Driving Highway 1 in winter from Revelstoke to Banff is the most epic winter trip in Western Canada. This drive takes you through four national parks, offers non-stop views of towering  mountains, cute mountain towns, and endless winter activity options.

For visitors, this road can be nerve-wracking. Varying snow and weather conditions make it one of Canada’s tougher winter drives.

This blog provides tons of Highway 1 winter driving tips. FarOut Wilderness collaborated on this blog with BC’s Winter Driving Safety Alliance, and Emcom Services, Revelstoke’s Highway 1 road maintenance contractor, to provide the best winter driving tips possible.

Vehicles

Snow tires are legally mandated to drive on Highway 1 from October 1st to April 30th.

There are two different tire ratings for winter, 3 Peak and M+S tires. You want your tires to have the 3 Peak symbol – the mountain with the snowflake – and not only the M+S symbol. The 3 Peak symbol is given to tires meeting the highest winter driving safety standards. While the M+S tires meet the minimum legal requirement, you want the 3 Peak tires to ensure you’re moving safely through Highway 1

Slow down

We’ve all heard it before, in driving school, from our parents, and speed limits signs. We’re going to reinforce it. Slow down on this road. We find 70-80km/hour is an ideal driving speed, giving you plenty of time to prepare for winter obstacles. The speed limit is often 100km, but that’s for ideal, sunny, summer conditions. You want to be 5-6 seconds behind the car in front of you.

Finding your lane

The lanes can be hard to see if you’re driving Highway 1 in winter, especially at night. Snow is covering the white and yellow lines, and they’re fairly run down from winter conditions. Here are a few tips to stay in the right part of the road:

  • Follow the snow pack: This road is literally known as the “powder highway”, so snow builds up all season and is plowed to the sides. Aside from occasional pull offs, following the snow pack gives you a sense of the lane.
  • Rumble strips: The right-side rumble strips are also a good indicator of where your lane is. There’s a wide shoulder on most of the highway, so straddling the rumble strip can be a good way to hold your lane in tough conditions
  • Apple/Google Maps: Map services give a good indication of upcoming turns on the road. Keeping half an eye on your GPS is a useful trick to anticipate what’s ahead, especially at night.

Headlights

In snow and fog, using high beams makes visibility worse. The light reflects off the fog or snow, and can often give you some snow blindness. Make sure to slow down so you have plenty of time to see your turns.

On a clear night, high beams can help. Make sure to turn them off when cars are coming the other direction, so you don’t blind them.

Drive BC

This interactive map gives great regular updates on road conditions. We’ve created a custom link that specifically gives you a snapshot of the drive between Revelstoke and Banff. Click here to see the live road conditions.

Other drivers

  • Avoid passing in poor weather conditions. Much of this road is only one lane each direction, and speeding ahead of other drivers is always risky
  • If vehicles are pressuring you from behind, stop briefly on one of the pullouts and let other drivers go ahead. You’re much safer sticking to 70km/hour. Let them take their chances driving faster.
  • There are also a lot of big trucks on this road at night. Give them lots of space! Truck drivers are typically good about putting hazard light on to indicate if they’re having trouble with the road.
  • Don’t pass a snow plow, especially on the right! Driving 5-6 seconds behind a snow plow is often a great place to be. The road will be freshly cleared and sanded for you.

Miscellaneous tips

  • Clean snow off your car: Make sure your car is 100% clear of snow before going on the snow. Snow on the front of the vehicle can fall onto your front windshield and blind you. Snow on the back can hit the car behind you, potentially blinding them.
  • Cell Service: Telus covers the whole highway from Revelstoke to Banff, and Rogers covers about 90%. You’re never more than 5-10 minutes driving from cell range.
  • Gas: There are no gas stations between Golden and Revelstoke. East of Golden, make sure you can drive 80km to Lake Louise before needing to refuel. Check your fuel levels before setting off, and have more than you need. Snow and adverse conditions can make your car less fuel efficient.
  • Wildlife: Moose collisions in BC are fairly common from October-December. Most of Highway 1 has underpasses built for wildlife, and Yoho and Banff National Parks have wildlife fences. This helps limit collisions somewhat, but be ready for wildlife encounters.
  • Chains: If you’re trying to drive with a 2wd car or M+S tires, chains are essential in snowy conditions. If you have proper 3 Peak snow tires and a good 4wd vehicle, chains may not be necessary. If you need chains in a good winter vehicle to stay on the road, it might not be the best time to be driving.
  • Avalanches: Avalanche closures can happen, so be prepared to be flexible with your plans. If you come across avalanche debris on the road, don’t try to drive over it under any circumstances.
  • Basic supplies: Make sure you have warm clothes and a few snacks. In case of an emergency, standard provisions will make your time waiting on the highway much warmer and safer!

Emergencies

Following these tips will ensure you’re driving as safely as you can on this highway. However, small accidents can happen. Here’s what to do if your vehicle is stuck in snow, or you’re involved in another accident

  • For urgent emergencies/accidents, call 911. There’s sufficient service throughout, and your call will be routed to the appropriate first responder.
  • For any non-urgent calls, such as reporting debris, roadkill, etc, call 1-866-353-3136 when driving between Revy and Golden.
  • If your vehicle ends up in a ditch or snowbank, stay in it if possible. Cars are moving fast on this road, and the safest place is your vehicle. If you need to evacuate your car, standing behind the guard rail on the side of the road is the safest place to wait.