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California to Banff in a 2015 Tacoma with ARB roof tent...advice? tips? beta?

Discussion in 'Canada' started by merizojoe, Apr 30, 2017.

  1. Apr 30, 2017 at 8:46 PM
    #1
    merizojoe

    merizojoe [OP] Member

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    Wanting to travel from Central California to Banff and would love any advice or beta on logistics, views, services, facilities, prices. Thanks in advance.

    MerizoJoe
     
  2. May 3, 2017 at 3:16 PM
    #2
    CalgaryRider

    CalgaryRider Well-Known Member

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    It all depends upon the route you want to take... I have driven both the coastal and more central routes, and would recommend the coastal.

    What time of year are you thinking?

    https://goo.gl/maps/XKYGoksBymB2

    This is a route I did and loved it, but it does take some time, cause you want to stop and look at the beaches, and all the scenery.

    Coming up through Osoyoos is a beautiful spot, and it also keeps you out of the craziness that is Vancouver...

    Lots of places to camp along the way, but again what time frames are you looking at. It is the 150 anniversary of Parks Canada, so the national parks in Canada will be swarming, and you may need to book ahead of time at campgrounds.
     
    merizojoe[OP] likes this.
  3. May 3, 2017 at 3:22 PM
    #3
    12thmanhawkfan

    12thmanhawkfan Well-Known Member

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    I made the trip up to Banff this last summer on my motorcycle. Beautiful scenery all over up there. Pulling in to Banff was a little overwhelming due to it being such a busy, touristy town. If I could do it all over again I would spend less time in Banff and a lot more time up near Jasper.
     
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  4. May 3, 2017 at 3:29 PM
    #4
    TheNatural

    TheNatural Well-Known Member

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    Well... the worst route you could take is the I-5 up to Vancouver and then follow hwy 5 to Kamloops and hwy 1 to Banff. It's boring, the border crossing is long, and it's busy. Don't do that.

    The 97 is a nicer route. I'm sure there are other nice ones too, although those are the 2 main ways I've traveled through the western states.

    If you take the 97 up to Canada you'll cross into Osoyoos. From there you can take hwy 3 east and it's a very enjoyable piece of highway. You could take the 95/93 north for the last little leg up to Banff. 95 is also pretty nice.

    EDIT: forgot about the 101. Although you're probably more familiar with it than me.
     
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  5. May 4, 2017 at 12:33 AM
    #5
    Sna

    Sna Well-Known Member

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    Basically what was said in the above posts...use less busy highways and you'll see the beautiful BC and AB scenery.

    Below are some of the places I have been...the highways are very scenic, there are a few (free) ferry crossings and lots of camping/fuel stops. Hit some of those places on the way up and the way home. You won't regret it!!
    Osoyoos
    Fauquier
    Nakusp
    Shelter Bay
    Galena Bay
    New Denver
    Slocan
    Kaslo
    Creston (hwy 3A is amazing)
    Sicamous
    Salmon Arm
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2017
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  6. May 4, 2017 at 1:16 AM
    #6
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

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    Id try to hit jasper too. We enjoyed going through from Banff and then over through radium hot springs and invermere down to sandpoint ID. We went up through MT and glacier NP into saint marys and then up into Calgary.

    We decided next time maybe itd be better to rent a car as there was so much to see and we spent more time driving (from N NV) up there than wed have liked. I mean Glacier was great and coming down through sand point and into couer d alene is pretty but would have liked to have spent more time venturing around Banff and up into Jasper and maybe BC. It was kind of a whirlwind from Calgary to Banff and down into invermere.
     
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  7. May 4, 2017 at 1:21 AM
    #7
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

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    Also if you have Verizon you can get a pretty cheap temp plan for roaming in Canada. We ended up using the car GPS as much as possible but some things were spontaneous and used my iphone a bit to find hotels and such that were a pain on the car gps.
     
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  8. May 16, 2017 at 9:43 PM
    #8
    merizojoe

    merizojoe [OP] Member

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    Thanks for the tips. I agree that Sandpoint and Couer d'Alene are beautiful. I lived in Sandpoint for 7 years and Couer d'Alene for 3 years. I have been up to Banff from there but I've never driven from Carmel, Ca. Thanks again.
     
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  9. May 16, 2017 at 9:45 PM
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    merizojoe

    merizojoe [OP] Member

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    Thanks for the advice and the route info. I am seeing Osoyoos show up in many of the replies. I will definitely take the time to check that out. I was also wondering if you wouldn't mind advising me on the best time of year to travel to Banff? I would like to strike a happy balance between good weather and decreased traffic and vacationers.
     
  10. May 16, 2017 at 9:59 PM
    #10
    Pickeledpigsfeet

    Pickeledpigsfeet Well-Known Member

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    I did central Ca to BC during July, and none of the traffic and vacationers was anything like what we deal with on a regular day in Ca.

    I have also made the trip in the off season, and if you are looking for civilized entertainment, you will find some of the places and activities shutdown for the off season. Even gas stations were closed during the off season in the middle of NW BC.

    Crossing in Osoyoos is nicer than most other crossings. I have been through there a few times but always blasted thru Osoyoos so no experience to pass on abut town itself.
     
  11. May 24, 2017 at 11:17 AM
    #11
    CalgaryRider

    CalgaryRider Well-Known Member

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    My favorite time to be in Banff is the 'shoulder' seasons, mainly between April 15 and June (avoid it before the memorial day weekend if possible) there normally are discounts too as its a slower time in Banff for tourists (end of ski season and before golf/tourist season), my other favorite time to go is end of Aug - Nov as its the fall, and the colors are amazing, also again less tourists.

    These two time frames you may miss some activities, but as Banff is a tourist destination thru and thru, there are always great opportunities and things to see and do. Early season camping in establish camp grounds might be tough, but it will help you avoid the crazy crowds. (Currently all campgrounds surrounding Calgary are booked through an online system, and they are fully booked, except for the first come - first serve sites)

    https://reserve.albertaparks.ca/ this is the link for reserving the sites if you want to plan ahead.
     
  12. May 25, 2017 at 8:34 AM
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    Cold_Toad

    Cold_Toad Well-Known Member

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    @CalgaryRider is right for aiming for the shoulder season to try to avoid the traffic/hoards of tourists. This year will be especially bad as the National Parks in Canada have free access this year. I'd suggest September/October for the Banff area. The last several years there has been extremely nice during that time and the tourist season is starting to die down a bit but also a small spike due to the larches turning color around this time.

    Camping will be difficult as the only sites available in the Parks will be first come first serve site, as the reservation sites have all been booked. There also isn't really any near by free backroad style of camping either near or in the Parks, as wardens do frequent checks of the known spots people try to camp and kick them out. There are much more options for backroad camping in BC as they have more forestry roads that you can drive down and camp for the night with out being disturbed.
     
  13. May 31, 2017 at 9:29 AM
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    Sterdog

    Sterdog Offline

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    As an option you could back country camp in one of the PLUZ's within an hours drive of Banff on the Alberta side. I would only recommend that though if you are used to how the PLUZ's are in Alberta. They are patrolled but in some ways they are still the wild west. Lots of kids flying around doing stupid shit particularly in the open easy to access areas.
     
  14. Jul 13, 2018 at 10:17 AM
    #14
    Rocco-Taco

    Rocco-Taco Well-Known Member

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    I'm interested in the route you took from Couer d'Alene to Banff. Do you have tracks or locations to share?
     

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