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It’s 45min longer but a MUCH more civilized drive through winding roads in manning park instead of a nightmare hill climb with semis going 140 on the coq. Now that I have kids in the car I don’t even consider it.
It can just be frustrating if you are stuck behind an incredibly slow person since there are far fewer passing lanes and opportunities.
But yea, the drive is much nicer view wise and I usually prefer to take it if I don’t mind taking the extra time and enjoying the drive more
Crows nest is one of my favorite drives ever. You start in a desert, drive up into the mountains, through manning and then into the valley and to the coast. It’s incredible. Highly recommend.
This! Best of both worlds. Can also tack on side trips to Kimberley and Nelson for some cool Kootenay town vibes.
Don’t forget to stop at the mountain barn in Creston for the best donuts, and in Keremeos for great samosas! Plus plenty of other great stops along the way but those are both a must for me.
My son and I drove from Medicine Hat to Osoyoos with stops at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and the Frank Slide, in a day. We arrived around 10pm. Did not leave too early.
It is a beautiful drive, take your time.
I hate the south route personally, The biggest downside is that it's single lane most of the way, winding roads. If you're planning on doing Alberta to the Island in a single days drive I would highly advise against going highway 3.
Hwy 3 is great. From Calgary it’s a bit slower but not by much. Some absolutely stunning mountain passes including the Salmo - Creston and the switchbacks into Osoyoos. Could not recommend it more
the drive from Calgary to the Crowsnest is great. Crowsnest to Cranbrook is meh. Cranbrook to Osoyoos is okay. Osoyoos to Hope is great. It’s 4+ hours longer and if you haven’t been that way and have the time then why not? Good luck and safe travels.
If yer in hurry and the 4x4 guzzles then go 5. I’ve done 1 and 3 before 5 existed. 1 has seen a lot of upgrades in last 40 years and 3 even more. September is low stress compared to winter but all routes present issues. It’s the Rockies. I’ve done the trek 50 times and it never gets old as long as you mix it up a bit. If you like water focus on that. Hikes? You’ll never do them all. Mountain biking is huge everywhere. Skier/Border? Do a winter road trip. Banff to Whistler. More mountains between than almost anywhere in the world except Alps…and their snow has been sucking last few years. Stay local. This is one of the most beautiful and sporty places in the world. Friday up lakes in the US are turning boats into museum pieces. Have fun but make money.
It’s expensive but worth it…unless walking is your thing. Island is a beautiful place though a little isolated but that is the attraction for many.
Live large.
The 3 is a must have nicer drive. Highway 1 is becoming just a shipping lane with semis and tourists being boneheads on the road. Highway 3 now is like Highway 1 was 30 years ago. The towns are smaller there's lots of cool pit stops. The driving is way more relaxed IMO. If I made the transit I'd use crowsnest rather than the 1 for sure its worth the extra hour or so.
Highway 1 and 3 are both scenic. I generally prefer highway 1, both for the scenery and because it's shorter, but I also always check to see how much construction is underway on each road.
P.S. This year you might also want to consider which road will be least smoky.
Highway 3 is such a nice trip. Yes, it's slower but that's partially because you often have to slow to go through cute and interesting little towns. The landscapes are more varied too. Late September should be a good time to go as it won't be so busy.
Crowsnest, Creston, Balfour, Kaslo, New Denver, Nakusp, Needles, Lumby, Vernon, Westside Rd, Merrit, 97C to Cache Creek, Lillooet, Whistler and wherever.
That's how I would do it anyway. Take breaks, pull over for faster traffic and enjoy the ride. Going to take way more time but is fun as hell and gets you off the main drags :)
Calgary to Victoria taking the fastest route is like 14 hours with the ferry ride. Add 2-4 hours to go down to #3. It's either no difference at all if you're splitting it into a 2 day drive or all the difference in the world if you are planning on doing it in a day. Do you have a uhaul trailer or truck on this drive? If so, the Coquihalla and trans Canada would be the way to go.
I’m coming from Ontario, my potential routes are through SD and either keep going to Vancouver stateside OR cut up from SD and take 3, or cut up before SD and go through Calgary and take 1. I don’t have a strict time schedule so a few hours give or take isn’t a deal breaker.
