10 Day Epic Alberta Road Trip - Banff, Jasper, and Everything in Between
DAY 1: CALGARY TO BANFF ROADTRIP
After landing in Calgary, pick up your car rental (we rented an epic campervan through North Campervans) and hit the road to Banff! This drive is very easy and extremely scenic, and once you leave the city, the incredible Rocky Mountains start to rise from the horizon. As you pass through Kananaskis, you will see The Three Sisters on the left, and as you approach Canmore, Mount Rundle will rise above the town.
Right before entering Banff, there will be park gates. Here you can buy the park pass that allows you annual access to all of the National Parks in Canada. If you are not sure which pass to buy, click here.
Once you arrive in Banff, take the time to explore the town, get a quick bite to eat, and stock up on groceries and snacks at the local IGA food market. If you have time, catch the sunset at Lake Minnewanka.
You will be spending your first two nights in the Banff area. While accommodation is a little more affordable in Canmore than in Banff, we prefer staying in the Banff area as it means less driving back and forth between the town and national park.
DRIVE TIMES:
Calgary Airport to Banff: 1 hour and 32 minutes
Canmore to Banff: 20 minutes
WHERE TO SLEEP IN BANFF:
CAMPING
There is a great spot right outside of Banff, named Two Jack Campground. They have two sites across the road from one another- one is lakeside while the other one is closer to the valley. For around $30 CAD a night, you will have access to toilet facilities, beautiful woodland scenery, and free firewood.
BUDGET FRIENDLY
We stayed one night at the Banff International Hostel, which is a great place if you are looking to do your laundry, take a shower, and spend the night.
MID-TIER
The Mount Royal Hotel, located in downtown Banff, is a fantastic place to stay if you are looking to be in the heart of Banff. It is newly renovated, with rooftop hot tubs and a lounge with stunning views of the Rockies.
LUXURY
One of our favourite hotels in Canada is the majestic Fairmont Banff Springs, which literally looks like a castle surrounded by mountains. You will feel like royalty as you walk throughout the property, which boosts an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a spa, three restaurants, a golf course, and even a ballroom!
DAY 2: THINGS TO DO IN BANFF
On your first full day in Banff, take the morning and early afternoon to explore this cute town. Even if spending time walking around town isn’t really what you came to Alberta for, Banff really is worth exploring, as this picturesque town has 360 degree views of the Rocky Mountains. There is plenty of shopping you can do (don’t forget to check out the clothing at Roots) and plenty of places you can enjoy the local cuisine.
In the late afternoon, take a scenic ride up the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain. At the top, you will find a restaurant and outdoor patio with beautiful views as well as a museum and a 1km long boardwalk. The boardwalk takes around 40 minutes roundtrip and goes to Sanson’s Peak, which overlooks Banff Town. The patio outside of the restaurant has outdoor seating, fire pits, and on certain days, they have live music, making it a fantastic place to watch the sunset.
After you come down from Sulphur Mountain, grab dinner and retire for the night.
DRIVE TIMES:
Banff Town Area: 10 minutes
the best places to eat in Banff:
Tooloulous- An incredible breakfast spot where you will find a cajun twist on Canadian breakfasts.
Earls- One of our favourite chain restaurants in Canada. The food is homey, the quality is consistent, and the prices are super reasonable. They have a Happy Hour Menu between 3-6, with a great selection of food and drink deals. Our favourite’s are the Buffalo Cauliflower , Cajun Chicken Sandwich, Dynamite Roll, Santa Fe Chicken Salad, and the Spinach Dip.
Block Kitchen- A fusion Asian-Canadian restaurant.
Seoul Restaurant- One of the best Bibimbaps we have ever had was here! Great lunch spot in the centre of downtown.
The Bison Restaurant- Get your fix of everything bison meat here!
Beaver Tails- A delicious Canadian pastry made up of deep-fried dough with various toppings. Claudia loves the killaloe sunrise while Kaan loves the Reece’s Pieces flavour!
DAY 3: HIKING AROUND BANFF AND CANMORE
Now this is probably one of the main reasons why you came to the Rockies! The hiking here is glorious, and you will find trails that are suited for every hiker- from beginner to extreme.
EASY:
Canmore: Bow River Loop- 1 ½ Hour, 3.5 kilometers. This trail starts in the Canmore town center, and takes you around the Bow River.
Canmore: Grassi Lakes- 1 ½ Hour, 4 kilometers. This trail goes past two stunning turquoise lakes surrounded by evergreens.
Banff: Stewart Canyon Trail- 40 minutes, 1.5 kilometers. This short and scenic hike takes you along the shore of Lake Minnewanka, and takes you across a bridge with epic views of Stewart Canyon.
