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Best way to drive Edmonton to Whistler

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Best way to drive Edmonton to Whistler
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flag IHarrison
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 13:13 Quote
We are leaving after work this friday to drive overnight from Edmonton to Whistler.. Google maps suggests two different routes. 1) Yellow through Jasper then Highway 5 to Whistler OR 2) Down through Calgary then TransCanada to Whistler. Number 1 shows shorter 1100km and faster 13hours, and Number 2 at 1250km and around 14 hours...

I'm not sure which is actually better / faster as the difference are marginal and probably depend more on road quality and conditions.

Has anyone gone either or both ways and can offer some advice?
flag trevorwg
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 13:31 Quote
I think Google maps is being realistic when they say that the Jasper route is an hour faster.

The highways are in good shape on both routes, and you won't be delayed by road construction at night time.

I drive from Edmonton to Kelowna once or twice a year and I've stopped going via Banff even though it's almost an hour longer to go through Jasper. FOr me, the Jasper route is a nicer drive. The scenery is better, you can avoid the traffic on Highway 2 and Highway 1 - super nice on the way back when you're already tired from driving for 8 hours.

There may be some risk of mudslides on Highway 1 between Golden and Revelstoke. I think it's been pretty rainy lately. You should probably check the BC road reports right before you leave.
http://www.bchighway.com/report/
http://www.drivebc.ca/

The only problem with the Jasper route is that there are no big towns between Jasper and Kamloops. Most, if not all, of the gas stations you pass will be closed at night. Make sure you can make it from Jasper to Kamloops on one tank or bring a Jerry can. My girlfriend tried driving this route at night a few years ago and had to get a hotel room when her tank emptied. The hotel was open, but the gas station was not.
flag IHarrison
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 13:45 Quote
That's what we figured. It about 450 click between Jasper and Kamloops, we should be ok, but would probably bring a jerry along just in case. Whats the 5 like? twinned, much traffic at night? Any big differences in speed limits? Still not sure which way we'll go, none of us have driven from jasper to kamloops before, but have done banff to kamloops, so we might go the more familiar way...
flag trevorwg
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 14:41 Quote
Highway 5 is not twinned. I haven't driven it at night, but it doesn't get much traffic during the day. The speed limit is maybe 10 or 20km/h lower than Highway 1, but google factors that into their drive time. There aren't many cops on the road except for passing through the towns.

The road is really remote and doesn't have much cell coverage, so that's something to think about, especially at night. I guess it depends if your car's reliable and how comfortable you are with that.

If you come back during the day then go that way for sure. It's super scenic and cuts through some pretty rugged wilderness. Last spring I saw a grizzly bear eating a fish beside a creek about 50 ft off the highway.
flag IHarrison
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 14:44 Quote
Thanks, It looks like jasper to 5 is most likely right now, but will check road reports before we leave. In the end it probably won't matter too much which way we go, it'll take longer that planned no matter what.

If anyone has any other comments or suggestion please let me know.
flag srh2
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:11 Quote
Hello!

I just moved from Kamloops to Edmonton. I have done the drive to and from Kamloops as well as to Whistler many many times. The route through Jasper is much faster than through Calgary. The drive is absolutely beautiful! Are you planning on going the back way (99) to get to Whistler from Kamloops? I would highly recommend it! Again, amazing scenery! Be careful at night...lost of animals and even livestock on the roads.
flag andrewyoung
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:13 Quote
srh- wrote:
Hello!

I just moved from Kamloops to Edmonton. I have done the drive to and from Kamloops as well as to Whistler many many times. The route through Jasper is much faster than through Calgary. The drive is absolutely beautiful! Are you planning on going the back way (99) to get to Whistler from Kamloops? I would highly recommend it! Again, amazing scenery! Be careful at night...lost of animals and even livestock on the roads.

Why in gods name would you move from kamloops to calgary?Confused
flag IHarrison
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:25 Quote
Yes to 99 back route..

Yellowhead to through Jasper to the 5. 5 to kamploops. Kamloops 97 to 99 to Whistler. Does that sounds about the fastest?

