Kelly RainierWe normally choose the easiest and most hassle-free way to get from Vancouver to Edmonton. But a few months ago, we decided to take things a bit slow, and just enjoy exploring the two cities in one go.
As we were doing our research, we found that there are several ways to get from Point A to Point B, each carrying its own charm and scenic spots to check out too!
So if you’re down for an adventure, sit down, grab a cup of tea, and read on as we give you the ultimate guide that will take you from Vancouver to the City of Champions.
Best Time to Go to Edmonton
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If you think you’ve seen most of Vancouver and you want to be in a different environment, then you can plan a little trip to Edmonton. If you want to maximize the outdoors, the best time to visit Edmonton would be during the summer season.
From June until August, warm and sunny days are expected, allowing you to enjoy the sunshine for almost 17 hours a day. Here, the sun rises at 5:30 in the morning, while the sun sets around 10 in the evening.
Summer is also a perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities. This is also the perfect time to catch festivals and outdoor concerts.
How to get from Vancouver to Edmonton?
There are multiple ways to get to Edmonton if you’re coming from Vancouver. Below, you’ll see how you can get to Edmonton via car, train, bus, and plane.
Option 1: By Car
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You can have a nice road trip from Vancouver to Edmonton, perfect for those who like to make scenic stops along the way.
The distance between the two cities is 1,159 kilometers. Approximately, you can reach Edmonton if you drive continuously for a total of 13 hours, assuming your speed is around 75 miles per hour (or 120 kilometers per hour).
Of course, it’s too boring if you drive non-stop. It’s also not advisable as it gets too tiring to do so—you need to feed the driver too!
Luckily, the roads leading to Edmonton are good, so you don’t have to worry about bumps on the road. You just need to choose from the three different routes that you can take, depending on your preference.
Whichever route you select, we recommend driving right before sunrise, so even if you make multiple stops along the way, you can still reach Edmonton on the same day.
Route 1: Via BC-5 N (Coquihalla Highway)
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You’re now looking at the fastest route to get from Vancouver to Edmonton if you’re travelling by car. The average travel time is around 12 hours and 30 minutes, so if you want to get there earlier than expected, you may opt for this route.
You can trust your GPS navigation or Google Maps to guide you during your road trip, but here’s a summary of the driving directions for this route:
- From Vancouver, you should get on Trans-Canada Hwy or BC-1 E from W. Georgia Street or BC-1A, Terminal Avenue and E 1st Avenue. This is around 8 kilometers, or a 16-minute drive.
- Next, merge onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 E and continue the drive onto BC-5 N. Take the exit 374 for BC-5 N toward Sun Peaks/Jasper/BCParks/Wells Gray Provincial Park.
- Continue your way to Yellowhead Hwy, still via BC-5 N. And at the roundabout, take the second exit and stay on BC-5 N.
- You’re about to enter Alberta now. So keep in mind to continue onto BC-16 E. Use the right 2 lanes so you can smoothly turn right onto AB-16 (just watch out for the Trans Canada Highway signs).
- Stay on AB-16, and keep left until you’ve reached Yellowhead Trail.
- After 4.8 kilometers, you can now take Kingsway NW to 101 St NW.
Route 2: Via Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 E
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For the most scenic drive, you can choose to take the second route which is called the Trans-Canada Highway or BC-1 E route. Of course, this could take you a little longer as you’re expected to make multiple stops in between.
In this route, you’ll get a chance to stop by Banff National Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, and Stanley Park, just to name a few.
Here’s a little summary on how you get from Vancouver to Edmonton using this most scenic route:
- From Vancouver, head northeast on Hornby St. toward W Georgia St. Look out for BC-1A or BC-99 N.
- Continue driving on BC-99 N. Take Trans-Canada Hwy and take exit 374 for BC-5 N towards Sun Peaks/Jasper/BC Parks/Wells Gray Park.
- Head to Yellowhead Hwy/BC-5 N. Keep left to continue on BC-5 N. Meanwhile, at the roundabout, take the second exit and stay on BC-5 N, which is about 215 kilometers.
- Continue onto Yellowhead Hwy, and keep left to stay on AB-16. Lastly, take Kingsway NW to 101 St. NW.
Route 3: Via Crowsnest Highway
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Another route that you can take is through the Crowsnest Highway.
While this isn’t the most scenic or the fastest route from Vancouver to Edmonton, it still has its own charm and interesting stops along the way. So if you’re not in a rush, it might be a good route to choose.
