Vancouver to Banff : An Okanagan Road Trip

There is nothing better than a road trip – and Canada is the place to do it. Driving from Vancouver to Banff on an Okanagan road trip via Hope, Kelowna and Rogers Pass is just magical.

Pick the right rental car

I didn’t think it was important to get a nice hire car until I got a bad one. Nowadays I always book early so I can afford a mid-range or above car. While you can’t usually specify the exact car you want, booking a mid-range or large car will mean you get a better pick of options. It’s also worth asking nicely if you have anything special in mind.

On this occasion, we were offered a people carrier, which was not at all what we wanted to drive all the way to Saskatchewan in! We nicely asked if they had something else available, and lucky for us this awesome Dodge Charger had just been returned. We did have to wait for it to be valeted, but we didn’t mind at all. It was perfect for our Vancouver to Banff road trip.

Great Stops along the way from Vancouver to Banff

The Town of Hope

Your first stop after leaving Vancouver is Hope. I really fell in love with this little town. Not much more than a main street, Hope sits next to the Fraser River, and in the shadow of Mount Chawuthen. The absolute highlight in Hope is the chainsaw sculptures. Products of chainsaw sculpting competitions, these magnificent pieces of art are positioned around the town. You can pick up an index of the sculptures and history pamphlet from local hotels and stores.

Due to a late start from Vancouver, we stayed in at the Best Continental Motel in Hope overnight.

Another highlight of the Hope area is the Othello Tunnels. These old railway tunnels are cut through solid granite in the Coast Mountain Range and span the wild Coquihalla River. Now part of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, and is an easy 3.5km round trip.

The Othello tunnels close during winter due to ice and possible rock falls. Keep an eye on the BC Parks website for up-to-date information.

The drive out of Hope will take you over the beautiful Coquihalla Pass. Who am I kidding, it’s all beautiful. This mountain pass can get treacherous during storms, which can sometimes means the road is closed. During Spring the pass is clear, but watch for the wildlife as they start to emerge after winter!

Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley

The Okanagan Valley is home to the city of Kelowna, on Lake Okanagan. Driving down into Kelowna we noted the change in landscape. The dry volcanic slopes of this valley are perfect for wine growing, and vineyards line the hills around the lake.

The Okanagan Valley was the birthplace of BC wine growing, and it is worth tasting some of the local wines while in the area. There are winery tours and tastings that will keep you occupied for sure! Pay a visit to Okanagan Spirits (267 Bernard Ave), to taste and buy some of their delicious gin, vodka, whisky, and eau de vie. They even make their own absinthe – we tried it and were impressed by how delicate it is.

To discover more about our adventures with absinthe, read about the Absinthe Festival in Switzerland.

Kelowna’s lakefront is delightful. The ‘Spirit of Sail’ sculpture by local artist Robert Dow Reid was installed in 2002, and really is a stunning centrepiece for the lakefront. You can hire boats or take a tour of Lake Okanagan from the marina, and the promenade is lovely to walk around.

For food: for casual dining try Fernando’s Pub, this place has a laid back vibe, live music and a $7 menu. For lunch and lake views, try the Cactus Club Cafe at the Kelowna Yacht Club.

Wood Lake & Kalamalka Lake

After enjoying the delights of Kelowna, head north on highway 97 towards Vernon. This will take you past the lush banks of Wood Lake and Kalamalka Lake. Along with Lake Okanagan, these three make up Lake Country – a great holiday destination for fishing, swimming and water sports. After Vernon you will continue north and join the Trans-Canada Highway at Sicamous.

Three Valley Gap & Revelstoke

The Three Valley Lake Chateau sits in the Three Valley Gap. This striking position at the head of the lake, and visible from the Trans-Canada Highway is a picturesque spot. Only 12km from Revelstoke, this hotel is a great option for a relaxing mountain holiday. They have a fun replica heritage ghost town, with pioneer style shops, homes and a church. You can visit the ghost town separately from the hotel, and it would make for good distraction if you are travelling with kids!

We stayed overnight at the Alpine Inn & Suites in Revelstoke, a clean and tidy roadside motel.

Canada is one of our favourite road trip destinations:  24 Hours in Victoria BC, and Visiting the Canadian Maritimes are recent highlights.

Rogers Pass

Up towards the Canadian Rockies we go! You’ll notice as you leave Revelstoke that the scale of the mountains gets bigger and bigger. Rogers Pass is a steep and sweeping pass cutting through the Selkirk Mountains between Revelstoke and Golden.

It was during a stop at the services on Rogers Pass that we saw British Columbia’s Provincial Bird, the bright blue Steller’s Jay. Unfortunately he surprised me, so I didn’t get a photo. After a quick stop in Golden for a Tim’s fix, we drove the last hour towards Lake Louise.

For the European version of the Rockies, visit the Italian Dolomites!

Lake Louise & The Icefields Parkway

Before long you will reach Alberta, and just over the border, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway. If you are heading to Jasper, this enchanting parkway with lakes, hikes, and wildlife is the road you will drive. If you aren’t visiting Jasper, I highly recommend making a small detour up part of this road.

Within 40 minutes drive from the parkway turnoff, you can see some of the most remarkable lakes I have ever seen. Herbert Lake, with the Bow Mountain Range in the background is just minutes from the highway. From the highway you can visit Bow Lake and Waterfowl Lake, which are equally as turquoise and impressive.

You can’t visit this area without a stop at Lake Louise. The blue of this lake is so vibrant there’s no wonder it appears on Instagram constantly. Lake Louise and nearby Moraine Lake are so popular that overflow carparks run right along the highway. We arrived later in the afternoon (4pm) in order to avoid the crowds and managed to park in the main carpark near the lake.

There are hikes up into the hills, that afford a gorgeous view back down over Lake Louise. And you can enjoy either staying or dining at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. In my opinion, it isn’t any competition to the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs, but the views over Lake Louise are glorious! You’ll be all lake-d out by the end of your road trip from Vancouver to Banff!

Once in Banff, why not check out the Art & Culture on offer in this vibrant town!

Vancouver to Banff : An Okanagan Road Trip

I can’t remember a time when I have experienced so many moments of awe and wonder as during this Okanagan Road Trip from Vancouver to Banff. From the cute towns and the vineyards of the Okanagan Valley, to the majesty of the various mountain ranges and aquamarine coloured lakes – the landscapes are awe-inspiring.

Highlights for us were: the friendly people in the small towns where we stayed, the awesome Dodge Charger we got to drive, and the endless lakes and rivers. Tasting absinthe in Kelowna was pretty fun too! You could easily take three weeks to explore this region, but even if you only have three days, you’ll discover amazing things! Vancouver to Banff: An Okanagan Road Trip, the perfect way to discover the region.

Are you thinking of taking a road trip in Canada? Don’t miss the Sea to Sky Highway!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 24 mm f/2.8 STM Lens; and an iPhoneX.