one of 4 border crossings.I would recommend the Sumas crossing that will get you to Hwy 1 faster without alot of traffic.
Hwy 1 is 4 lane to hope BC and then turns to 2 lane through the Fraser Canyon. If you take the Coquhalla hwy #5 form Hope it is 4 lane all the way to Kamloops and it re connects to Hwy 1. There are some high mountain passes but it should be no problem this time of the year. Hwy 1 will take you through Banff National Park which is very scenic before you get to Calgary.
I hope this helps.

[gfs1943]

Last summer we made a similar trip, in reverse. We entered Alberta at the Del Bonita crossing north of Cut Bank, Montana, then intersected the Crows Nest highway at Pincher Creek and followed it to Vancouver, then down to Seattle. Crows Nest is mostly two lane, but very good road with a lot to see including the Frank Slide that Rickieblue gave a link to.

[Rickieblue]

I forgot to mention Frank Slide........a must see...closeby Calgary..
Click Here

[Rickieblue]

TransCanada Highway is very nice when there is no snow. Calgary area is nice. I recommend checking out some dinosaur attractions in the Calgary ..Brooks area. I was told that 90% of the dinosaurs that are in worldwide museums, come from this area. There is an area called the Badlands that are like the Badlands in the states....scorpions, rattlesnakes, sagebrush and such. Alberta is considered a semi-arid desert. It is a way cool area to visit!!..Have Fun!!

[jorbill2or]

Harvard wrote:
Fuel prices are relatively high in Canada so you might want to stay in US as long as possible. Head to Spokane, SandPoint ID and Eureka MT then go North.

X2
1 is a Freeway to my recollection lots of mountain passes but nothing different from the us. Fuel is very highly taxed in Canada

[Harvard]

Fuel prices are relatively high in Canada so you might want to stay in US as long as possible. Head to Spokane, SandPoint ID and Eureka MT then go North.