Route from Fort St. John to Cold Lake
Interactive map, distance, and indicative drive time for the route from Fort St. John to Cold Lake — with the live planner for up-to-date turn-by-turn directions.
This page provides the map and indicative distance data for the route between Fort St. John (British Columbia) and Cold Lake (Alberta). Use the live planner below to get up-to-date driving directions by car, on foot, or by bicycle.
Distance from Fort St. John to Cold Lake
The straight-line distance between Fort St. John and Cold Lake is 701.9 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 793 km, with an indicative drive time of 8 h 49 min.
Trip cost and route type: Fort St. John – Cold Lake
Driving directions from Fort St. John to Cold Lake
The map shows the locations of Fort St. John (A) and Cold Lake (B). Use the form below to calculate the up-to-date road route with turn-by-turn directions, real distance, and estimated drive time.
Turn-by-turn directions
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Driving directions from Fort St. John to Cold Lake
Real distance: 832.2 km · Estimated time: 9 h 42 min
- Drive east on 100 Avenue. 28 m
- Turn right onto 100 Street. 1.1 km
- Turn left onto BC 97 South/Alaska Highway. 73.5 km
- Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit toward 49/Spirit River. 254.1 km
- Turn left onto Northern Woods & Water Route/2. Continue on 2. 189.7 km
- Turn left onto Northern Woods & Water Route/2. 58.2 km
- Turn left onto Highway 55/2. 45.5 km
- Turn left onto 55/63/Northern Woods & Water Route. Continue on 55. 62.5 km
- Turn right onto Northern Woods & Water Route/55. 1.9 km
- Turn right onto Northern Woods & Water Route/36/55. Continue on 36/55. 17.8 km
- Turn left onto Northern Woods & Water Route/55. Continue on 55. 107.1 km
- Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northern Woods & Water Route/55. 36 m
Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.
Estimate trip cost: Fort St. John – Cold Lake
Indicative estimates based on ~793 km. Tolls calculated at ~$0.10/km on tolled segments. The calculator updates with the live planner's real distance. Actual consumption, driving style, weather, and toll rates vary.
Origin and destination
How to drive from Fort St. John to Cold Lake
The straight-line distance between Fort St. John (British Columbia) and Cold Lake (Alberta) is about 701.9 km. The actual road distance varies by chosen route, road type, and travel conditions — especially in winter and across mountain or northern segments.
Before you leave, consider:
- Check current traffic with a navigation app — particularly around major cities.
- Look up any toll segments on your route (Ontario 407, select bridges).
- In winter or at higher elevations, drive times and conditions can change quickly. Carry a charged phone, fuel reserve, and weather-appropriate gear.
- Plan stops at service centres or towns along the way — fuel and rest stops can be sparse on remote sections.
Route description: Fort St. John – Cold Lake
The distance from Fort St. John to Cold Lake is estimated at 793 km on a mixed road profile, starting from 701.9 km straight line. It is a long route (over 300 km) that connects British Columbia to Alberta. Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections. Calculate the current route with the live planner for detailed instructions.
The trip starts at Fort St. John (British Columbia) — coordinates 56.2465° N, -120.8480° E. The destination is Cold Lake (Alberta), at 54.4642° N, -110.1830° E.
Practical tips for the Fort St. John – Cold Lake drive
Terrain along the way
The route starts in British Columbia — a province mountainous, with the Coast Mountains, the Rockies, and a long Pacific coastline — and reaches Cold Lake in Alberta, prairie in the south rising into the Canadian Rockies in the west. The route also passes near Kinuso (Alberta).
When to leave
For a long route, leave early (before 06:30) or wait until after 10:00. Avoid summer long-weekend exoduses and major holidays. Plan a break every 1.5–2 hours of driving — and check weather, especially across the Prairies and through mountain passes.
Alternatives
For this route of about 793 km, consider VIA Rail Canada — VIA's Corridor service connects many Eastern Canadian cities, and the long-distance trains (the Canadian, Ocean) run through the Prairies and the Maritimes. Cross-border trips may also include Amtrak's Adirondack or Cascades. Check schedules at viarail.ca and amtrak.com.
Explore Cold Lake
Full information about Cold Lake: interactive map, GPS coordinates, elevation, nearby cities, and routes to and from Cold Lake.
Cold Lake profile →Explore Fort St. John
Full information about Fort St. John: map, GPS coordinates, and all routes from Fort St. John to other Canadian cities.
Fort St. John profile →Related tools
Driving Directions
Live planner with turn-by-turn directions from Fort St. John to Cold Lake.
Interactive map
Open the area between Fort St. John and Cold Lake on the map.
GPS coordinates
Find precise coordinates for any point along the route.
Distance calculator
Measure straight-line distances between intermediate points.
Elevation
Check elevation along the route — useful for mountain passes.
Satellite map
View the terrain between Fort St. John and Cold Lake in satellite imagery.
Cities along the Fort St. John – Cold Lake route
These cities are near the direct route between Fort St. John and Cold Lake. They may be useful as a stopover or alternate destination.
Routes with intermediate stops: Fort St. John → Kinuso · Fort St. John → Slave Lake · Fort St. John → Enilda
Related routes
From Fort St. John to other cities:
To Cold Lake from other cities:
From Cold Lake to intermediate cities:
Similar-distance routes from Fort St. John
Other routes from Fort St. John with comparable distance (421–983 km straight line).
Popular routes from British Columbia
Most-searched routes from British Columbia, ranked by popularity.
Frequently asked questions: Fort St. John – Cold Lake
What is the straight-line distance between Fort St. John and Cold Lake?
The straight-line distance between Fort St. John and Cold Lake is about 701.9 km. This is the direct geometric distance between the two coordinates, ignoring road geometry.
What is the estimated road distance from Fort St. John to Cold Lake?
The estimated road distance from Fort St. John to Cold Lake is about 793 km — derived by multiplying the straight-line distance by a road-deviation factor (1.13–1.30 based on length). For an up-to-date route, use the live planner.
How long does it take to drive from Fort St. John to Cold Lake?
Indicative drive time from Fort St. John to Cold Lake is about 8 h 49 min, based on an average highway speed of 90 km/h on a mixed motorway/highway profile. Real time depends on traffic, weather, stops, vehicle type, and conditions.
How do I get up-to-date driving directions from Fort St. John to Cold Lake?
Use the live planner on this page: select your transport mode and click "Update route". You'll see the route with turn-by-turn directions, current distance, and estimated time based on up-to-date routing data.
Does the Fort St. John–Cold Lake route involve highway tolls?
CanadaDrivingDirections.com does not provide toll details. Toll roads are limited in Canada — Ontario's 407 ETR, a few Quebec bridges, and the Confederation Bridge to PEI are the main ones. Check the operator's site for current pricing.
How does traffic affect the route from Fort St. John to Cold Lake?
Traffic varies by time of day, season, and weather. The live planner uses up-to-date routing data; for live traffic, use a navigation app before departure — especially in winter when conditions can change rapidly.
Is there an alternative route from Fort St. John to Cold Lake?
A common alternative is going via Kinuso or Slave Lake. Use the live planner to compare routes.
Can I open the Fort St. John–Cold Lake route in Google Maps?
Yes. Click "Open in Google Maps" on this page to view the route in the Google Maps app or browser. You can also open Google Maps directly and enter Fort St. John as origin and Cold Lake as destination.