MODERATE:
Banff: Sulphur Mountain- 4 hours, 11 kilometers. If you choose to forgo taking the Banff Gondola up, you can hike this trail to get to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
EXTREME:
Canmore: East End of Rundle (EEOR)- 5 hours, 6 kilometers. One of the most popular hikes in the area, the summit will reward you with stunning views of the area. There is a rock scramble near the top, as well as high winds but it is definitely worth it!
Kananaskis: Mount Yamnuska- 6 hours, 11 kilometers. This intense hike will take you to an elevation of 900 metres as you summit one of the most iconic peaks in the Rockies.
If you still have time and energy left after your hikes, check out the Surprise Corner Viewpoint in Banff, which gives you a beautiful lookout over the Bow Valley and the Fairmont Banff Springs. Two Jack Lake is also a stunning place to relax and cool off after a day of hiking, and if you are feeling in the mood for a soak, the Banff Upper Hot Springs are perfect for relaxing your muscles. The entrance fee is $8.50 per person. Keep in mind that during the Covid pandemic, the Hot Springs are currently closed.
In the evening, drive to the village of Lake Louise and sleep there. By sleeping in the Lake Louise Village as opposed to Banff, you will save time driving between the two areas.
DRIVE TIMES:
This is dependent on which hikes you do, but the majority are within 30 minutes from Banff.
Banff to Lake Louise Overflow Camping: 35 minutes
WHERE TO SLEEP IN Lake Louise:
CAMPING
You can either sleep at the official Lake Louise Campground or in the Lake Louise Overflow Lot, which is a standard parking lot where overnight parking is permitted. There is an outhouse available there.
BUDGET
The Hi Lake Louise Alpine Center is a hostel with clean dorms, lounges, and a full kitchen.
MID-TIER
Lake Louise Inn is a cozy, family-friendly inn which includes an indoor swimming pool and a big fireplace in the lobby.
LUXURY
Arguably the most iconic hotel in Canada, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sits right on the infamous lake. As one of the oldest hotels in Canada, staying here will give you a luxurious glimpse of it’s historical past. Click here to read about our experience at The Chateau Lake Louise.
DAY 4: THINGS TO DO AT LAKE MORAINE
Wake up early to experience the beautiful sunrise at Lake Moraine- trust us, there is no better way to start your day and it is worth the early wakeup call.
Lake Moraine is about 25 minutes from Lake Louise Village, and once you park at the parking lot, there are 2 ways to access the lake viewpoints. One is to walk straight up to the lake (less than a 1 minute walk from the car lot), while the other involves taking a left past the bathrooms and following a path for 5 minutes up the rocky hill. This is a really easy walk and is personally our favourite view! Find a rock to sit on with a great view, and relax while you enjoy the views. The lake is world renown for its azure blue, glacier fed water, which is a result of the reflections from the rock deposits at the bottom of the lake. It’s simply stunning, and was one of the highlights of our trip.
Keep in mind that the parking lot at Lake Moraine has a limited number of spaces, so once it's full, it’s closed off. We saw people getting turned away at the entrance at 7:30am, so make sure you arrive early- especially on weekends. Alternatively, we found that Lake Moraine is less busy but equally as beautiful during sunset, and we got some epic photos there during that time. If you have extra time, there are a few hikes, both short and long, which you can do around the lake. Canoes are also available for rent from the Moraine Lake Lodge, with prices starting at $85 CAD per hour.
Afterwards, you can either stop by Trailhead Cafe or Laggan’s, two local cafes located at the Lake Louise Village Mall (both open at 9am), or cook your own breakfast. The parking lot at this mall is where we did our cooking, and it also offers bathroom facilities and free Wi-Fi.
A short 10 minute drive from Lake Louise Village Mall will take you to the beautiful Morant’s Curve, where you can have picturesque views of the trains passing along the bend in the Bow River. Two kilometers past Morant’s Curve is where we took our middle-of-the-road Canada flag photo.
Peyto Lake, another famous spot along the Icefields Parkway, is a 40 minute drive from Lake Louise. Keep in mind that it is closed for renovations until November 2020.
In the afternoon, take some time to explore Johnston Canyon. This canyon has several cascading waterfalls with multiple viewing areas, and if you are feeling up for it, do the 4 ½ hour, 12 kilometer round trip hike to Ink Pots.
For dinner, either cook your own food or head to the affordable and hearty Bill Peyto’s Cafe, which is located in the Lake Louise Village. Spend the night sleeping in the Lake Louise area.
