The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner

Connects: I-90 Junction, WA to Yellowhead Hwy 16 Junction, BC
Routes#: U.S. Highway 97, Yellowhead Highway 5
Length: 596 miles
Road Surface: Paved
Season: Open all year
Maps (1 detailed pdf files available):
Ellensburg, WA to Yellowhead Hwy 16 Junction, BC

This is a meandering, mostly 2-lane road through Washington’s Okanogan valley and British Columbia’s Okanagan (spelled with 3 a's) valley, a popular tourist area for water sports and wine tasting. This route then heads north through the Cariboo Mountains via Yellowhead Highway 5, accessing Wells Gray Provincial Park (famous for its waterfalls).

The Central Access Route junctions with Yellowhead Highway 16 at Tete Jaune Cache, where travelers have 2 choices to reach Dawson Creek and the start of the Alaska Highway: Drive west on Yellowhead Highway 16 to Prince George, then north on Highway 97 to Dawson Creek, a distance of 416 miles/669 km; or drive east on Yellowhead Highway 16 through Jasper National Park to Hinton, then take the Bighorn Route north to Grande Prairie, then Highways 43/2 to Dawson Creek, for a total driving distance of 390 miles/628 km.

The MILEPOST® Quick Reference Log
Miles from Ellensburg (E) shown.

E 0 Exit Interstate 90 at Exit 106; food, gas, lodging. Access to Ellensburg (pop. 17,230); all services.
E 203 U.S.–Canada border at Oroville, WA.
E 204 Haynes Point Provincial Park.
E 259 Okanagan Lake Provincial Park.
E 281 KELOWNA (pop. 106,707); all services.
E 314.5 VERNON (pop. 35,944); all services. Tour Davison Orchards.
E 323 Historic O’Keefe Ranch.
E 386 KAMLOOPS (pop. 80,000); all services.
E 459.5 North Thompson River Provincial Park.
E 462 CLEARWATER (pop. 7,000); food, gas, lodging, camping. Gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park.
E 584.5 VALEMOUNT (pop. 1,018); food, gas, lodging.
E 585 Irvin’s Campground.
E 596.5 Junction with Yellowhead Highway 16 at Tete Jaune Cache.