I really like driving and it would not get significantly better than when on a highway journey throughout the Rockies from Calgary to Vancouver and past to Vancouver Island.
That is solely my second time driving west throughout the nation. I’ve flown quite a few occasions. I’ve taken the prepare. However there may be nothing like driving it to essentially get a way of the land and its folks, as I am positive you discovered in case you learn Canadian Prairies Highway Journey: Drama in a Delicate Land.
All panorama is fascinating to me. The way it modifications and the way it impacts the economies and life of those that reside there may be fascinating. Cities and small cities are fascinating as it is easy to satisfy folks and expertise the tradition.
So, whereas the driving is thrilling (really, my breath has been taken away quite a few occasions), stopping for a day, going to an area museum and hanging out at a espresso store, speaking to servers and patrons, enriches the highway journey expertise immensely.
East to West on a Highway Journey Throughout the Rockies
My largest shock on this part of the journey was that it gave the impression to be nearly all downhill.
Upon reflection, it should not have been such a shock. Calgary’s elevation is 3,428 toes. The very best elevation on Trans-Canada Freeway 1 is on the Kicking Horse Go at 5,337 toes. That is a climb of just about 2,000 toes. However word, that occurs in the beginning of the east to west drive. One you attain that elevation, apart from a couple of ups, the drive is downhill to sea degree in Vancouver.
The drive throughout the Rockies actually calls for consideration however it’s not troublesome on Freeway 1. On a few of the steeper hills I downshifted to 3rd gear to gradual the automobile down by the engine in addition to the brakes.
Which Course to Drive the Rockies: Vancouver to Calgary or Calgary to Vancouver?
I met quite a few individuals who had flown into Calgary or Vancouver to lease a van and do that spectacular highway journey throughout the Rockies in a single path solely. This raised the query of whether or not it is best to journey east to west or west to east alongside the Trans-Canada in British Columbia.
Selecting which path to tackle the Trans-Canada in British Columbia comes down to 2 concerns: your funds and whether or not you care whenever you see probably the most spectacular of Rocky Mountain surroundings.
- Select east to west, Calgary to Vancouver if you wish to lower your expenses by conserving gas as you’ll spend a lot much less time climbing mountains.
- Select west to east, Vancouver to Calgary if you wish to depart probably the most spectacular surroundings for final. In essence, the climax of mountain magnificence is within the Kicking Horse Go and it’s on the Calgary facet of the mountains.
How Many Days to Plan for a Highway Journey Throughout the Rockies
Naturally, you possibly can drive the total size of the Rockies in a day. However why would you when you possibly can settle in and really benefit from the splendor?
Because of automotive bother on the prairies, we had one much less cease than deliberate within the mountains however we nonetheless took 4 days to drive it. I might recommend as many days as you possibly can so that you’ve got time to go to the small cities alongside the way in which, hike to superb waterfalls, and calm down within the magnificence.
Our overnights have been spent in Banff and Revelstoke. I might add one other alongside Shuswap Lake in case you have the time. Nonetheless, we stopped quite a few occasions on our journey days. We had an amazing lunch in Golden on the White Tooth Mountain Bistro (discovered on the Discover Me Gluten Free app which I reviewed for the Solo Traveler Insiders) and loved the Roger’s Go info middle.
Vancouver and the Decrease Mainland
The drive from Revelstoke to Fort Langley is greater than I might often wish to do in a day, nevertheless, we misplaced a few days in Drugs Hat on account of engine issues and had commitments for Simon to learn from his new e-book in each Vancouver and Abbotsford. Consequently, we spent in the future much less within the mountains than deliberate.
The drive is a reasonably straightforward one at simply over 6 hours and introduced us into the Decrease Mainland (Vancouver and the Fraser Valley) within the late afternoon. Staying in Fort Langley put us on the Fraser River, which was central for journeys to Vancouver and Abbotsford and inside easy accessibility to Tsawassan and the ferry to Vancouver Island.
For what to do in Vancouver, learn Solo Journey Vacation spot: Vancouver, Canada.
Vancouver Island – Getting There And not using a Automobile
There are two departure factors for ferries touring from the Vancouver space to Vancouver Island, Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen. We traveled from Tsawwassen to Duke’s Level, Nanaimo. B.C. Ferries has service to a few factors on Vancouver Island as properly 5 Gulf Islands.
Taking the ferry with a automobile is dear and requires a reservation. Strolling on will price you about $18 a technique and doesn’t require a reservation. On condition that we have been going to go to buddies and to not drive round and discover, strolling on made probably the most sense. Parking the automobile for a day and a half price $25.
Contemplating a solo highway journey? We have you lined with the ideas, recommendation, and inspiration you will want:
Final up to date: ninth June, 2022