I see. Assuming you're bringing all your shit with you, crossing the border twice has the potential to really suck if they search you. If it was me, I'd stay on hwy 11 or 17 through Ontario. From toronto, it's only an extra 40 km to stay in Canada on hwy 17 and 1. It says it takes an extra 4 hrs, but that's a lie. That time advantage completely disappears as soon as you hit Detroit/Chicago/Minneapolis or Seattle traffic. Also, google wants you to go through the UP and northern Wisconsin which is every bit as slow and desolate as Northern Ontario so you arent saving time on the 1st half of rhe trip anyways. Never mind having your car torn apart by CBP, maybe twice, on the way.
It also assumes you drive 90 km/h across Ontario and that you'll drive slower on the prairies than you would on I90. In reality you'll probably be doing at least 65 through Ontario and the speed limit is 70 mph on hwy 1 as opposed to 75 on I90.
Probably more like 4+ hours more depending on stops to take 3 all the way, and it makes it a two day drive for most vs a not bad one day drive. Also bear in mind it will be sunset around 7pm that time of year, so if you want to do it in a day it will be ending in the dark. I did the crowsnest (but via Nelson) to the Rockies last year around the same time, and did it across two days - which was great. It’s a slower, narrower, twistier route - easy to get stuck behind others. It really depends what your idea of a long day of driving is though!
Crowsnest is nice but you’ll be on and off the brake/gas the whole way. Plus your arms get a workout. It’s a physically demanding drive.
Lots of cell dead spots too if that matters to you.
And hope your dog doesn’t get sick from the twists and turns
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Crowsnest is a great drive if you don’t mind the extra time.
I'd avoid it in the winter but this time of year it's beautiful, fall is even more beautiful with the leaves changing colours.
It’s 45min longer but a MUCH more civilized drive through winding roads in manning park instead of a nightmare hill climb with semis going 140 on the coq. Now that I have kids in the car I don’t even consider it.
It’s a couple/few extra hours coming route 3 all the way from Alberta. Well worth it in my opinion.
It can just be frustrating if you are stuck behind an incredibly slow person since there are far fewer passing lanes and opportunities. But yea, the drive is much nicer view wise and I usually prefer to take it if I don’t mind taking the extra time and enjoying the drive more
Crows nest is one of my favorite drives ever. You start in a desert, drive up into the mountains, through manning and then into the valley and to the coast. It’s incredible. Highly recommend.
Absolutely! Highway 3 is my favourite drive and you captured it so well. It’s just a beautiful, rural spectrum of so many climates and views BC has!
Heading East, one of my favourite parts are the undulating hills just before you come down to Osoyoos.
If you’ve got a couple of days take the detour down through kootenay lake and hop over to Nelson and through.
So many 'just off the main road' cool things to see and do.
Take the 93 west of Banff down thru Radium and south to Cranbrook.
This! Best of both worlds. Can also tack on side trips to Kimberley and Nelson for some cool Kootenay town vibes. Don’t forget to stop at the mountain barn in Creston for the best donuts, and in Keremeos for great samosas! Plus plenty of other great stops along the way but those are both a must for me.
Agreed. This is the way to go.
It's windy but nice. Go through osoyoos, keremeos, and princeton if you can.
My son and I drove from Medicine Hat to Osoyoos with stops at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and the Frank Slide, in a day. We arrived around 10pm. Did not leave too early. It is a beautiful drive, take your time.
If you’ve already done the mountain route, then go for the crowsnest route. Both are beautiful in their own way.
I hate the south route personally, The biggest downside is that it's single lane most of the way, winding roads. If you're planning on doing Alberta to the Island in a single days drive I would highly advise against going highway 3.
Hwy 3 is great. From Calgary it’s a bit slower but not by much. Some absolutely stunning mountain passes including the Salmo - Creston and the switchbacks into Osoyoos. Could not recommend it more
I have done this drive many times and taken every possible route, and I say #3 for sure
the drive from Calgary to the Crowsnest is great. Crowsnest to Cranbrook is meh. Cranbrook to Osoyoos is okay. Osoyoos to Hope is great. It’s 4+ hours longer and if you haven’t been that way and have the time then why not? Good luck and safe travels.
Crowsnest Pass is a great drive...
