Getting to the Canadian Rockies from Vancouver

How to Get From Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies

By Michele Kadison

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

There is an outstanding array of activites to do in the Canadian Rockies.

VANCOUVER (Rockies.com) – Although the Canadian Rockies are far from Vancouver, this city is a popular entry and exit point for visitors from all over the world.  Here are some ideas about how to get to the Rockies once you have landed in Vancouver.

By Car

The best option for traveling from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies is to rent a car, especially during the summer and autumn months.  When driving during this time of the year, you will not need to rent a 4×4 vehicle, which is more expensive.  The roads are paved and perfectly fine for conventional transport.

During the winter months it is not advisable to drive from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies.  This means from November to the end of April you are better off flying from Vancouver to Calgary or Edmonton and then going on from there.  Make sure you consult weather conditions before you attempt a driving excursion through the mountains as the area is prone to severe and changing conditions during the winter months.

Guided tours are available for your vehicle in the form of a GyPSy Guide, which is a small unit that configures with GPS technology, easily plugging into your car stereo.  The guide automatically gives you information on directions, history, geology, as well as stories about the area you are going through.  With over 4,000 points of interest between Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies, this device is a great traveling companion.

Note:  If you pick up a car in Vancouver and drop it off in another city, you will most likely pay a one-way drop-off fee, which will add to the cost of renting the vehicle.  Make sure you inquire beforehand and then get vehicle rental terms in writing regarding for that company.  Ask if your contract includes unlimited kilometers and if you have to pay more for a second driver.

By Bus

Getting to the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies is an easy trip from Vancouver.

Greyhound offers bus service from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies.  Check for their year-round schedules.

Train

You have two options when traveling from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies.  One is to take VIA Rail from Vancouver to Kamloops overnight, and then on to Jasper in the Rockies.  From Jasper you can continue on to Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Toronto.

Your second option is Rocky Mountaineer, a more expensive ride that takes you via the Kicking Horse Route with an overnight in Kamloops and then on to Banff and then Calgary.  You can also go via the Yellowhead Route, spending the night in Kamloops and then on to Jasper.  If you go the Fraser Discovery Route, you will ride from Whistler to Jasper with an overnight stop in Quesnel.

There are two classes of passengers on the Rocky Mountaineer:  Gold Leaf passengers who can take hot meals in the dining car and enjoy the glass domed car for views of the mountains; and Red Leaf passengers who are served cold meals in their seats.

The Rocky Mountaineer runs from April through October with a few journeys scheduled during the month of December.  The train travels during daylight hours only, allowing passengers to enjoy the scenery along the way.

Note:  Trains do not stop at scenic points along the way, nor do they visit points along the Icefields Parkway, a beautiful scenic route connecting Jasper and Lake Louise.  Because of this, you may decide to rent a car for the flexibility of taking side trips.  Another option is to take a train to Jasper or Banff and then rent a vehicle from there to take in the sights.

Guided Coach Tours

There are several companies that offer coach tours in and around the Canadian Rockies.  Some tours transport passengers from Vancouver to Jasper via the Rocky Mountaineer, with a transfer to coaches for sightseeing.  Other companies rely solely on coaches for tours.

Note:  Be sure to enquire about what sites a specific tour visits.  Some visit more areas than others.  A comprehensive tour will include visits to Maligne Canyon, Peyto Lake, and Moraine Lake.

Sundog Tours is the official guided coach tour provider for Rockies.com.

Moose Travel Network

This service allows you to hop on and off buses as you like, which is great for taking detours to scenic areas that are off the main roadways.  Many young vacationers choose this service, staying in hostels as they hop off to enjoy specific towns.  Moose Travel Network also offers various activities within its service, such as whitewater rafting.

Recreational Vehicles

See bears, big horned sheep and many other native wildlife on your trip to the Canadian Rockies.

If you wish to take your Canadian vacation via motor home or camper, you will most likely be staying in campgrounds along the way.  If you are coming from overseas, be advised that renting an RV in Canada can be more expensive than staying in hotels.  On top of the rental fee, there is the high cost of gasoline as well as campground fees.  If you are not accustomed to operating an RV (hook-ups, sewage dumping, and the like), you may find this option is more stressful than you thought.

Note:  For information on using a Recreational Vehicle,  read Traveling in Western Canada, Inside Canada: RVing the Trans-Canada Highway, and the Open Roads Forum where you will get useful insight into whether this mode of transport is for you.

By Air

The best way to travel from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies during the winter months is by air.  Fly to Calgary or Edmonton and then take the road to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper.  Be sure to check local weather conditions as they are subject to change and can be extremely hazardous for drivers.   With avalanches, rock slides and blizzards, driving can be stressful from November through April.

The months of October and May are known as transitional months where the weather can be beautiful or nasty.  It is always a risk to drive at this time, so calculate your options carefully.

During the summer and autumn (June through September), it is actually best to drive from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper.  Because there is no direct service to either of these cities, you have to fly into Calgary or Edmonton and then take the road anyway.  After calculating airport check-in and then driving time to the mountains once you arrive in Calgary or Edmonton, plus all of the amazing sites you will have missed during your flight, you may want to take the drive from Vancouver at a leisurely pace, enjoying the scenic routes along the way.

For more information on Canadian Rockies accommodations: Click here!