Driving time & route, Kelowna to Lake Louise

My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late March
05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What would be
the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short timescale
(say 3 days).

Many thanks in advance.
Hegen

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 21:38:17 -0000, "Hegen2000"
wrote:

My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late March
05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What would be
the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short timescale
(say 3 days).

Actual driving time from Kelowna to Banff is just over 5 hours, if you
don't make any stops enroute... I would give it at least a full day to
see a few things along the way.

Routing is very straightforward.... North on Hwy 97/97A to Sicamous,
East on Hwy 1 to Banff. Along the way I would suggest stopping at
Vernon (Lake Kalamalka viewpoint), Craigellachie (site of the driving
of the last spike on the Canadian Pacific Railway), Rogers Pass (the
Parks Canada Interpretive Centre), Golden (watch for big horn sheep on
the hill heading east out of town), Field (good Parks Canada Info
Centre) and into Banff... leave Lake Louise and the Icefield Parkway
for the next day.

Hotel prices are much more reasonable in Canmore (about 15 minutes
east of Banff)

Can it be done in 3 days? Yes.... but I would give it at least 4 or 5
to see all you can in the Park.

Bruce

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 21:38:17 -0000, "Hegen2000"
wrote:

My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late March
05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What would be
the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short timescale
(say 3 days).

Actual driving time from Kelowna to Banff is just over 5 hours, if you
don't make any stops enroute... I would give it at least a full day to
see a few things along the way.

Routing is very straightforward.... North on Hwy 97/97A to Sicamous,
East on Hwy 1 to Banff. Along the way I would suggest stopping at
Vernon (Lake Kalamalka viewpoint), Craigellachie (site of the driving
of the last spike on the Canadian Pacific Railway), Rogers Pass (the
Parks Canada Interpretive Centre), Golden (watch for big horn sheep on
the hill heading east out of town), Field (good Parks Canada Info
Centre) and into Banff... leave Lake Louise and the Icefield Parkway
for the next day.

Hotel prices are much more reasonable in Canmore (about 15 minutes
east of Banff)

Can it be done in 3 days? Yes.... but I would give it at least 4 or 5
to see all you can in the Park.

Bruce

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 21:38:17 -0000, "Hegen2000"
wrote:

My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late March
05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What would be
the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short timescale
(say 3 days).

Actual driving time from Kelowna to Banff is just over 5 hours, if you
don't make any stops enroute... I would give it at least a full day to
see a few things along the way.

Routing is very straightforward.... North on Hwy 97/97A to Sicamous,
East on Hwy 1 to Banff. Along the way I would suggest stopping at
Vernon (Lake Kalamalka viewpoint), Craigellachie (site of the driving
of the last spike on the Canadian Pacific Railway), Rogers Pass (the
Parks Canada Interpretive Centre), Golden (watch for big horn sheep on
the hill heading east out of town), Field (good Parks Canada Info
Centre) and into Banff... leave Lake Louise and the Icefield Parkway
for the next day.

Hotel prices are much more reasonable in Canmore (about 15 minutes
east of Banff)

Can it be done in 3 days? Yes.... but I would give it at least 4 or 5
to see all you can in the Park.

Bruce

"Hegen2000" wrote in message
...
My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late March
05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What would be
the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short
timescale
(say 3 days).

Many thanks in advance.
Hegen


Driving time would be about 5 hours, for 420 kms. It's a mountain pass for a
good part, so there is just the one sensible route; the Trans - Canada
highway.

It's a nice drive (more so the second half of it) and if you are as far as
Kelowna, have never seen the Rockies, and won't be back soon, I would
recommend you do it. If you get some nice spring weather, which you have
good shot at in late March, it will be spectacular.

You will want a full day in and out, with a day to putter around the Lake
Louise area. You might want to go as far as Banff, but that might be
stretching it.

"Hegen2000" wrote in message
...
My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late March
05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What would be
the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short
timescale
(say 3 days).

Many thanks in advance.
Hegen


Driving time would be about 5 hours, for 420 kms. It's a mountain pass for a
good part, so there is just the one sensible route; the Trans - Canada
highway.

It's a nice drive (more so the second half of it) and if you are as far as
Kelowna, have never seen the Rockies, and won't be back soon, I would
recommend you do it. If you get some nice spring weather, which you have
good shot at in late March, it will be spectacular.

You will want a full day in and out, with a day to putter around the Lake
Louise area. You might want to go as far as Banff, but that might be
stretching it.

"Claim Guy" wrote in message
...

"Hegen2000" wrote in message
...

It is a basic statement but the more time you have the more you get to see.

Strongly recommend the Icefield Parkway, Hwy 93, North between Lake Louise
and Jasper (300 plus miles return).

Maligne Lake near Lake Louise is worth seeing for its beauty. This was the
back picture on the Cnadian $20 bill for years.

Here is wishing you good clear weather for this memorable trip.

"Claim Guy" wrote in message
...

"Hegen2000" wrote in message
...

It is a basic statement but the more time you have the more you get to see.

Strongly recommend the Icefield Parkway, Hwy 93, North between Lake Louise
and Jasper (300 plus miles return).

Maligne Lake near Lake Louise is worth seeing for its beauty. This was the
back picture on the Cnadian $20 bill for years.

Here is wishing you good clear weather for this memorable trip.

"My side" wrote in message
news:7J_qd.376468$Pl.244132@pd7tw1no...

"Claim Guy" wrote in message
...

"Hegen2000" wrote in message
...

It is a basic statement but the more time you have the more you get to
see.

Strongly recommend the Icefield Parkway, Hwy 93, North between Lake
Louise
and Jasper (300 plus miles return).

Maligne Lake near Lake Louise is worth seeing for its beauty. This was
the
back picture on the Cnadian $20 bill for years.

Here is wishing you good clear weather for this memorable trip.


True Icefields is a nice northward branch from Louise, while Banff would be
the southern choice, but since the OP was concerned about 3 days being
enough, I thought that three days of constant driving was not what was
desired.

BTW, it is Moraine Lake, not Maligne Lake that was on the Canadian $20 bill.
Moraine is very near Lake Louise, as you stated - Maligne is near Jasper.
Both are gorgeous but, imho, Moraine is far superior to anything else in the
Rockies, including Lake Louise, that is as "accessible". I don't want ot get
all you back country hikers on my case.

"Hegen2000" wrote:
My family and myself are visiting Kelowna, BC, from England, in late
March 05. We would like to make a trip to Banff and Lake Louise. What
would be the driving distances and time involved, and best route.

Is this a worthwhile trip, and feasible to make in a fairly short
timescale (say 3 days).

Many thanks in advance.
Hegen

In March you might still be subject to weather related interuptions
(Snow)...3 days is pushing it a bit, you'll spend most of your time in the
car. It's a little over 300 miles (480 kms) which would take anywhere from
5 to 6 hours to travel in clear weather. Check out www.mapquest.ca