Western Canada is stunning in the wintertime. We get to enjoy snow-capped peaks and forests, skating on frozen lakes, hot tub getaways, and cozy mountain ski and snowboarding towns. Here are some of our fave BC and Alberta winter road trips and tips for planning and gearing up before heading for the snowy hills.

Prepare for winter driving

Research your route. Know where you’re going, what roads you’ll travel, and what conditions are like. Check for road closures or storms at BCAA Route & Weather Information and DriveBC, and see real-time highway updates on social media.

• Check the weather forecast and set a reasonable pace. Winter roads are predictably unpredictable, so allow extra time to reach your destination.
• Drive only during daylight. Visibility is everything when the sun sets early, the temperature drops, and road conditions change quickly.
• Watch for black ice, snow drifts, and heavy fog. When you see ‘chain-up” signs for big trucks, you know you’re entering serious mountain territory.
• Slow down and drive with care–you don’t want to end up in a snowy ditch.

Prep your car for the cold

On a winter road trip, your vehicle is your most important travel companion.

• Winter tires: In BC, you need winter tires (the ones with a "3 peak mountain snowflake" symbol, or Mud and Snow tires with a "M+S" symbol) or chains on mountain highways between October 1 and April 30. These tires provide superior traction and control at temperatures of 7 degrees Celsius or below. Check your tread depth to ensure they're at least 5 millimeters or 6/32 inch. Time for new tires? BCAA Members save 5% at Kal Tire on all products and services.
• Get your car/truck serviced: Make sure your brakes, steering, suspension, wiper blades and tire pressure are in good shape, and that you're using winter rated washer fluid for premium visibility. Check your lights to ensure there are no burnt out bulbs. Many great winter destinations are isolated, and you never ever want mechanical trouble on a snowy mountain road. We’re happy to get you tuned up for winter. BCAA Members save 10% on labour on select services at our BCAA Auto Service Centres.
• Pack smart: Bring sunglasses (sunrays bouncing off snow can blind you), an ice scraper/snow brush, travel sized snow shovel, tire chains, phone charger, extra windshield washer fluid, jumper cables (the long ones), and an emergency car kit. Here’s how to build your own emergency kit, or BCAA Members save 20% on select pre-built emergency kits from F.A.S.T.
• Navigation backup: On many remote areas and highways across BC there is no power which means no cell towers or cell service. If you can’t rely on your phone don’t forget to download an offline map, or our free digital travel guides and tourbooks. You can also create a free customized TripTik Travel Planner for your epic winter escape.

Driving electric? Check out our guide on how to keep your EV running efficiently all winter.

Winter driving 101

Winter driving demands extra caution and skill. Follow these guidelines to stay safe on the road:

• Keep your headlights on, even during the day, so you can always see and be seen.
• Avoid sudden stops, accelerate gently and increase your following distance from three seconds to four.
• Learn how to steer out of a skid: stay calm, ease off your gas pedal, and gently steer in the direction you want to go.
• Speed limits are the recommended speed for ideal weather conditions. Adjust your speed according to the conditions.

If you’re unsure how to handle black ice or slushy roads, here are top 10 winter driving "snow pas" and how to avoid them.

Time to hit the road

Now for the fun part: the destinations! Here are some stunning winter road trip destinations in BC and Alberta.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Big White

Located southeast of Kelowna, Big White is one of Canada’s top winter playgrounds. The slopes get over 24 feet (about 7.5 metres) of snowfall each year. Enjoy a whopping 119 runs, five alpine bowls, snowboarding, tubing, skating, snowshoeing, and après-ski dining. It’s truly the perfect winter road trip getaway, for families and friends alike.