We are leaving friday around 5:00 so anything in BC will be at night. Hope to get to whistler around 7:00 am, catch a few hours in the parking lot, ride all day, hotel for night, ride half day sunday then back the way we came.
flag srh2
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:27 Quote
soccerbiker wrote:
srh- wrote:
Hello!

I just moved from Kamloops to Edmonton. I have done the drive to and from Kamloops as well as to Whistler many many times. The route through Jasper is much faster than through Calgary. The drive is absolutely beautiful! Are you planning on going the back way (99) to get to Whistler from Kamloops? I would highly recommend it! Again, amazing scenery! Be careful at night...lost of animals and even livestock on the roads.

Why in gods name would you move from kamloops to calgary?Confused

Yes...I ask myself that daily.

Unfortunately, Kamloops wasn't working out career-wise for me. Beautiful place to live and I'll move back there one day. But right now, there isn't much for me there in my line of work.

I'm gonna go and cry in the corner of my office now.
flag srh2
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:30 Quote
IHarrison wrote:
Yes to 99 back route..

Yellowhead to through Jasper to the 5. 5 to kamploops. Kamloops 97 to 99 to Whistler. Does that sounds about the fastest?

We are leaving friday around 5:00 so anything in BC will be at night. Hope to get to whistler around 7:00 am, catch a few hours in the parking lot, ride all day, hotel for night, ride half day sunday then back the way we came.


Yep, that sounds about right. Shit...now I want to go too!!!
It will be a long drive...but well worth it!


I expect a full report when you get back Smile
flag IHarrison
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:33 Quote
I'll try and provide a full report with pictures (and maybe some helmit cam video) when we get back.
flag srh2
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 15:35 Quote
IHarrison wrote:
I'll try and provide a full report with pictures (and maybe some helmit cam video) when we get back.

Nice...I look forward to that!
Is it your first time riding Whistler?
flag andrewyoung
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 19:54 Quote
srh- wrote:
soccerbiker wrote:
srh- wrote:
Hello!

I just moved from Kamloops to Edmonton. I have done the drive to and from Kamloops as well as to Whistler many many times. The route through Jasper is much faster than through Calgary. The drive is absolutely beautiful! Are you planning on going the back way (99) to get to Whistler from Kamloops? I would highly recommend it! Again, amazing scenery! Be careful at night...lost of animals and even livestock on the roads.

Why in gods name would you move from kamloops to calgary?Confused

Yes...I ask myself that daily.

Unfortunately, Kamloops wasn't working out career-wise for me. Beautiful place to live and I'll move back there one day. But right now, there isn't much for me there in my line of work.

I'm gonna go and cry in the corner of my office now.

Dang, dude, that sucks, well shred at C.O.p> for now, its too bad people need to work for a living, eh
flag srh2
O+
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 20:01 Quote
soccerbiker wrote:
srh- wrote:
soccerbiker wrote:


Why in gods name would you move from kamloops to calgary?Confused

Yes...I ask myself that daily.

Unfortunately, Kamloops wasn't working out career-wise for me. Beautiful place to live and I'll move back there one day. But right now, there isn't much for me there in my line of work.

I'm gonna go and cry in the corner of my office now.

Dang, dude, that sucks, well shred at C.O.p> for now, its too bad people need to work for a living, eh

Yeah, I was thinking of heading down to C.O.P. this weekend. Have you been out there at all this season?
flag andrewyoung
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 at 20:21 Quote
srh- wrote:
soccerbiker wrote:
srh- wrote:


Yes...I ask myself that daily.

Unfortunately, Kamloops wasn't working out career-wise for me. Beautiful place to live and I'll move back there one day. But right now, there isn't much for me there in my line of work.

I'm gonna go and cry in the corner of my office now.
Yep, its a brand new park this year, its definately worth the ride, i love it, but this stupid ass rain is pissin me off, so i cant go

Dang, dude, that sucks, well shred at C.O.p> for now, its too bad people need to work for a living, eh

Yeah, I was thinking of heading down to C.O.P. this weekend. Have you been out there at all this season?

Yes they are open, its a new park this year, definately worth the ride down, but this stupid ass rain is pissin me off, so C.O.P. is closed up.
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