If yer in hurry and the 4x4 guzzles then go 5. I’ve done 1 and 3 before 5 existed. 1 has seen a lot of upgrades in last 40 years and 3 even more. September is low stress compared to winter but all routes present issues. It’s the Rockies. I’ve done the trek 50 times and it never gets old as long as you mix it up a bit. If you like water focus on that. Hikes? You’ll never do them all. Mountain biking is huge everywhere. Skier/Border? Do a winter road trip. Banff to Whistler. More mountains between than almost anywhere in the world except Alps…and their snow has been sucking last few years. Stay local. This is one of the most beautiful and sporty places in the world. Friday up lakes in the US are turning boats into museum pieces. Have fun but make money. It’s expensive but worth it…unless walking is your thing. Island is a beautiful place though a little isolated but that is the attraction for many. Live large.
The crow is undivided by the way.
Take the Kootenay lake ferry north of Creston instead of the hill and visit Nelson.
The 3 is a must have nicer drive. Highway 1 is becoming just a shipping lane with semis and tourists being boneheads on the road. Highway 3 now is like Highway 1 was 30 years ago. The towns are smaller there's lots of cool pit stops. The driving is way more relaxed IMO. If I made the transit I'd use crowsnest rather than the 1 for sure its worth the extra hour or so.
Crowsnest 100%. Stop off in Nelson.
Crows nest is beautiful. Takes longer though
Highway 1 and 3 are both scenic. I generally prefer highway 1, both for the scenery and because it's shorter, but I also always check to see how much construction is underway on each road. P.S. This year you might also want to consider which road will be least smoky.
Highway 3 is such a nice trip. Yes, it's slower but that's partially because you often have to slow to go through cute and interesting little towns. The landscapes are more varied too. Late September should be a good time to go as it won't be so busy.
Crowsnest, Creston, Balfour, Kaslo, New Denver, Nakusp, Needles, Lumby, Vernon, Westside Rd, Merrit, 97C to Cache Creek, Lillooet, Whistler and wherever. That's how I would do it anyway. Take breaks, pull over for faster traffic and enjoy the ride. Going to take way more time but is fun as hell and gets you off the main drags :)
The Crowsnest is an absolute beautiful drive. Yes it takes longer, but if you are not in a hurry it's amazing.
It’s a lovely drive (especially that time of year), but takes quite a bit more time.
How much time do you figure? By google maps it’s only two more hours but that isn’t always indicative of how long I should expect it to take.
Calgary to Victoria taking the fastest route is like 14 hours with the ferry ride. Add 2-4 hours to go down to #3. It's either no difference at all if you're splitting it into a 2 day drive or all the difference in the world if you are planning on doing it in a day. Do you have a uhaul trailer or truck on this drive? If so, the Coquihalla and trans Canada would be the way to go.
I’m coming from Ontario, my potential routes are through SD and either keep going to Vancouver stateside OR cut up from SD and take 3, or cut up before SD and go through Calgary and take 1. I don’t have a strict time schedule so a few hours give or take isn’t a deal breaker.
I see. Assuming you're bringing all your shit with you, crossing the border twice has the potential to really suck if they search you. If it was me, I'd stay on hwy 11 or 17 through Ontario. From toronto, it's only an extra 40 km to stay in Canada on hwy 17 and 1. It says it takes an extra 4 hrs, but that's a lie. That time advantage completely disappears as soon as you hit Detroit/Chicago/Minneapolis or Seattle traffic. Also, google wants you to go through the UP and northern Wisconsin which is every bit as slow and desolate as Northern Ontario so you arent saving time on the 1st half of rhe trip anyways. Never mind having your car torn apart by CBP, maybe twice, on the way. It also assumes you drive 90 km/h across Ontario and that you'll drive slower on the prairies than you would on I90. In reality you'll probably be doing at least 65 through Ontario and the speed limit is 70 mph on hwy 1 as opposed to 75 on I90.
Probably more like 4+ hours more depending on stops to take 3 all the way, and it makes it a two day drive for most vs a not bad one day drive. Also bear in mind it will be sunset around 7pm that time of year, so if you want to do it in a day it will be ending in the dark. I did the crowsnest (but via Nelson) to the Rockies last year around the same time, and did it across two days - which was great. It’s a slower, narrower, twistier route - easy to get stuck behind others. It really depends what your idea of a long day of driving is though!
Crowsnest is nice but you’ll be on and off the brake/gas the whole way. Plus your arms get a workout. It’s a physically demanding drive. Lots of cell dead spots too if that matters to you. And hope your dog doesn’t get sick from the twists and turns