question about Going to the Sun and time

[Oss]

Bonnie and I are flying into Calgary in mid July

Is it possible to drive to and thru the Going to the Sun west then eastbound and back to Calgary in one day as our last couple of days will be in Calgary and I hate being so close to a bucket list ride and passing up on it

We will have a boatload of daylight I know maybe 15 hrs or more, just it seems like a long ass day

For me it "seems doable"    Terry or any of you Alberta people what do you think?

[..]

There's more to see then just the road and scenery.

http://www.glaciernationalparklodges.com/

Some of the lodges are spectacular.

[Savago]

IIRC when I did it in 2015, I started at 9AM on the East side and finished around 1-2PM on the West side.

But I really took my time, stopping many times to snap photos along the way and in the visitor center, walked to one of the snow fields and stayed there for maybe 1h.

The road is not long (around 80 miles, thus 160 miles for riding it both ways).

[msb]

Bonnie and I are flying into Calgary in mid July

Is it possible to drive to and thru the Going to the Sun west then eastbound and back to Calgary in one day as our last couple of days will be in Calgary and I hate being so close to a bucket list ride and passing up on it

We will have a boatload of daylight I know maybe 15 hrs or more, just it seems like a long ass day

For me it "seems doable"    Terry or any of you Alberta people what do you think?

It is certainly "doable" .... as long as you have no issues getting back and forth across the border  . Probably 12 hours will do the trick at a reasonable pace...depending on weather and how busy Going to the Sun Road  is on that particular day.
Another option out of Calgary is Banff National Park, Columbia Icefields....

[Oss]

my bad
we are doing Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper staying overnite or 2 at various places and taking our time to see the area
Its just the last 2 days were going to be in Calgary and I keep thinking when will I get to Going to the Sun again with Bonnie.  she has no interest in 6 days to get there on the bike

[msb]

Then it's definitely doable. At that time of year in Banff, Lake Louise,, Jasper....then into GNP for a good day trip, you'll have one awesome trip

[John Schmidt]

Evan, do all of it, you won't regret it. I found the Canadian Rockies to be absolutely stupendous, take lots of pics for those later years used to reminisce. 

[Valker]

Oss, that ride from Calgary crossing the GTTS Road both ways and back to Calgary is about 375 miles total (straight there and straight back). The roads are NOT Interstates, but it's probably doable in 10-11 hours. Traffic jams on GTTS can happen and slow that time. If you attempt it, I'd leave Calgary at dawn to try to beat many of the motorhomes on GTTS. I prefer the road and the views on GTTS West to East slightly better than East to West. Both are freakin amazing!

[gregk]

Here's a couple things to see.   Just W. of Lake Louise & Golden B.C. Is Canada's Glacier National Park and right on Hwy 1 you can see Giant Cedar Trees that are as big as our Red Woods. And another spot where if you get lucky you can see a train come out of a mountain and its tail going in.  We missed the train due to a platform under construction.   
 When you go to the Ice Fields you can't take a milk can but take a bottle along so you can get some of that crystal clear water to drink.
 Go up to Drumhellar 80m.N.E. of Calgary is a fantastic museum which has a super collection of Dino's, you won't be disappointed.
 Waterton National park joins are Glacier On the North side an you can take a boat across to the U.S. from there.
 In Montana the Huckel Berries should be ripe for you. The are kind of like a blue berry and very good. They grow on bushes about a 1' tall.   Canada has a berry  also that is very good called Saskatoon berry grown on taller bushes. Try these or try something made out of them. Think we found some  by Waterton N. Pk. 
Have a blast up there.

[Gryphon Rider]

It's doable if you leave early (I suggest 6 or 7), and of course it'll save a little gas stop time being in a car rather than on a bike.  I suggest taking Hwy 22 and Hwy 6 heading south, for the scenery, crossing at Chief Mountain.  On your way back, cross at Carway and take Hwy 2, when you'll just want to set the cruise control and make time.  Hwy 2 is also pretty, but in a prairie way.  As of last weekend Hwy 2 was free of construction from Calgary to Granum, where I turned east.

For speed, I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket on the highway doing 10 km/h over the limit, which is the speed I typically drive/ride at.  In the cities 12 km/h over will get you a photo radar ticket.  In the last 15 years Calgary drivers have steadily gotten stupider.

[Cynic]

When you finish up in the Banff area, why not take Hwy 93 south into the US to Whitefish MT, and do the GTTS west-to-east before heading back north to Calgary? Might be an easier way to accomplish, rather than trying to pack it all into one day.

[gregk]

Photo tickets been used for years E. of Golden B.C. people didn't want to say where they were but they weren't hidden very well. Have your speed limites increased any or have you guys still have them at 55mph. OSS might like to know .

[Gryphon Rider]

Photo tickets been used for years E. of Golden B.C. people didn't want to say where they were but they weren't hidden very well. Have your speed limites increased any or have you guys still have them at 55mph. OSS might like to know .

Divided highways outside of cities are typically 110 km/h [68 mph], and two-lane are 100 [62] unless narrow shoulders, tight corners, or multiple side approaches warrant slower speed limits.  Inside national parks (Banff, Jasper) never higher than 90 [56] and heavily enforced on busy highways.

In BC if you're caught speeding more than 40 km/h over the limit, your vehicle will be impounded for a week; hope the tow truck driver will give you a lift to the nearest town.

[sutterhome]

Stop in at the grizzley paw in Canmore and try the poutin with smoked meats

[Wizzard]

It's doable if you leave early (I suggest 6 or 7), and of course it'll save a little gas stop time being in a car rather than on a bike.  I suggest taking Hwy 22 and Hwy 6 heading south, for the scenery, crossing at Chief Mountain.  On your way back, cross at Carway and take Hwy 2, when you'll just want to set the cruise control and make time.  Hwy 2 is also pretty, but in a prairie way.  As of last weekend Hwy 2 was free of construction from Calgary to Granum, where I turned east.

For speed, I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket on the highway doing 10 km/h over the limit, which is the speed I typically drive/ride at.  In the cities 12 km/h over will get you a photo radar ticket.  In the last 15 years Calgary drivers have steadily gotten stupider.

I got one in Cardston doing 15 over last summer

[Wizzard]

I found Muncho to be more stunning than Banff. My personal opinion.

[Beardo]

If you want to get away from the trendy tourist areas when you're at Lake Louise, take the short drive to Moraine Lake.  Beautiful place.

[gregk]

Nothing better than a scenic route, we found a prison . I have to guess here and think it was by the crows nest pass. And their was a lake with somebody fishing an then we hot the jackpot , found some Mtn. Goats and that was funny because their must of been close to a dozen and they acted like they owned the trail and didn't give a hoot if we were there so we didn't piss them off and just eased through them.