Driving from YYC to YVR in May
 

Evening all.

Planning a trip to Canada in May and have just discovered it's still classed as Winter! So I'm checking that the roads are likely to be passable? I've seen comments on other websites that roads should be open but facilities like gas stations will not be - so how does one refuel on a trip?

Looking at going from Calgary to Jasper to Kanloops to Whistler to Vancouver over 4 days.

Cheers
TT

Well it won't be winter winter but depending on what happens in the next few months there could still be some snow in the higher altitudes but the roads should be clear and the gas stations open. The road between Lake Louise and Jasper doesn't have many facilities in general so you still have to plan properly any time of year. Saskatchewan River Crossing has a gas station but if you fuel up to Lake Louise or Banff you will be fine. I'm not familiar with the roads between Jasper/Kamloops and Whistler but I'm betting it's similar.

When in May are you coming? The later the less you would worry about these things.

Just to confirm though...you're doing this trip in just four days?

All major highways and associated facilities in Canada are open year-round. Never heard of gas stations closing in winter. Keep in mind that much of the traffic on the major cross-country routes is commercial trucking and they go 24/7/365. Check the official BC government website for current highway conditions and webcams: https://www.drivebc.ca/

Except other than for clearing accidents, for when the weather is really severe and/or avalanche control. Bear in mind that this (and the next few) year the TCH is scheduled to be closed completely between Field and Golden for ~6 weeks each in spring and autumn.

Thanks for your reply. Yes 4 days. According to google maps it's quite doable. Day 1 calgary to lake louise. 183km, 2 hours. Day 2 lake l to jasper 233km 3 hrs, then on to clearwater, another 3.5hrs. Day 3 clearwater to kamloops 1.5 hrs then kamloops to whistler 4.5 hrs. Day 4 from whistler to vancouver is only 2 hrs. Total distance comes to 1275km or about 800 miles. We have covered 2000 miles in 6 days in a previous road trip! Sunrise seems to be about 6am and sunset 9pm so plenty of daylight.

Four days 1-way would be fine. Four days round trip would be not so fun.

Unless you have family, or some other specific reason to stop in Clearwater, I would suggest going straight from Jasper to Kamloops. This would give you more time in more interesting places to visit.

IME and MHO:

One is very very optimistic to think that driving from Lk Lousie to Jasper will only take 3 hours. Google's algorithm takes the maximum speed on the road, distance and add 10% to get an AI estimate. Google maps has never driven this route.

This is tourism country, it is a two-lane road with many turns and up/down hills, not a lot of opportunities to pass. There will be slower drivers and stoppage for sights. There is also wildlife which crosses the road or is meandering at the side of the road which causes major slowdown as everyone wants to look at them and take pictures.

tentseller makes some good points in his/her post

My suggestion would be Calgary to Jasper one day. Jasper to Kamloops via the yellowhead highway thus avoiding Field Golden area where the highway may be closed for the second day. Then Kamloops to Vancouver the third day All three days are just over 400 km each.There is a lot to see on all of these routes so you can insert and extra day in one of the locations which ever suite you best.

Disregard the above. Clearwater has hidden gems both in and around Wells Grey Park. You won't regret exploring the area.

Roads in May will be summer driving. I drive them constantly every year, dozens of times, and my own summer tires will have been on the car for a month beforehand. It's possible but unlikely you could see a snow shower in the Rockies, but we regularly see temps in the mid-high 20s (Celsius) in May along your proposed routes, so it will certainly not be wintry at all. Pack a medium jacket though. You can easily drive between the cities in a (long) day, or take a month and not see it all. Your idea of a 4-day journey sounds great - enjoy. Be sure to stop in the small towns (Valemount, Clearwater, Lillooet, Pemberton etc).

Hi
I am back from a trip in British Columbia and Alberta.
It may be my best trips. I have done 2 videos on youtube showing all the landscape and activities to do You can ahve a look if you want to inspire your trip.

Thanks, I'll watch them later.

However it seems this trip will not happen now - well not this year!

Interesting idea!