How to Plan a Road Trip from Kelowna to Calgary

Are you planning a road trip from Kelowna and looking to go off the beaten path for some outdoor activities and adventure?! Take a look at this guide that shares how to plan the best road trip from Kelowna to Calgary! At VentureVida, we’re all about stopping to smell the roses and finding a unique adventure or two along the way, so let’s get into it!

Kelowna

Kelowna is one of the most popular go-to Canadian summer vacation spots. With the beautiful Okanagan Lake (which is over 135 km long!), stunning vineyards and mouth-watering fresh fruit (you have to try the peaches), no wonder it’s the perfect place to start a road trip! There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Kelowna during any season, such as paddle boarding, hiking, biking, skiing and wine tasting (check out adventurous activities to do in Kelowna). Additionally, Kelowna has an international airport (YLW) so it’s easily accessible from anywhere in the world.

Fun things to do in Kelowna:

• Bike along the Myra Canyon Trestles and see 2 tunnels and 8 trestles!
• Visit amazing wineries with views of the Okanagan Lake such as Kitsch Wines (best view), CedarCreek Estates (beautiful venue), and the Hatch (funkiest vibe).
• Hit the slopes at Big White Ski Resort.
• Go mountain biking at Smith Creek trails.
• Hike Knox Mountain Park for sunrise or sunset.

Naramata

After enjoying endless outdoor activities and wine tasting in Kelowna, it’s time for more adventures (and wineries) in Naramata! This chic little wine town is on the eastern shore of southern Lake Okanagan, 15 km north of Penticton, and is the perfect place to stop in for a hike/bike, wine tasting and swim before carrying on your road trip from Kelowna to Calgary.

5 activities to enjoy in Naramata:

• Wine tasting at Elephant Island winery, MOCOJO winery and Deep Roots winery. 
• Go for a refreshing swim at Three Mile Beach. 
• Rent a paddle board at Sun N’ Sup and paddle around Lake Okanagan.
• Mountain bike at the Three Blind Mice trails – try a lap on Fred>Flow Coaster>Tsweet Tsue!
• Hike Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park – Wild Horse Canyon is popular!

Osoyoos

Naramata to Osoyoos is just over an hour drive and a great way to break up the trip to Nelson (4.5 hours from Naramata). Osoyoos is such a unique part of Canada because it’s the only place surrounded by desert, mountains and vineyards. If you’re traveling through Osoyoos in the summer you’ll experience the intense heat in this region and you’ll be grateful for the lake to cool off! Osoyoos has a lot of outdoor activities to offer but it’s also the perfect place to incorporate some sunshine and relaxation if you need a little break!

What to do in Osoyoos:

• Visit Gyro beach to swim and relax by Osoyoos Lake.
• Go for a mountain bike ride on Osoyoos trails.
• Stretch your legs while hiking the beautiful Osoyoos hiking trails.
• Stop at Anarchist Mountain Lookout on your way out of town (off of Hwy 3).

Nelson

Once you reach Nelson, you’ll hit the halfway point in your journey from Kelowna to Calgary and get to experience this beautiful town hidden amongst the Selkirk mountains on the west arm of Kootenay Lake. You’ll visibly see the history of the town, which is commonly referred to as the “Queen City,” for its restored heritage buildings dating back to the silver rush. You can easily stay in Nelson for 3-4 days and explore the town and surrounding areas with all the outdoor activities it has to offer. Be sure to check out our guide on How to Spend a Long Weekend in Nelson, BC!

Top activities in Nelson:

• Cruise down Turnstyles on Morning Mountain – a mountain bike trail with tall berms, big tables and other unique jump features! 
• Explore top-rated mountain bike trails in the area.
• Take your pick of one of the many countless hikes in and around the town of Nelson.
• Go for a run and swim along Rotary Lakeside Park. 
• Grab a deadly cup of coffee at Oso Negro Coffee.

Kokanee Glacier

After some adventure filled days in Nelson, you’re ready for the next step on how to plan the best road trip from Kelowna to Calgary – Kokanee Glacier! Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is north of Nelson along the west side of Kootenay Lake. It’s one of the oldest parks in British Columbia, established in 1922, and has breathtaking views and many activities to choose from!

Recommended things to do in Kokanee Glacier:

• Camp overnight at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.
• Spend the day hiking Kokanee Lake via Gibson Lake Trail or take a look at other trails in the park.
• Go for a relaxing soak in the Ainsworth Hot Springs.
• Take the ferry from Balfour to Kootenay Bay. 

Fernie

After an enjoyable ferry ride and a 3.5 hour scenic drive through the Kootenay region, you’ll arrive in Fernie! As every other stop in your road trip from Kelowna to Calgary, Fernie is filled with outdoor activities and adventure. In the winter, Fernie is known as a powder town getting up to 30 feet of snow annually. So if you’re a skier or snowboarder, you’ll have to add Fernie Alpine Resort to your bucket list. However, the summer and fall do not disappoint either and it’s a paradise for hiking and mountain biking among other activities. Take a look at VentureVida’s Outdoor Adventure Guide to Fernie, BC if you’re interested in more!

Activities to do in Fernie:

• Head to Mount Proctor for a mountain bike lap of Swine Flu – one of the most fun ups and downs in the valley! 
• Camp at Mt Fernie Provincial Park and access amazing mountain bike trails in the area – Project 9 is a popular trail!
• Go for a day of mountain biking at Fernie Alpine Resort bike park – lift access.
• Choose one of the many hiking and walking trails in the area.
• Cap off any outdoor activity with a cold, refreshing beer at Fernie Brewing Co.

Calgary

Unfortunately, all adventures must come to an end (for now) and you’ll reach your final destination on the best road trip from Kelowna once you arrive in Calgary (or Cowtown). Calgary is the largest destination on this itinerary with over 1.6 million people in the city. It’s most iconic event is every July for the 10-day greatest outdoor show on earth – The Calgary Stampede! If you have some flexibility in your plans, be sure to time your departure from Calgary during this time so you can experience this wild event in which most of the city participates. However, if rodeos are not your thing, there’s still plenty of activities to do in Calgary before wrapping up your road trip.

Things to do in Calgary:

• Bike along the Bow River Pathway to Bowness. 
• Treat yourself to some Village Ice Cream.
• Downhill mountain biking at Winsport bike park.  
• Take a day trip to Banff for some hiking!

Road trip from Kelowna to Calgary

Adios, Chicos!

We hope this guide helps you plan the best road trip ever from Kelowna to Calgary with some amazing adventures along the way! Let us know in the comments which of these activities you’ve done and if we missed any of your favorites. Lastly, be sure to subscribe to VentureVida to see more recommendations for future trips and adventures!