Next 7 departures
- FriNov 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 6–12°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Cloudy12°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Cloudy11°C Hope8:45 AM MST Partly sunny8°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Partly sunny6°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Partly sunny8°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Partly sunny11°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Partly sunny8°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Partly sunny7°C Banff5:15 PM CST Partly sunny6°C - SatNov 14
CautionHeavy rain near Vancouver around 7 AM MST.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Heavy rain9°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Partly sunny8°C Hope8:45 AM MST Mostly sunny8°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Sunny2°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Sunny10°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Partly sunny10°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Partly sunny5°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Mostly sunny4°C Banff5:15 PM CST Sunny5°C - SunNov 15
CautionSleet showers near Surrey Lake Summit around 10 AM MST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Heavy rain9°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Mostly sunny8°C Hope8:45 AM MST Rain showers8°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Sleet showers2°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Light rain showers10°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Partly sunny9°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Light rain showers3°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Partly sunny2°C Banff5:15 PM CST Partly sunny4°C - MonNov 16
CautionHeavy rain showers near Abbotsford around 7:45 AM MST. Also at 4 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Heavy rain6°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Heavy rain showers4°C Hope8:45 AM MST Cloudy7°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Sunny-1°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Mostly sunny6°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Light rain showers6°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Cloudy-1°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Cloudy-4°C Banff5:15 PM CST Partly sunny0°C - TueNov 17
CautionFreezing, -2°C near Surrey Lake Summit around 10 AM MST. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Mostly sunny6°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Partly sunny5°C Hope8:45 AM MST Cloudy7°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Cloudy-2°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Partly sunny4°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Partly sunny4°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Partly sunny-3°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Cloudy-6°C Banff5:15 PM CST Cloudy-4°C - WedNov 18
CautionFreezing, -2°C near Surrey Lake Summit around 10 AM MST. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Partly sunny5°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Cloudy5°C Hope8:45 AM MST Sunny5°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Sunny-2°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Mostly sunny3°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Partly sunny3°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Mostly sunny-5°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Cloudy-5°C Banff5:15 PM CST Cloudy-3°C - ThuNov 19
HighFreezing, -7°C near Kicking Horse Pass around 4:30 PM CST. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Vancouver7 AM MST Partly sunny5°C Abbotsford7:45 AM MST Mostly sunny3°C Hope8:45 AM MST Cloudy5°C Surrey Lake Summit10 AM MST Partly sunny-1°C Kamloops10:30 AM MST Mostly sunny4°C Salmon Arm11:45 AM MST Partly sunny3°C Rogers Pass2:45 PM CST Mostly sunny-5°C Kicking Horse Pass4:30 PM CST Partly sunny-7°C Banff5:15 PM CST Mostly sunny-4°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Vancouver (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Vancouver, BCStart 45 melevation
- Abbotsford, BCKm 66 · 48 min 67 melevation
- Hope, BCKm 150 · 1 h 42 min 45 melevation
- Surrey Lake Summit, BCMountain pass · Km 301 · 3 h 2 min 1,444 melevation
- Kamloops, BCKm 351 · 3 h 29 min 360 melevation
- Salmon Arm, BCKm 460 · 4 h 45 min 359 melevation
- Rogers Pass, BCMountain pass · Km 629 · 6 h 38 min 1,336 melevation
- Kicking Horse Pass, ABMountain pass · Km 781 · 8 h 23 min 1,627 melevation
- Banff, ABKm 847 · 9 h 12 min 1,400 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Vancouver, Kicking Horse Pass and Banff.
| Month | Vancouver Vancouver Airport station · 4 m | Kicking Horse Pass Yoho National Park station · 1,602 m | Banff 1,384 m | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | Snow days | High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 7° / 1° | 1.3 | -7° / -14° | -3° / -14° |
| Feb | 8° / 2° | 0.3 | -4° / -14° | 0° / -12° |
| Mar | 10° / 3° | 0.3 | 2° / -10° | 4° / -8° |
| Apr | 13° / 6° | 0 | 7° / -5° | 10° / -3° |
| May | 17° / 9° | 0 | 13° / -1° | 15° / 0° |
| Jun | 20° / 12° | 0 | 16° / 3° | 18° / 4° |
| Jul | 22° / 14° | 0 | 21° / 5° | 22° / 6° |
| Aug | 22° / 14° | 0 | 20° / 4° | 23° / 6° |
| Sep | 19° / 11° | 0 | 14° / 1° | 18° / 2° |
| Oct | 14° / 7° | 0 | 5° / -3° | 9° / -2° |
| Nov | 9° / 4° | 0.5 | -3° / -9° | 1° / -9° |
| Dec | 7° / 1° | 1.2 | -9° / -15° | -4° / -14° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): VANCOUVER INT'L A (CAN01108447, 4 m); YOHO PARK (CAN011790J1, 1,602 m); BANFF (CAN03050520, 1,384 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for British Columbia and Alberta rather than repeat them.
- British Columbia · DriveBCDriveBC road conditions and cameras
- British Columbia · winter rulesWinter tire and chain rules
- Alberta · 511 Alberta511 Alberta road conditions
Check the official forecast from Environment Canada and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Vancouver to Banff with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Vancouver to Banff?
847 km (526 miles), about 9 hours of driving without stops, by way of Hwy 1. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Kicking Horse Pass, at 1,627 m (5,338 ft). It comes at km 781, about 8 h 23 min of driving after you leave Vancouver.
How cold is Kicking Horse Pass in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Yoho National Park (1,602 m), averages a high of -7°C and a low of -14°C in January (1991–2020 averages).
How cold is Banff in January?
Banff averages a high of -3°C and a low of -14°C in January (1991–2020 averages).