Melanie MoralesAre you planning to travel or move from Vancouver to Edmonton? If so, this guide is for you.
Since it can be a bit difficult to decide how to travel between Canada’s largest metropolitan cities, we’ve outlined the fastest and most scenic routes to reach your destination. Here’s our ultimate guide for your road trip!
How to get from Vancouver to Edmonton?
You can travel from Vancouver to Edmonton via car, train, bus, and airplane. Below, we discuss each option in detail.
Traveling from Vancouver to Edmonton by Car
According to Travel Math, the average total driving time from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Edmonton, Alberta, is approximately 12 hours and 8 minutes of non-stop driving. This is if your average driving speed is around 59.3 miles per hour (95.4 kilometers per hour).
Of course, we don’t recommend driving non-stop because it’s too risky. That’s why if you plan to travel by car, it would be best to go early in the morning so you can rest on stops and still reach Edmonton that same day.
Here are the three routes you can use if you’re traveling by car.
You’ll need around 28.8 gallons (109.02 liters) of fuel to reach Edmonton from Vancouver. If it’s a one-way trip, this will cost around C$182.33.
Here is the estimated travel time between Vancouver and Edmonton if you travel by car, based on Distance Calculator’s data.
Just note that the total travel time can still change depending on your speed, route, and the condition of roads on highways and areas.
Taxi or Uber might also be an option for traveling by car, but the price can be pretty high and it may be hard to find someone willing to drive that far. Renting a car or a cargo van may be better, especially if you need to move a few things with you.
What is the fastest route to travel from Vancouver to Edmonton by car?
The fastest route when traveling from Vancouver to Edmonton by car is via BC-5 N or the 731-mile (1,177-kilometer) route.
The average travel time is 12 hours and 43 minutes. The majority of the route follows along the Trans-Canada Highway, which features well-connected and paved roads.
Here are the directions you need to follow when traveling by car and using the fastest route from Vancouver to Edmon.
- From W. Georgia Street/BC-1A, Terminal Avenue, and E 1st Avenue, get on the Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1
- Follow the Trans Canada Highway/BC-1 E, BC-5 N, and AB-16 to Range Rd 75 in Evansburg.
- Take the AB-633 E to AB-43 S in Lac Ste. Anne County.
- Take the AB-16 to 121 Street NW in Edmonton.
- Take Kingsway NW to 101 Street NW.
What is the most scenic route from Vancouver to Edmonton?
The most scenic route from Vancouver to Edmonton is via Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 E or the 783-mile (1,260-kilometer) route. Here you can stop by Banff National Park, Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Shannon Falls, and more.
However, the travel time on this route is around 13 hours and 19 minutes for this option, so it’s clearly not the shortest route.
When is the best time to drive from Vancouver to Edmonton?
It’s best to drive from Vancouver to Edmonton in July or August. It’s when the weather is quite sunny during the day and cool at night.
That being said, if you drive to Edmonton during winter, you may experience heavy snow and harsh winds during your trip. Moreover, some attractions or outdoor activities in Edmonton, including fishing, hiking, kayaking, and camping, might not be available during winter.
Traveling by Train from Vancouver to Edmonton
Data from VIA Rail Canada states that the average train trip duration from Vancouver to Edmonton is 1 day and 7 hours.
There are only two train departures per week for this trip (on Tuesdays and Fridays), and the train leaves as early as 12:01 AM, so if you plan to reach Edmonton via train, make sure to book your tickets early.
But how much does it cost to take the train from Vancouver to Edmonton? The average train ticket price for this trip is C$242 for a one-way journey, but it can still depend on the seat class and the time you booked the ticket.
On the bright side, you can choose the seat class, and there are various train cars to explore on your journey.
For the seat class, you can choose either to be in the Economy Class or Sleeper Plus Class. Of course, the Sleeper Plus Class includes meals and other amenities, so it comes with a higher ticket price.
Meanwhile, the train cars available on VIA Rail are Economy Car, Skyline Car, Panorama Car, Dining Car, and Sleeper Car.
Traveling by Bus from Vancouver to Edmonton
You can also reach Edmonton from Vancouver by bus through Rider Express. However, you’ll have to take two buses since there’s no direct bus trip from Vancouver to Edmonton.
First, you have to take a bus from Vancouver to Calgary and then another bus ride from Calgary to Edmonton. The whole bus trip can last for at least 27 hours, according to Rome2Rio, and the total average price for bus tickets starts at C$215.
To help you set your trip schedule, we created a table below that shows the bus routes and schedules from Vancouver to Calgary, then Calgary to Edmonton.
Traveling by Plane from Vancouver to Edmonton
The calculated flying distance from Vancouver to Edmonton, according to TravelMath, is 509 miles (820 kilometers).
It’s a good thing that both Vancouver (YVR) and Edmonton (YEG) operate international airports, so if you get on a non-stop flight, the average flight time is only 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Currently, the cost of airfare is around C$79 to C$126. Here are some of the commercial airlines offering non-stop flights from Vancouver to Edmonton.
- Air Canada
- Air France
- China Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Air China
- Philippine Airlines
- WestJet
- Air New Zealand
- Virgin Australia
What is the best way to travel from Vancouver to Edmonton?
The best way to travel from Vancouver to Edmonton is by plane.
You see, the travel time by plane is significantly shorter compared to traveling by car, train, or bus. Moreover, airfare is also cheaper compared to bus and train tickets or the total price for fuel used by the car.
