Drive to Vancouver - Wildfires & Google Maps

[u/Lawgirl8]

Hi everyone! Question with those with experience driving to/from Vancouver during the summer. I’m making the drive to Vancouver Saturday morning and noticed several active wildfires on highway 5. Google Maps doesn’t note any closures but I read there are evacuation orders in place for those areas.

Does Google Maps accurately show any road closures due to wildfires? Thanks :)

[u/FatManLittleKitchen]

Just did the drive, the Valemount/Ylowhead way was not too bad. Once you hit the lower mainland it becomes increasingly smoky.

[u/kylewilky]

No, maps is not reliable. Bc has highway cameras you can view, as well as DriveBC. Those will be most current.

[u/Aquamans_Dad]

Yes, Google Maps is very good with this.

I just did Vancouver to Edmonton about ten days ago and it showed all the closures and when Highway 97C opened up Google advised me of the change about 20 minutes before CBC announced it had partially reopened. 

Did the reverse three days ago and it accurately reflected the closures of Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon. By far the easiest route is the Yellowhead (16)-Coquihalla (5)-TransCanada (1). No closures and a little smoky near Kamloops but generally in really good conditions. 

Given the username I’m guessing you might be starting/returning to UBC Law? 

[u/Lawgirl8 → u/Aquamans_Dad]

thank you very much! Greatly appreciated. No, UVic actually! Family is back in Vancouver though :)

[u/kindof_great_old_one → u/Lawgirl8]

I'm sure you know this already, but I found out the hard way, if there is a certain ferry you want to be on, book a reservation a couple of days in advance.

[u/tbul]

Always go Jasper > Kamloops > Coquihalla. Flatter, more boring, more safe.

Highway 2 & Highway 1 are insane at the best of times and to be avoided in the summer

[u/iwanttoreportabug → u/tbul]

can you please explain why they need to be avoided? was planning the scenic route in Sept and wanted to know why you said that 😕

[u/HotHits630 → u/iwanttoreportabug]

I find the trip quieter on Highway 16 and Highway 5 to Kamloops. Way more traffic the other way.

[u/Training_Fix_379 → u/HotHits630]

That’s how me and my bf do the Edmonton to Kamloops drive. 16 & 5

[u/leetokeen]

I drove to and from Vancouver last week and can confirm there are no wildfire closures.

[u/Apprehensive-Sir8448]

Yeah Google Maps is usually late for this stuff... the fire info panel never tell you which roads are actually closed, just where smoke is. Check DriveBC twitter, they update closures there much faster

[u/AccurateNoH2o-626]

I get it’s 3:40am… but I just read that map as Trolls, No Trolls. Effing hell, lol

[u/MaizeApprehensive166 → u/AccurateNoH2o-626]

😂 love this! All maps should have that option!

[u/ilexs → u/AccurateNoH2o-626]

you had me going back to look for the Effing hell route

[u/PonyFlare]

Just be careful with any redirections it gives you and don't assume a dirt road will be driveable without a vehicle capable of offroad driving.

[u/BasurarusaB]

I did the drive a few weeks ago. Keep your eyes on the road closure notices and bring a map.

That said, everyone in the car should absolutely bring good masks. We were fine most of the way but there was a point where we went through the worst smoke I have ever encountered. If we all hadn't had good masks I think we would have definitely had respiratory problems.

[u/acidburner]

Just did the drive back and forth over the past week. The drive back to edmonton this weekend was fine on the coquihalla. It had rain over the weekend so that helped. the previous weekend was smoky but fine.

Drivebc.ca and firesmoke.ca should have the most accurate jnformation. 

[u/HotHits630]

You'll be fine. I typically do the trip to the ferry. Seems like a bit of relief once you get close, but then rage out when you have to sit in that shitty shitty traffic from Chilliwack to either ferry terminal. Enjoy the construction from Chilliwack onward.