Travel information
Most travelers prefer to get to the Kootenay Rockies region by car. All communities in the Kootenay Rockies are within a day’s drive of Calgary, Alberta, via highways 1 or 3. Cities and towns, large and small, are linked by a first-class highway system of wide, well-signed and well-maintained roads. You’ll find car rental companies at the region’s two major airports and in most of its larger centres.
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Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) is a major inter-provincial route, delivering travelers to the upper portion of the region. This stretch of highway also passes through some of Canada’s most spectacular national parks.
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Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) skirts the U.S. border in the southern portion of the Kootenay Rockies. It is the second major inter-provincial route entering the region from east and west.
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Highways 93 & 95 – Transecting the region north to south are Highways 93 and 95. These two roads traverse the East Kootenays through Golden, Radium, Invermere, Fairmont, Kimberley, and Cranbrook.
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Entering from the U.S. – Travelers entering the Kootenay Rockies from the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho and Montana have several border entrance points to choose from: Cascade/Christina Lake, Paterson/Rossland, Waneta/Trail, Nelway/Salmo, Rykerts, Kingsgate and Roosville. The Canada Border Services Agency has more information on border crossings.
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Air travel – Flying in to the Kootenay Rockies is an awe-inspiring introduction to the region, soaring over an endless expanse of glacier-capped mountains, verdant river valleys and crystalline alpine lakes. The Canadian Rockies International Airport is located 15 minutes from Cranbrook and offers scheduled commercial flights as well as direct service from a major U.S. hub airport (Salt Lake City, Utah). Smaller airports that are accessible via charter flights are situated near Invermere, Golden, and Fairmont.
Regional Airlines:
- Air Canada
- Pacific Coastal Airlines
- Delta Airlines
Mileage Chart
This handy mileage chart is designed to assist you with your travel plans. If the area you are coming from does not appear in this list, give us a call at 1-800-665-1801 and one of our vacation rental specialists would be more than happy to assist you!
| Location | Invermere | Panorama | Golden | Radium | Fairmont | Kimberley | Fernie | Cranbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff |
144 km 89 mi |
162 km 98 mi |
135 km 84 mi |
134 km 83 mi |
165 km 102 mi |
262 km 163 mi |
383 km 234 mi |
278 km 174 mi |
| Calgary |
274 170 |
292 179 |
263 163 |
264 164 |
304 182 |
407 253 |
320 198 |
406 254 |
| Edmonton |
571 352 |
589 363 |
558 346 |
561 348 |
592 367 |
707 439 |
611 366 |
701 438 |
| Lethbridge |
451 280 |
469 289 |
484 290 |
441 274 |
393 244 |
326 202 |
210 126 |
301 180 |
| Medicine Hat |
567 352 |
585 361 |
557 346 |
557 346 |
578 359 |
494 306 |
404 250 |
474 284 |
| Regina |
1035 647 |
1053 656 |
1024 640 |
1025 641 |
1012 633 |
972 583 |
847 508 |
952 595 |
| Saskatoon |
898 557 |
916 566 |
881 551 |
881 551 |
920 571 |
1010 606 |
929 557 |
1038 622 |
| Spokane |
444 275 |
452 284 |
557 346 |
434 269 |
416 258 |
335 209 |
410 256 |
305 192 |
| Vancouver |
828 496 |
846 505 |
713 443 |
818 490 |
858 514 |
870 540 |
940 564 |
852 533 |
| Winnipeg |
1653 1026 |
1671 1035 |
1642 1019 |
1643 1020 |
1675 1040 |
1555 933 |
1423 853 |
1583 949 |
