Vancouver to Banff: Coast to Rockies by Campervan
The drive from Vancouver to Banff is one of the great road trips of the world — a journey from the rainforest and ocean of the Pacific coast, up over three mountain ranges, and into the turquoise-lake heart of the Canadian Rockies. It's around 850 km, and while you could grind it out in a long day, doing that would miss the entire point.
A campervan is the perfect way to travel this route. You wake up beside glacier-fed lakes, cook breakfast with mountain views, and never have to rush back to a hotel. This guide breaks the trip into an easy 7–10 day itinerary with the best stops, campgrounds and practical tips.
💡 Tip: Compare campervan and RV hire from Vancouver depots on CamperCompare and book direct — most trips start with a pickup near Vancouver airport or downtown.
Vancouver to Banff: Route at a Glance
| Stage | Distance | Nights | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver → Kamloops | 355 km | 1–2 | Fraser Canyon, Kamloops Lake |
| Kamloops → Revelstoke | 210 km | 1 | Shuswap Lake, Enchanted Forest |
| Revelstoke → Golden | 150 km | 1 | Rogers Pass, Glacier NP |
| Golden → Lake Louise | 80 km | 1–2 | Yoho NP, Emerald Lake |
| Lake Louise → Banff | 60 km | 2–3 | Moraine Lake, Banff townsite |
Days 1–2: Vancouver to Kamloops
Pick up your campervan in Vancouver and get any last-minute supplies before leaving the city — groceries are cheaper here than in the mountain towns. Head east on Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, where the highway clings to the walls above the churning Fraser River. Stop at Hell's Gate to see the river squeeze through a narrow gorge.
By late afternoon you'll reach Kamloops, a sunny interior city set among sagebrush hills and lakes. It's a great first-night stop with plenty of RV parks and a relaxed vibe. If you'd rather a scenic first leg, take the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler and Lillooet instead, then loop back to Hwy 1.
Day 3: Kamloops to Revelstoke
Follow the Trans-Canada east along Shuswap Lake, a favourite summer playground for locals. Revelstoke is a laid-back mountain town with excellent coffee, a historic railway museum, and the start of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway — a paved road that climbs to alpine meadows (check the vehicle-length limits before taking a large motorhome up).
Day 4: Revelstoke to Golden via Rogers Pass
This is one of the most dramatic sections of the whole drive. The highway climbs through Glacier National Park over Rogers Pass (1,330 m), surrounded by avalanche-scarred peaks. Take it steady — the grades are long but the road is excellent. Stop at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre before descending into Golden, gateway to Yoho.
Days 5–6: Golden to Lake Louise & Yoho
Cross into Alberta over Kicking Horse Pass and detour into Yoho National Park — home to the impossibly green Emerald Lake and the towering Takakkaw Falls (note: the falls access road is too tight for large RVs, so consider unhitching or parking). Then arrive at iconic Lake Louise. Get there early or late in the day, as the car parks fill by mid-morning in summer; a shuttle system operates for both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
Day 7+: Banff
Finally, roll into Banff — the beating heart of the Canadian Rockies. Base yourself at Tunnel Mountain Campground and spend a couple of days soaking in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, riding the gondola up Sulphur Mountain, canoeing on Lake Minnewanka, and wandering the buzzing town centre. From here you can continue north on the legendary Icefields Parkway to Jasper — see our full Canadian Rockies itinerary for that extension.
Practical Tips for the Drive
Fuel and Supplies
Fill up in Kamloops, Revelstoke and Golden — fuel is pricier and stations scarcer in the mountains. Stock groceries in Vancouver or Kamloops where prices are lower than in Banff and Lake Louise.
Wildlife
Elk, bighorn sheep, and bears are common along this route, especially at dawn and dusk. Never feed wildlife, store food securely in your van, and slow down through posted wildlife zones — collisions are a real risk.
Book Ahead
National park campgrounds in Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho book out months in advance. Reserve at Parks Canada as early as possible, and have a backup plan (Golden and Canmore have good commercial RV parks).
Which Way to Rent
Most travellers pick up in Vancouver and either return there or do a one-way drop in Calgary. One-way fees vary, so compare both options on CamperCompare before booking.
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