Driving to Vancouver

[Champion]

Ive driven to Vancouver in a good 10.10.5 hours non stop. Wont be so bad

[Ashartus]

When you're going through the mountains on single-lane sections of the highway, don't try to pass unless it's a really slow vehicle and you're absolutely sure it's safe - there'll be a passing lane before long so it's not worth taking chances. It's a (by Canadian standards) relatively treacherous section of highway, though they are improving it, and so long as you drive safely it's fine.

The area around Sorrento, Salmon Arm, etc. is a haven for RCMP speed traps, usually located right after the reduced speed limit signs when you enter the towns.

These days I usually leave the evening before, spend the night somewhere around Field, then do the rest; it breaks up the drive a bit. There are also lots of places where you can stop and do a short walk in the mountains to stretch your legs.

[The Goon]

The only time I've ever driven to Vancouver was about 10 years ago, and Mapquest had me going into the city via East Hastings. That was...interesting.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by The Goon

The only time I've ever driven to Vancouver was about 10 years ago, and Mapquest had me going into the city via East Hastings. That was...interesting.

haha, i did the exact same on my trip last year. good lord what a scene of human depravity. i asked my buddy if a concert had just let out or if there was another reason there were hundreds of people on the street, and he just laughed at me

i guess when the most liveable city judges come to visit they must avoid Hastings entirely

[Traditional_Ale]

Just reading this thread makes me want to go for a road-trip. It IS payday this weekend...hmmm....

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Good lord I hate that stretch of highway.

I just tie a piece of string to keep the steering wheel from moving and go into the back seat for a nap.

Nothing but straight prairie roads with the thud-thud of the tar strips on the road. Always reminds me of that scene in Sneakers where the blind guy is trying to figure out where the people transferred him when he was kidnapped.

[HotHotHeat]

You can do Van to Calgary in just over 10 hours if you limit your stops and cruise at 130 on the yellowhead. It's getting better with the stretch between Lake Louise and Golden being twinned. I've done this drive at least a dozen times, the majority of them being alone. Download a comedy album or two, they pass the time. Listen to music ALBUMS in their entirety as opposed to singles - also makes the time go faster. Have new music that you've never heard. Have a few 5 hour energy shots with you, but don't take them as an alternative to a 15 minute nap on the side of the road. If your eyes are closing, just pull over and nap for 10 minutes followed by a 10 minute walk outside. Random thoughts... Drive safe and watch out for semi trucks that pretend they're the only ones on the road.

[Jimmy Stang]

My wife and I did this a couple of years ago and we enjoyed it immensely. I find that if you prepare yourself (both mentally and with snacks/drinks/etc.) for a long drive, it'll seem much shorter. We stopped in Kelowna for lunch on the way there, and Kamloops on the way home.

There's always the chance that you'll hit delays due to construction (and in our case, a motorcyclist that got hit by a car although I believe he survived), so just take it in stride, give yourself lots of time, and enjoy it.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

You can do Van to Calgary in just over 10 hours if you limit your stops and cruise at 130 on the yellowhead.

A bit of a detour to go all the way up to the yellowhead, no?

[mesaywee]

Thanks for the responses everyone, amazing how many this got. Some great advice in here. Im actually looking forward to making this drive now.

Originally Posted by bc-chris

- if you have room, i'd recommend a "holy s**t" container... my wife describes this as a container that has 'emergency' stuff in it that you'd need if you're driving along, something happens and "holy s**t" is the last thing out of your mouth before go off the road... so some food, water, winter gloves, blanket, etc.

i hope you have a great trip!!

Safety is a huge key for me and this drive so the safety tips are perfect. Didn't even think to bring a holy s**t kit™ (you should totally copyright that) with me.

Originally Posted by macker

If you insist of driving with your ipod take one ear bud out, as you were asking about safety, and load it with the CBC radio 3 "summer road trip mix" from any of the past few years as these songs will make you want to "roll on"....

So does the timing of this trip make you a Canucks fan? or are you going out for a show? http://livevan.com/ Either way the environment in that city right now would be great! Have fun! and don't underestimate the power of caffeine!

Haha don't worry. I'm not one of those people who drive with earbuds in their ears. I'll plug the ipod into my car sound system. THERES A ROAD TRIP MIX!? haha perfect, was looking for something like that. Along with my ipod I will listen to plenty of Howard Stern radio, not sure if anyone here is a fan but I can't be bored of him talking.