Just like the first two routes, you can easily rely on your trusty GPS navigation, but here’s a quick summary of the third route:
- From Vancouver, get on Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 E from W Georgia St/BC-1A, Terminal Avenue, and E 1st Avenue. Drive for about 16 minutes before following the Trans-Canada Hwy.
- Once you’re in Trans-Canada Hwy, continue onto BC-3 E before transferring to BC-5 N. Take exit 374 for BC-5 towards Sun Peaks/Jasper/BC Parks/Wells Gray Park.
- Continue with the numbers 3 to 6 directions on Route 1.
Suggested Stops
1. Sun Peaks Resort
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While you’re on the road to Edmonton, why not take a little detour here at Sun Peaks Resort? We’re glad we stopped by to rest for a few hours, it was so good we actually wanted to just spend at least a night here!
The lodges looked pretty cozy, so you can totally consider spending at least a night here before you continue your way to Edmonton.
By now, you’ve been on the road for at least four hours already, so this spot is a great place for you to stretch those legs and even grab food to eat.
Our favorite was the Bolacco Cafe. Here, you can have different varieties of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, including a great coffee selection too!
This resort is famous for skiing and snowboarding. But if you’re not a big fan of these sports, you can still enjoy going around the place.
So while you’re here, take advantage of the mountain views, and go around the village, which sends off some European vibes.
2. Kamloops Heritage Railway
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You can also stop by at Kamloops Heritage Railway if you love to explore the area’s local history. When we got here, we were surprised to see that they were able to preserve the vintage beauty of the old train.
Yes, the train is still working well so make the most of your stop and ride it too. During the ride, you’ll get to see the countryside of this town, which we think is very relaxing.
It’s also a perfect stop if you’ve got kids around as road trips can feel too long for the little ones. At least, they have an interesting and fun stop to look forward to!
3. Banff National Park
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We’re quite sure you’ve seen Banff National Park on postcards, so it just makes a lot of sense if you swing by before heading straight to Edmonton. The views here are just too beautiful, our photos won’t even do them justice!
Here, you’ll see tall trees, mountain peaks, and the clear blue lakes—all up close! After taking photos, we just chose to sit and be quiet and just enjoy the calming sounds of nature.
While you’re here, make sure to walk around Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. And if you wish to stay a bit longer, this place is also famous for hiking and canoeing.
We recommend staying here for at least eight hours so you can also try the restaurants and coffee shops around town.
Option 2: By Train
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If road trips aren’t for you, you can go for another traditional way to go from Vancouver to Edmonton which is via train. The average duration of a train ride from Vancouver to Edmonton is approximately 1 day and 9 hours.
There are two departures in a week, one on a Tuesday, and another one on a Friday, so make sure to check their schedules here. The train leaves at 12:01 in the morning, so make sure to book your tickets ahead of time.
You can choose between economy class and sleeper plus class. The economy class costs around $273 per person, which allows you to have one medium carry-on baggage, and one large check-in bag.
Meanwhile, if you want to enjoy meals and other exclusive amenities, you can choose the sleeper plus class. This class starts around $597.
Option 3: By Bus
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Another way for you to reach Edmonton is to take a Rider Express bus. It’s worth noting, however, that there are no direct bus trips from Vancouver to Edmonton, so prepare to transfer to another bus in the middle of your trip.
The first bus that you should take is from Vancouver to Calgary, which takes around 5 hours.
Then from Calgary, you’ll hop on another bus that will finally take you to Edmonton. The second and final leg would be the longest stretch, which takes roughly 9 hours.
The average cost of a bus ride from Vancouver to Edmonton is around $170. However, the price varies depending on the time of the year, so we recommend checking the rates here instead.
Meanwhile, there are different bus routes that you can choose from. Here’s a recap of the bus schedules from Vancouver to Calgary, including schedules from Calgary to Edmonton.
Option 4: By Plane
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For a fast and hassle-free way to get from Vancouver to Edmonton, then a direct flight is the answer. The average flight time will only take you an hour and a half, which is perfect if you want to maximize your time going around the city.
Flying between the two cities is relatively easy as both Vancouver International Airport and Edmonton International Airport are easy to navigate.
There are also several flights that you can find throughout the day, so you can either choose the early morning flights, or late night ones.
We highly recommend that you take the window seat so you can still see the amazing views while you’re up in the air.
