Seattle to Yellowknife

[gingerh]

I'm toying of driving with my 5.0TA from Seattle area to Yellowknife, NWT mid-September 2015. Was wondering what would be the best route, gas availability, campgrounds along the way, etc. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[rbryan4]

Have never driven it, but I hear the route through Kamloops and Jasper is just beautiful.

[Catchlight]

We took the North Thompson Highway from Kamloops to Valemount in June, and it is indeed a beautiful drive. Just past Valemount it connects with the Yellowhead Highway which takes you through to Jasper, then Edmonton.

The route takes you past two very scenic provincial parks: Wells Gray, and Mount Robson, so perhaps you can leave yourself enough time to explore them. Jasper is a gorgeous town set right in the national park, and is much less busy than Banff. Traffic is fairly light along these two highways, so the driving is relatively relaxing.

Here's a stock photo of Helmcken Falls in Wells Gray park, and a shot I took of Mount Robson when we were there.

[cpaharley2008]

September maybe a little late for that area!

[BCnomad]

Albertan resources might have better route info on camping and conditions.


Two links to help research....
Camping, Lodging, and RV Accommodations in BC | Travel British Columbia --- not exhaustive and is sponsor driven but still a decent start.

BC Parks - Province of British Columbia

[Devil Dog]

If some parks are still open you'll have them mostly to your self except for the odd bear .
Snow tires may be required . The weather can change real fast up North in Sept .

[captmath]

We went last summer (2013) and did not have any trouble finding gas. We took paved roads the entire trip.

[Ray N]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

September maybe a little late for that area!

Agreed.
Here are pictures taken June 18 of this year - we had 4 1/2" fall on us and we had a very difficult time trying to drive from our camp at Fishing Bridge to Old Faithful. We had to spend some time waiting in a restaurant/store while the roads cleared up before we could proceed.

[Jim Bennett]

I like your time stamp in the first photo.

[escape artist]

Hi: Ray N... And that's not even in Canada!!! Still great shots. Here's me getting ready to leave for Florida this past Jan. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Ray N]

Alf,
I have to admit that I read "Yellowknife" as "Yellowstone." (And to think that part of my pre-retirement job included checking spelling, accuracy, and format of written materials.)
Ray

[Jude]

Originally Posted by gingerh

I'm toying of driving with my 5.0TA from Seattle area to Yellowknife, NWT mid-September 2015. Was wondering what would be the best route, gas availability, campgrounds along the way, etc. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Great fishing up there! Last summer was terrible with wild fires in the NWT, road closures, poor air quality. Hopefully the dry conditions will end before your visit. Bugs are not bad in Sept. a good time to visit and the big Pike are hungry.

[Devil Dog]

I see you pull the 21 with a V-8 . Good call ..

[Dave&Kathie]

Ginger,

I have to agree, that's getting way too late in the year to head that far north. September's the time to head south. I would plan Yellowknife for a summer trip - do they have summer up there? There used to be a fellow who came to Bandon from Yellowknife, can't recall his name, Donna might remember....

Kathie

[BCnomad]

Originally Posted by Dave&Kathie

September's the time to head south. I would plan Yellowknife for a summer trip - do they have summer up there?

Kathie

From wiki:

Yellowknife has very cold winters and mild to warm summers. The average temperature in January is around −26 °C (−15 °F) and 17 °C (63 °F) in July.[23] According to Environment Canada, Yellowknife has the sunniest summer in the country, averaging 1034 hours from June to August.[27] The lowest temperature ever recorded in Yellowknife was −51.2 °C (−60 °F) on 31 January 1947, and the highest was 32.5 °C (91 °F) on 16 July 1989.[23] Yellowknife averages 2256.5 hours of bright sunshine per year or 43.5% of possible daylight hours, ranging from a low of 15.4% in December to a high of 63.0% in June.[23]

[Dave Walter]

A little more detail regarding September weather in Yellowknife.

[Ray N]

Originally Posted by Dave&Kathie

Ginger,
- do they have summer up there?
Kathie

With an average July temperature of 63 degrees, I will answer that as no, no they don't.

[Ray N]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

I see you pull the 21 with a V-8 . Good call ..

We only have the little 4.6L V8, but on the trip from Chilliwack to Florida, (by way of Banff, Glacier NP, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, and the Black Hills), we never felt at a loss for all the power we needed. Our transmission and engine temperature gauges never once budged from their normal positions.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Ray N

With an average July temperature of 63 degrees, I will answer that as no, no they don't.

Well, with December and January temps in the minus 30c range, 63f qualifies as downright tropical.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Ray N

With an average July temperature of 63 degrees, I will answer that as no, no they don't.

I would be glad to take that over the high heats in the Southern US, any day. If needed I can wear a jacket, but once I start melting in the heat, there is nothing I can do. Well, swimming and beer help.