CANUCKS FAN!? god no. I'm actually so anti-canucks I will be buying either a Red Wings or Sharks jersey depending on the outcome of the game tonight. I went to Vancouver last year in my Hawks jersey and it was a blast. By blast I mean my life was threatened on several occasions but I enjoyed making them that angry.

[MelBridgeman]

Bring some food in the car
My record for that drive was 9.5 hrs which included one stop for gas. And without any major speeding, no more than 10 km over. The KM from downtown Calgary to Vancouver was about 930 KM

[LGA]

The drives fine, just make sure they aren't doing any construction on the highway. I got stuck basically going 60 for a good 3-4 hours last year due to construction. If this is your first trip do it early in the morning, as night driving just makes you tired.

A few people have also recommended stopping outside Vancouver and figuring our how to get around, this is fantastic advice. Vancouver is basically the most randomly designed city in Canada, and it was clearly designed to force people to walk around. Our residential roads make their major roads look like highways.

[Northendzone]

if you feel drowsy, pull over for a bit of a rest, you don't want to be drifiting out of your lane in the worng place.

[mesaywee]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

if you feel drowsy, pull over for a bit of a rest, you don't want to be drifiting out of your lane in the worng place.

The second I feel like my eyes are closing im pulling right over. Im not a morning person. I'm usually up to about 3-4am on most nights so im a little worried about the fact that im leaving at 6am. I will most certainly have to change my sleeping schedule before I do this.

I was thinking of leaving around noon and getting in around midnight but Im not sure if im comfortable driving that road for the first time at night. Probably best to leave around 6 or 7am.

And I am certainly worried about when I get into Vancouver, I have to get to Richmond specifically. I'll get a map but I'm sure i'll get lost. I go to that city all the time and driving just seems like a pain.

[Russic]

Audiobooks are my saving grace. If you find a good one it can almost be annoying to reach your destination.

[HOOT]

Done the drive dozens of times both ways and it's not that bad of a drive. With the conditions through the mountains don't make it a race, save that for the summer, because there can be some trouble spots depending on weather.

12 hours is a pretty good time. I've done it between 9-14hrs depending on conditions and traffic. Most of the time I would leave at 6pm and drive through the night but would probably only recommend that if you know the conditions are good and you are comfortable driving at night.

[dissentowner]

When I first read the thread title my brain saw Diving to Vancouver. I thought it was going to be a thread on Vancouver Canuck prospects.

[Jedi Ninja]

Tim Horton's locations. You might miss the one in Merritt if you're not paying attention, but it's a godsend. Somehow I'm always dieing for a coffee at that point of the trip.


Tim Hortons
1729 Mountain Ave
Canmore AB, T1W 2W1
Tel: (403) 678-8701

Tim Hortons
1421 Trans Canada Hwy
Golden BC, V0A 1H2
Tel: (250) 439-1964

Tim Hortons
1840 Trans Canada Hwy
Revelstoke BC, V0E 2S0
Tel: (250) 837-3001

Tim Hortons
814 Trans Canada Hwy
Sicamous BC, V0E 2V0
Tel: (250) 836-5333

Tim Hortons
2931 9 Ave NE
Salmon Arm BC, V1E 2S7
Tel: (250) 833-1925

Tim Hortons
270 4 St NE
Salmon Arm BC, V1E 4S1
Tel: (250) 833-0584

Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery
1835 East Trans Canada Hwy
Kamloops BC, V2C 3Z6
Tel: (250) 828-6664

Tim Hortons
1723 East Trans Canada Hwy
Kamloops BC, V2C 3Z6
Tel: (250) 372-2382

Tim Hortons
1120 Rogers Way
Kamloops BC, V1S 1N5
Tel: (250) 374-3230
0.28 kilometers

Tim Hortons
1285 Rogers Way
Kamloops BC, V1S 1R9
Tel: (250) 372-3101


Tim Hortons
3340 River Ranch Rd
Merritt BC, V1K 1M5
Tel: (250) 378-4661

Tim Hortons
250 Old Hope Princeton Way
Hope BC, V0X 1L4
Tel: (604) 860-0601

[afc wimbledon]

two suggestions, hit BBC radio 4 and download a bunch of podcasts, much like audio books but free, get yourself an old fashioned thermos of coffee, the places you want to stop for a break that have the million dollar views don't have a starbucks, nothing like pulling over and having a coffee over looking the Shuswap or the Fraser Canyon or the like (saves you a few bucks as well).

[mesaywee]

The Tim Hortons locations are possibly the best info I could have asked for. THIS IS PERFECT.

Energy drinks get me to wired and fidgety. But I can drink 10 cups of coffeee and still sit still.