DRIVE TIMES:
Lake Louise Village to Lake Moraine: 40 minutes roundtrip
Lake Louise Village to Morant’s Curve: 20 minutes roundtrip
Lake Louise Village to Johnston Canyon: 1 hour round trip
DAY 5: LAKE LOUISE AND ICEFIELDS PARWAY
Start the morning off early again and experience sunrise at the world famous Lake Louise, which is 5 kilometers from Lake Louise Village. There are two parking lots there, as well as an overflow parking lot that is within 15 minutes walking distance. The main parking lot is an easily accessible 3 minute walk to Lake Louise, but it does fill up quickly so be sure to arrive early! Lake Louise is easily the most famous lake in Canada, and the sheer size of the mountains cascading over the lake makes for a breathtaking view!
At Lake Louise, there are a multitude of things to do. You can take a leisurely walk around the lake, or do an uphill, two hour hike up to the Lake Agnes Tea House, which has stunning views of the area. You can also cross off a major bucket-list item and canoe on Lake Louise (rentals are $85 per hour) or enjoy your morning coffee and breakfast at the infamous Chateau Lake Louise.
Afterwards, embark on the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, which has been voted as one of the most beautiful alpine drives in the world. This 3 hour drive is the ultimate Canadian Rockies road trip- be prepared to be stunned by the scenery for the full drive. There are loads of animals along the way (apparently this is THE place to spot bears- we just didn’t see any!). Make sure to tank up at the gas stations in Lake Louise Village because running out of gas on the drive would be a huge setback.
Along the way, stop and enjoy the views at Bow Lake, where you can pull off into one of the parking lots on the side of the Icefields Parkway and view the lake from the top, or park your car at the Bow Lake Car Lot, where you can take a walk around the area and use the public restrooms.
An hour after Bow Lake you will pass by the Columbia Icefield, and see the incredible Athabasca Glacier. You will be stopping here on the way back, but if you need to use the restrooms, there is a visitor center with public washrooms and plenty of parking.
Shortly after, on the right hand side you will pass by Tangle Creek Falls, as well as a place called Goats and Glaciers, where you will get to see, goats AND glaciers. This drive is truly epic!
When you arrive in Jasper, grab dinner and walk around town; you will be spending the next few nights here.
DRIVE TIMES:
Lake Louise Village to Lake Louise: 20 minutes roundtrip
Lake Louise Village to Jasper: 3 hours
Some of the best places to eat in Jasper are:
Jasper Brewhouse: Serves hearty Canadiana cuisine and brew their beers on site.
Agni Bistro: Yummy restaurant that serves Indian and Thai cuisine.
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria: You’ll get your Italian wood-oven pizza here!
Kimchi House: Korean restaurant with delicious Bibimbap.
Earls Restaurant: Chain restaurant where you will find something for everyone.
The Other Paw Bakery Cafe: A local favorite cafe which serves up a delicious breakfast. It is so good it’s worth the wait!
Where to Sleep in Jasper:
CAMPING
Wapiti Campground is a lovely park located on the outskirts of Jasper. If the park is full, there is an abundance of space at the Snaring Overflow Campground, 15 minutes from town, which has outhouse facilities.
BUDGET
Jasper Downtown Hostel is a great place to rest your head, do your laundry, and use their common areas and kitchens.
MID-TIER
Pyramid Lake Resort is a chalet-style hotel which provides stunning views of Pyramid Lake, a fireplace dining room, and outdoor hot tubs.
LUXURY
Enjoy cottage luxury at it’s finest at one of our favourite resorts at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. This spacious resort sits on 700 acres of waterfront property surrounded by mountains and the stunning scenery of Jasper National Park. Click here to read about our experience at The Fairmont Jasper.
DAY 6: THINGS TO DO IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK
There are so many things to do in Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wake up early, and experience sunrise at Pyramid Lake. Stop by The Other Paw Bakery for a delicious breakfast, and afterwards, head over to Maligne Lake.
Maligne Lake is the second largest glacier fed lake in the world. Here, you can take a boat ride to the iconic Spirit Island, or if you are feeling super adventurous, you can canoe 14km one way to Spirit Island. If you remember, we started our journey at 1 am to get to Spirit Island for sunrise at 5am, and got back to the car lot at 1pm. It was definitely the most intense activity we have done, but it was so worth it! We will never stop talking about how we actually did this canoe trip.
We rented our canoe from Wild Current Outfitters in Jasper, where we picked up our equipment and key for the canoe, which was locked at the docks at Lake Maligne. It costs $110 for a 24 hour rental. If you want to rent right at the lake, the Maligne Lake Boathouse offers canoe and boat rentals as well. You can also buy your boat tickets here. If water-based activities aren’t your thing, you can take some time to explore the trails around the lake.
In the afternoon, head back towards Jasper and stop to explore Maligne Canyon. This is an easy 4 kilometer hike which takes around 2 ½ hours round trip.
