Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / news / Winter driving: 3 tips for better road trips

Which route are you going to take? Driving next to transport trucks can be intimidating, but it also means you’ll have someone to hail if you run into trouble. (Photo: Amy Attas)

Winter driving: 3 tips for better road trips

November 26, 2021 //  by Amy Attas

Share this:

Winter driving isn’t always easy, but sometimes you have no choice but to hit the road. Travelling for work, moving to a new city, or escaping for a ski weekend? With harsh conditions and limited daylight, you better plan ahead.

They may be intense, but that intensity can also make winter road trips more memorable. Sharp, snow-capped mountains, icy winds whipping across a frozen field, sparkling lake vistas… and very few tourists to spoil the view! Start planning your snowshoeing weekend through quiet winter forests, your cosy spa escape by the hot springs, or your long-haul excursion to explore a new city’s museums — just make sure you plan for winter driving too.

READ MORE: How to pack a carry-on: The WCT Travel Guide

Winter road trips have their challenges, but snowy mountain peaks mean the views are spectacular! (Photo: Amy Attas)

1. Research your route, but don’t sweat the decision

There are good roads and bad roads in winter, but your best bet changes on any given day. One thing that doesn’t change? People will always have opinions about your route.

Don’t take the main road, there are too many big transport trucks. Don’t take the back road, it doesn’t get plowed enough. You’ll never find the perfect route, but research is still important. Ask friends with similar vehicles and driving styles which roads they prefer. Keep an eye on the weather, and be flexible if storms change course. Before you make your decision, consider what’s most important to you: are you more comforted by an empty road with less traffic, or a busy road where help is closer at hand?

Of all the places to learn a new skill, the side of a highway at twenty below is one of the worst. Practice using tire chains before you need them. (Photo: Amy Attas)

2. Try the tire chains before you hit the road

Thanks to Olympic improvements to the Sea-to-Sky highway, the drive from Vancouver to Whistler is usually care-free — even in winter. The road gets a lot more challenging once Whistler’s safety-net is in your rearview mirror. On one January road trip from Vancouver to Haida Gwaii, my tires struggled to catch on the packed snow. Steep inclines and narrow turns didn’t help my confidence, so I pulled off to put on tire chains.

Of all the places to learn a new skill, the side of a highway at 20 below is one of the worst. Is it the front or the back tires that need the chains? How do you clip these things, and how tight should they be?

Practice putting on your tire chains before you leave, and pack a thin pair of gloves to protect your skin while you fiddle with the cold metal. Better yet? Invest in winter tires before you leave the coast!

Research winter tire laws in BC and Alberta.

Check weather reports before you leave, and be flexible if storms change course. (Photo: Amy Attas)

3. Plan your pitstops

In the height of summer, days are long and pitstops are plentiful. In winter your drive-time is severely diminished by dwindling daylight, and many rest areas are gated or piled with snow. When the sun sets at three, you don’t want to be hours from the nearest town, and you don’t want to be knocking on door after door, asking if there’s room at the inn. Book accommodation ahead of time, and pack extra fuel (for you and your vehicle) so you’re never starving between towns.

Once you’ve parked for the night, take a moment to clear your car of possessions that might be harmed in the cold. Water bottles can burst when the liquid inside them freezes. Laptop and phone batteries can be damaged with prolonged exposure to the cold.

Another thing to do at the end of your driving day? Top up your windshield washer fluid, to keep clear vision on the next day’s journey.

***

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: news, TravelTag: Alaska, British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Driving, Places to Visit in Alberta, Snow, Travel Tips & Advisories, USA, Visit Yukon

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

A Kelowna photographer captured images of a pack of wolves while on a weekend hike…

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in KelownaRead More

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

He might be a better skier and influencer than any Gen Z could imagine, possibly…

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in GoldenRead More

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

What’s going on around the West Coast? Here’s your inside guide to what’s happening where,…

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!Read More

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

Many travellers believe spring and summer are the best times to explore. That means the…

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf IslandsRead More

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contest

A dramatic image by professional Vancouver Island photographer Anthony Bucci will represent Canada in a…

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contestRead More

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!

The best compliment you can give a chef? Returning for seconds! Oh, and to tell…

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!Read More

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish list

By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times I’ve been meandering around California for decades, which is…

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish listRead More

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take months

Zhengwen Hao says the phone for his Richmond, B.C., restaurant hasn’t stopped buzzing in recent…

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take monthsRead More

VIDEO: Young orcas caught showboating off Greater Victoria

They say the downfall of every great fishing story is a witness. But a group…

VIDEO: Young orcas caught showboating off Greater VictoriaRead More

Previous Post: « 15 ski runs, family-friendly setting make Phoenix Mountain a winter favourite
Next Post: Upgrades to Terrace’s Shames Mountain a ‘game changer’ »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

January 24, 2023

Recent Posts

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

January 24, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved