Vancouver to Banff

The Vancouver to Banff (or Banff to Vancouver - either way is beautiful) trip is a very popular trip for those with a week or more to spend exploring the beautiful British Columbia interior and these two Canadian jewels as book-ends to the trip.

Man people choose to rent a recreational vehicle (RV/motorhome/camper-van/trailer, etc.) to make this journey, as it allows you to take your time and camp at any of the many campsites along this well-travelled and spectacular route.

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

We recommend starting this journey by spending a few days taking in the Vancouver experience, a city that seemlessly blends cosmopolitan chic with rugged outdoorsey-ness. Set on a natural harbour and bounded by mountains on the north and fertile farmland (and the U.S. border on the south), Vancouver and Whistler are also the site of the 2010 Olympic games.

After you have enjoyed Vancouver, pick up your RV rental, or, if you've already been to Vancouver, start your journey by heading out on the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) heading east. You will pass through many Vancouver suburbs such as Landley and Abbotsford as you make your way east through the fertile Fraser river delta.

You will then need to make a choice: head along the slower two-land southern route of Highway 3 to go up through the entire wine region of the Okanagan Valley or faster time on highway 5, the Coquihalla Highway, and possible cut over to Kelowna at a later time (the biggest city in the Okanagan). You could (and we have) spend weeks touring the wineries floating on the lakes, lazing on the beaches, and repasting in the restaurants of the the Okanagan. If it is summer and you crave some heat, the Okanagan can't be beat.

Return from Vancouver to Banff to Banff Insider