In the evening, have dinner and enjoy strolling around the quaint town.
DRIVE TIMES:
Jasper to Pyramid Lake: 20 minutes roundtrip
Jasper to Maligne Lake: 45 minutes one way
Maligne Lake to Maligne Canyon: 35 minutes one way
Maligne Canyon to Jasper: 10 minutes one way
DAY 7: EXPLORING AND HIKING AROUND JASPER
Start your day off with a hearty breakfast and set off to hike the Valley of the Five Lakes. This is an easy 2 hour, 4 ½ kilometer hike, and takes you on a tranquil trail past 5 stunning lakes.
After, drive down to check out Athabasca Falls, an incredibly powerful waterfall with a very pretty mountain backdrop. The falls are an easy 1 kilometer walk from the car park.
Since this is a jam packed trip, take the rest of the afternoon to head back to town, relax, and have dinner. In the evening, catch sunset at the Lac Beauvert Trailhead, which gives you a stunning view of the Jasper Park Lodge against the mountain backdrop.
DRIVE TIMES:
Jasper to Valley of the Five Lakes: 12 minutes one way
Valley of the Five Lakes to Athabasca Falls: 18 minutes one way
Athabasca Falls to Jasper: 30 minutes one way
Jasper to Lac Beauvert Trailhead: 20 minutes roundtrip
DAY 8: JASPER TO YOHO NATIONAL PARK, VIA ICEFIELDS PARKWAY
After breakfast, start the drive down the Icefields Parkway to explore the Columbia Icefield area. You can learn more about the icefield at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre.
The Columbia Icefield is the largest in the Canadian Rockies and stretches across the Continental Divide. Here you will directly see the Athabasca Glacier, which is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world. The water from the glacier travels across three continents- north to the Arctic Ocean, east to Atlantic Ocean, and West to the Pacific Ocean. The glacier itself is 10,000 years old, and you can take the opportunity to walk on it by booking a Athabasca Glacier Icewalk with an experienced guide. Never try to go on the glacier alone, as there are many crevices you can fall through and get hurt.
The Glacier Skywalk, located nearby, is a glass-floor walkway that is elevated 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley. Here you will have front-row seats to incredible views of the Canadian Rockies, which at one point in time were higher than the Himalayas!
Grab lunch at the Altitude Restaurant at the Discovery Centre, and get back on the road towards the town of Field. On the way, stop by the Mistaya Canyon, which is directly off of the parkway. It is not properly marked, so be sure to keep an eye out. From the parking lot, it is a short 10 minute walk which takes you to the canyon. Next stop: Yoho National Park in British Columbia!
Once you arrive in Field, BC, have dinner at the Truffle Pigs Bistro. Afterwards, drive to Emerald Lake and watch the epic sunset at one of the most stunning places in the Rockies. The Emerald Lake Lodge turns on their lights 30 minutes before sunset, and the snow-capped Mount Burgess in the background truly makes this an incredible experience.
Spend the night in the town of Field, or in the Village of Lake Louise.
DRIVE TIMES:
Jasper to Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre: 1 hour 13 minutes one way
Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre to Mistaya Canyon: 42 minutes one way
Mistaya Canyon: 20 minutes one way
Mistaya Canyon to Field: 1 hour and 10 minutes one way
Field to Emerald Lake: 30 minutes round trip
Optional- Emerald Lake to Lake Louise Village: 30 minutes one way
WHERE TO SLEEP IN YOHO NATIONAL PARK
CAMPING
Kicking Horse Campground is right outside of Field, with campsites right along the Kicking Horse River.
BUDGET
Fireweed Hostel is a clean hostel with shared amenities, located in the middle of town.
MID-TIER
Emerald Lake Lodge is located in the centre of the infamous lake, and offers stunning views of the lake and mountains. While this isn’t the most posh resort, the location is truly epic.
DAY NINE: BUFFER DAY TO EXPLORE BANFF
On your last full day in the Canadian Rockies, take the time to explore more of Banff National Park and do any activities you weren’t able to fit in before. Spend some time relaxing on Two Jack Lake, explore the area around Surprise Corner, or go for brunch at the Fairmont Banff Springs.
DAY 10: LEAVE THE MOUNTAINS AND HEAD BACK TO REALITY
Today is the day you leave mountain paradise and head back to the real world! A great place to start your day off is Vermillion Lake, a stunning sunrise spot located 5 minutes outside of Banff.
After lunch in Banff, jump on the freeway back to Calgary and reminisce about the incredible time you had exploring the Canadian Rockies. We hope you guys have an amazing trip!
DRIVE TIMES:
Banff to Calgary Airport: 1 hour and 32 minutes
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