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Driving from US to Revelstoke

Cooksend

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We have a crew heading to Revy this January and will be driving from WI. Wondering what border crossing we should use and things we need to know about traveling in BC. It's a 26 hour drive that we plan to drive straight through. Any issue with getting diesel driving through the night? What are our "Need to Know's"?
 
We have a crew heading to Revy this January and will be driving from WI. Wondering what border crossing we should use and things we need to know about traveling in BC. It's a 26 hour drive that we plan to drive straight through. Any issue with getting diesel driving through the night? What are our "Need to Know's"?
DANG thats a long drive...
 
the usual, no firearms, bullets etc... have a discussion with "the crew" if anyone has a history of DUI, criminal convictions etc... as they may not be able to cross, make certain everyone has the proper ID to cross the border, paperwork and insurance for the vehicle... and have fun!
 
I've done this drive many times starting in Southern Ontario, down around the lakes through the US and back up into Canada. (our best run was 2 of us did it in 36 hours door to door with the truck only stopped for just over an hour the entire time while getting fuel). After doing it for 10+ years I moved out here. Revvy is just down the road now.

Looks like border crossing stuff is already covered. Ownerships etc. We always had guys flying out and I would haul their sleds for them. In those cases I would carry their ownerships along with a signed letter that had contact info on it. Only ever had them ask for it once.

I found the more scenic drive to be across Montana and then up through Lethbridge Alberta or cross North of Spokane. Lots of mountain passes and crappy roads to get up to Revvy if you go this route. Definitely not the fastest.

The quickest and most direct is to cross in Portal, North Dakota, its a 24 hour border crossing. After you cross work your way North West up through Estevan and Weyburn towards Moose Jaw. This section has a lot of two lane highway with minimal passing zones so if you can do it at night you will hit less truck traffic. Once you get to Moose Jaw its pretty much a straight shot on the Trans Canada Highway all the way to Revvy.

For the most part fuel isn't too bad, it just costs more once you cross the border. All of the bigger cities throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta will have 24 hour diesel. Don't try to stretch it too far though, as there are some sections during the night that if you skip fuel in one city, you might not make it to the next big center.

Load up on gas, food, beer, whatever else you need before you get to the BC border. Everything is more expensive here than Alberta. BC = Bring Cash.
 
Great info and the help is appreciated!
US Currency is not an issue?
1 DUI in the group back in 1995 that is no longer on my record. Still an issue?
 
I’ve never had to deal with the DUI thing so can’t comment on that. I have heard that you need to get a pardon to have it fully cleared off

If you are bringing cash you would be best off to exchange it somewhere. Only a few places will take US currency with an exchange rate. Most will just take it at face value which means you are losing out on a fair bit. Or just pay with a card is easy enough.
 
I’ve never had to deal with the DUI thing so can’t comment on that. I have heard that you need to get a pardon to have it fully cleared off

If you are bringing cash you would be best off to exchange it somewhere. Only a few places will take US currency with an exchange rate. Most will just take it at face value which means you are losing out on a fair bit. Or just pay with a card is easy enough.
thats by far the easiest route
 
Yes come through Alberta as although not as cheap as in the USA, the fuel is much cheaper here than in BC. No provincial sales tax either, only 5% Federal goods and services tax if you need to buy anything. (fuel has tax included already) Revelstoke is about 5 hours from Calgary, straight West on the TransCanada highway. Lethbridge and Calgary have 24 hour fuel and Golden BC won't be a problem either. Truck routes are good for that. If you want fuel for your sleds without ethanol, you should bring it.
 
I’ve never had to deal with the DUI thing so can’t comment on that. I have heard that you need to get a pardon to have it fully cleared off

If you are bringing cash you would be best off to exchange it somewhere. Only a few places will take US currency with an exchange rate. Most will just take it at face value which means you are losing out on a fair bit. Or just pay with a card is easy enough.
When I am going from Canada to the States and want cash the casinos usually offer a better rate than the banks. I am not sure if that is the same coming this way or not but may be worth checking in to.
 
We went through Nelway north of Spokane this past winter coming from Montana. Border crossing was confusing as all the signs leading to the crossing suggested it closed at 4, however that was for the US. Canada was open till 8, except we didn’t know this till we got to the border. Guard definitely was trying to mess with us, he looked through the vehicle and the trailer and sent us on our way. Coming back they didn’t even have us get out, basically waived us through. I used my Wells Fargo CC and I didn’t get any extra charges, I just saved my receipts to make sure the exchange rate came out correctly.
 
I've done this drive many times starting in Southern Ontario, down around the lakes through the US and back up into Canada. (our best run was 2 of us did it in 36 hours door to door with the truck only stopped for just over an hour the entire time while getting fuel). After doing it for 10+ years I moved out here. Revvy is just down the road now.

Looks like border crossing stuff is already covered. Ownerships etc. We always had guys flying out and I would haul their sleds for them. In those cases I would carry their ownerships along with a signed letter that had contact info on it. Only ever had them ask for it once.

I found the more scenic drive to be across Montana and then up through Lethbridge Alberta or cross North of Spokane. Lots of mountain passes and crappy roads to get up to Revvy if you go this route. Definitely not the fastest.

The quickest and most direct is to cross in Portal, North Dakota, its a 24 hour border crossing. After you cross work your way North West up through Estevan and Weyburn towards Moose Jaw. This section has a lot of two lane highway with minimal passing zones so if you can do it at night you will hit less truck traffic. Once you get to Moose Jaw its pretty much a straight shot on the Trans Canada Highway all the way to Revvy.

For the most part fuel isn't too bad, it just costs more once you cross the border. All of the bigger cities throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta will have 24 hour diesel. Don't try to stretch it too far though, as there are some sections during the night that if you skip fuel in one city, you might not make it to the next big center.

Load up on gas, food, beer, whatever else you need before you get to the BC border. Everything is more expensive here than Alberta. BC = Bring Cash.

This is spot on. I've driven from MN to BC many times and the Portal, North Dakota route is the one I usually go. Just seems easier and quicker. Only downside is I have had to sit for Avalanche clearing a couple times in the Golden area which can be a long sit. If you want to avoid that you can come in from the south through Spokane but that drive all the way across Montana seems crazy long.

And you can pretty much leave your cash at home now. Much better off to just use a card that has free foreign exchange transactions as you will get the better rate. I'll bring a little but most places that even take US cash will just give you face value, no exchange rate.
 
Well I spent a bunch of time yesterday trying to figure out if I can cross the border. After talking with the Canadian Border Service Agency I really didn't have much more information except that I should contact a Canadian lawyer, pay him $1,000 so he can deem me rehabilitated. WTF, $1,000!
Thinking I will make a 5 hour drive to the Soo and see if I can cross. Sucks if a 30 year old DUI keeps me from crossing the border!
 
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Well I spent a bunch of time yesterday trying to figure out if I can cross the border. After talking with the Canadian Border Service Agency I really didn't have much more information except that I should contact a Canadian lawyer, pay him $1,000 so he can deem me rehabilitated. WFT, $1,000!
Thinking I will make a 5 hour drive to the Soo and see if I can cross. Sucks if a 30 year old DUI keeps me from crossing the border!
Socialist paradise…….
 
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