Itinerary

Collect your RV from our depot in Everett and drive to the magnificent Olympic National Park. This stretch of the Pacific Ocean coastline is one of America’s great wilderness areas and with no roads directly through the park, it has remained largely untouched. Given its lack of roads, we suggest spending two nights near Port Angeles and taking a ferry along the coast to the park. Check the Washington State Ferries website for schedules. We also suggest taking out the EBDS option for an earlier pick up of the RV. Drive up Hurricane Ridge Road for fantastic views of the Olympic Mountains and stop by glacier-fed Lake Crescent with its pristine waters shimmering below wooded hillsides.

· 140km to Port Angeles (via the ferry)

Spend today exploring the western peninsula of Olympic National Park and Pacific coastline. For fans of the Twilight series, stop in the town of Forks, the primary setting in the films and books. Stay overnight in the wilderness of the Quinault Valley. Great optional excursions include booking a Twilight tour in Forks, and hiking in the Hoh Rainforest, one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States.

· 200km to Lake Quinault

After your visit to the Olympic peninsula, head east to another stunning region of this wild state. At over 4,300m, Mt. Rainier dominates its surroundings and is still an active volcano. This is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous USA. Stop in Olympia to see the vast state capitol building and the nearby Tumwater Historical Park to learn about the state’s first pioneer settlement.

· 270km to Mt. Rainier

Head north along highway 97, around the eastern edge of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and into the north-central region of Washington state. Consider taking a detour east and visit the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest electricity production facility in the USA. Continue west towards the beautiful Lake Chelan and your lakeside accommodation. Visit the Grand Coulee Visitors Centre. On summer evenings, a laser light show is projected onto the dam’s wall. A great option is to take a floatplane ride over Lake Chelan, which stretches deep into the Cascade Mountains.

· 320km to Lake Chelan

Head north through the Methow Valley towards the Canadian border. Stop in historic Winthrop and walk the famous wooden boardwalks, then cross into Canada and along Osoyoos Lake. This is Canada’s warmest freshwater lake and with the surrounding area only receiving 25cm of rain a year, this region has a desert climate with lizards, snakes and cacti. Visit the Desert Centre in Osoyoos to learn about the fascinating local ecosystem. Spend the next day exploring the beautiful Okanagan, a region rich in vineyards in Oliver, Penticton, Okanagan Falls and Kelowna. Try some wine-tasting, then relax on beautiful beaches that dot the lakes. Stop in the ghost town of Molson, an open-air museum which includes pioneer buildings, then enjoy a drink at the state’s first legal saloon in Winthrop.

· 240km to Penticton

Today, head to Revelstoke, an adventure sports town nestled high in the Monashee Mountains, adjacent to Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park. Revelstoke has some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada, flanked by the snow-capped peaks of the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashees to the west. Visit nearby Salmon Arm, the gateway from the Okanagan located in the heart of the Shuswap Lake recreation area. Drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway to the top of Mt. Revelstoke for wonderful views.

· 260km to Revelstoke

Today head deeper into the Canadian Rockies. As you drive towards Lake Louise, pass through Yoho National Park. Don’t miss Emerald Lake, just off the main highway for fantastic views, as well as nearby Takkakaw Falls.
Then it’s time for a highlight of your trip – Banff and Lake Louise. Stay at the Lake Louise park campground overnight, or you could opt to stay in Banff instead.
Spend some time exploring the town and national park of Banff. Take the scenic drive along the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise, a quieter route with hiking trails and photo stops. Take a trip on one of the gondolas to Sulphur Mountain and then enjoy a soothing soak in Banff Hot Springs.

· 250km to Lake Louise

Today it’s time to drive the famous Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s greatest drives. This stretch of road from Lake Louise up to Jasper winds through the Canadian Rockies, past glaciers, mountain peaks and forests. It’s about a four-hour drive but best to take a whole day, stopping along the way. Highlights include: Bow Summit and Peyto Lake for iconic views, and the Athabasca Glacier, the most visited on the North American continent. You can ride out onto the glacier aboard an Ice Explorer or take a guided hike on the ice.
Enjoy a few days in the wilds of Jasper National Park, which is bigger than Banff, Yoho and Kootenay parks combined. Visit Maligne Lake, the largest lake in the Rockies and take a cruise to Spirit Island.

· 250km to Jasper

As you cross over the border between Alberta and British Columbia, pass Mount Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. There is a visitor centre for photos and nearby hiking trails. Drive through magnificent scenery running alongside Wells Gray Provincial Park to your right and the Columbia Mountains to your left. If you would like to be near Wells Gray Provincial Park then book into Helmcken Falls Lodge and RV Park right at the entrance to the Park. Then visit Clearwater, an interesting town at the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park. Enroute to Clearwater be sure to stop off at Blue River to enjoy the river safari and the chance to spot some bears.

· 320km to Clearwater

Head south along the Yellowhead Highway towards Kamloops. Before arriving, take the mountain road up to the resort of Sun Peaks for its abundance of outdoor summer activities. Go hiking, biking or ziplining, then continue west through beautiful scenery to your overnight accommodation along the Fraser River just outside the mountain town of Lillooet.

· 300km to Lillooet

Travel south through the narrow and dramatic Fraser River Canyon to Vancouver and the Burnaby Cariboo. You should stay at this campground for three or four nights to make the most of Vancouver. The campground has a bus stop with a half-hourly service into the city or it’s a 15-minute walk to catch the Skytrain. Highlights of fascinating Vancouver include Stanley Park, the Harbour Centre, Granville Island, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

· 305km to Vancouver

After a few days in Vancouver, head south and cross the border back into the United States. Drive the scenic 21-mile Chuckanut Drive with its views of the islands dotting Samish Bay. Continue south along Interstate 5 to Mount Vernon for your overnight stop. Catch a show at the restored Lincoln Theatre.

· 120km to Mount Vernon

Just 65km back to the Cruise America depot in Everett. If you wish to extend your journey, we would either suggest remaining in Canada and catching a 90-minute ferry to Vancouver Island or continue into the USA and spend a few days exploring the San Juan Island archipelago and visit laidback towns, awesome kayaking, coastal scenery and some of the best land based whale watching opportunities in the world.