Where to stay: Big White Ski Resort

Where to eat and drink: Black Diamond Bar and Grill

Travel inspiration, snow reports, and events: visit @skibigwhite on Instagram and Big White Snow Resort

Chilcotin Country

West of the Fraser River, this rugged plateau is BC’s wild, wild west and BC backcountry at its best. The Chilcotin has a diverse landscape of high-elevation plateaus, dry grasslands, and lush interior spruce forests. A remote and peaceful escape, it welcomes you in winter with snow-covered valleys, glacial lakes, and horse riding trails through vast white wilderness. Try a winter flightseeing tour for amazing views of glaciers, or saddle up for a guided horseback ride through the snow.

Where to stay: Red Cariboo Resort

Travel inspiration and events: visit @cariboochilcotincoast on Instagram and Cariboo Chilcotin Coast BC

Tofino

Located on the Western edge of Vancouver Island, winter in Tofino is all about wild west coast beauty, powerful waves, and long, misty beaches. Located in one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world, these beaches are surrounded by dense trees as far as the eye can see. A stop at Cathedral Grove to marvel at one of the oldest growth forest with giants over 800 years old is a must. Cozy up in an oceanside cabin for storm watching (Tofino beaches are a storm watching hot spot as there’s no landmass between here and Japan) or test your surf skills on winter waves at Cox Bay. The moody, bruised skies and roaring Pacific swells make this a photographer’s dream. Plus, with Evo Car Share now in Tofino, it’s easier to get around town, those soul-lifting beaches, and Tofino’s sister town, Ucluelet.

Where to stay: Pacific Sands Beach Resort

Where to eat and drink: Wolf in the Fog and Roar in Hotel Zed

Travel inspiration and events: visit @tourismtofino on Instagram and Tourism Tofino

ALBERTA

Banff and Lake Louise

Just 128km west of Calgary, nothing captures winter magic like Banff and Lake Louise, they’re a postcard-perfect escape. People come from around the world to marvel at frozen turquoise lakes, snow-dusted peaks, and cozy alpine lodges. Enjoy your days skiing, skating on Lake Louise, dog sledding, or relaxing in the thermal baths at Banff Upper Hot Springs. Make sure to plan ahead as it can be busy making parking near impossible. We recommend Parks Canada shuttles or Roam Public Transit to make getting around a bit easier.

Where to stay: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where BCAA Members save 15%

Where to eat and drink: Farm & Fire

Travel inspiration and events: visit @BanffLakeLouise on Instagram and banfflakelouise.com

Cowboy Trail

Located along the Clearwater River in between Calgary and Edmonton, if you love Canada’s western roots, the Cowboy Trail is the trip for you. The trail runs from Cochrane through Diamond Valley to Lundbreck, on a scenic route that winds past rolling foothills, historic ranches, local cafés, antique shops, and iconic stops like Bar U Ranch National Historic Site and our favourite named Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

Where to stay: Azuridge Hotel

Travel inspiration and events: visit The Cowboy Trail on Facebook and online at The Cowboy Trail

Jasper National Park

Nestled with in the Canadian Rockies near the BC-Alberta border, you’ll want to see Jasper National Park for wide-open wilderness, crisp mountain air, and absolutely incredible winter stargazing with breathtaking dark-sky views 365 days a year. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this national park is full of once-in-a-lifetime sights like the Jasper SkyTram and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk where you’ll walk above glaciers. Heads up: elk and bighorn sheep often make winter appearances near town.

Where to stay: Patricia Lake Bungalows

Travel inspiration and events: visit @jaspernationalpark on Instagram and Jasper National Park

Take BCAA with you

Use your BCAA Membership when you gas up and save 3¢/L on fuel at Shell and 10% off in-store purchases. If you need a place to stay on your way, Members save up to 15% at Fairmont, Hilton, Marriott, and Choice Hotels.

Not a BCAA Member (yet)? Join today and get the Best Roadside Assistance, plus savings that make every winter journey more rewarding.

Before you leave, download the BCAA App for faster access to Roadside Assistance and peace of mind that help is just a tap away.

Share the fun

Take photos, share your stories, and tag your adventures on BCAA Connect. Your road trip might inspire someone else to explore the winter beauty of BC and Alberta, too.

Have a great road tripping winter!