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If you are looking to plan an epic adventure vacation, look no further than Canada. Pristine wilderness. Rugged peaks. Roaming wildlife. Canada is absolutely incredible. This Banff Jasper itinerary is exactly what you need to plan your epic Canadian Rockies road trip.

Planning your Banff and Jasper Itinerary

My trip was at the very beginning of summer and conditions were perfect. However weather and conditions can be different from year to year so there is certainly a bit of luck involved. While there are tons of things you can do in Banff and Jasper, this will walk you through my trip and provide a few additional recommendations of things that we wished we could have added into our trip.

Canada really is a year-round destination. With snow sport and aurora activities in the winter, hiking and golf in the summer, and all kinds of other outdoor activities throughout the year, you probably can’t go wrong with planning your trip to Canada at any time of the year. But since we visited in June this will be a Banff and Jasper summer itinerary.

A few important distinctions will help you plan your trip. Banff is a town that is located inside Banff National Park in Canada. Jasper is also a town located inside Jasper National Park in Canada.

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Packing for your Canadian Rockies Road Trip

You never know just quite what you might get weather-wise in Canada, but it really depends on the season. In addition to the ten essentials, make sure to pack a rain jacket, wear waterproof shoes, gloves, and bring extra layers – I prefer wool baselayers from WoolX Wool. For icy trail conditions, consider bringing microspikes and trekking poles (although these likely will need to be in your checked bag).

How to get to Banff

The easiest way to get to Banff is to fly into Calgary (airport code: YYC) and rent a car. In peak season car rentals can be incredibly pricey so it is important to book these early. There is public transportation if you are looking for a budget friendly option. If you want to explore without a car, check out these resources.

The drive from Calgary to Banff is about 90 minutes, and while this drive starts out a little boring, it quickly becomes quite scenic so the time will pass quickly and soon you will be really kicking off your Canadian Rockies road trip.

Best Season to Visit Banff and Jasper

What is the best season to visit Banff and Jasper? Well, Banff and Jasper are wonderful destinations that offer something special throughout the year. So, your choice will depend on your schedule and the activities you want to do.

Because whether you’re interested in skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, or enjoying stunning fall foliage, there’s a perfect time for everyone to plan a Banff and Jasper itinerary.

Summer in Banff and Jasper

Summer is an excellent time to visit if you’re passionate about outdoor activities like rafting, kayaking, and hiking. However, it’s essential to remember that summer is peak season. So, this surge in visitors can lead to crowded trails and busy attractions.

Accommodation prices also tend to increase during peak summer season, which is between June and August. Therefore, it’s importsnt to plan ahead and book in advance.

If you have specific hotels or Airbnbs in mind, securing your reservations well in advance is crucial. In some cases, accommodations can sell out several months in advance due to the high demand.

Autumn in Banff and Jasper

Autumn is a fantastic time to visit Banff and Jasper. During this season, you can expect fewer crowds, making it a more peaceful experience. Additionally, the cooler temperatures and vibrant foliage make for a picturesque backdrop for outdoor activities like hiking and wildlife spotting.

Winter in Banff and Jasper

Visiting Banff and Jasper in winter can be a truly enchanting experience. While it can get quite cold, the region offers a wealth of exhilarating winter activities to make your trip memorable. These activities include skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and more.

So, if you’re an adventure enthusiast or a winter sports lover, this season can be a perfect choice for your visit. However, it’s important to note that not all attractions may be open during the winter months.

Spring in Banff and Jasper

The mountain regions around Banff and Jasper can have a pretty long winter. This means that even into April and sometimes May, you might still run into patches of snow. Also, Iconic spots like Lake Louise might still be frozen. In fact, some roads might remain closed, and the weather can be quite unpredictable.

But here’s the upside. Springtime in Banff and Jasper is the low season, which translates into fewer crowds and more budget-friendly accommodations. And if you’re a wildlife lover, late spring is prime time for seeing bears.

So, if you’re up for a bit of adventure and don’t mind some lingering winter vibes, spring could be your ticket to a more serene and wallet-friendly visit to Banff and Jasper itinerary.

How Many Days Do You Need for a Banff and Jasper itinerary?

If you’re planning your Banff and Jasper itinerary so that you can fully immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of Banff and Jasper National Parks, consider spending 5 to 7 days in the region.

This timeframe ensures you can fully enjoy iconic highlights like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Athabasca Falls. Plus, a week-long stay gives you the freedom to engage in outdoor adventures and do fun road trips along Icefields Parkway.

Also, for avid hikers, extending your Banff and Jasper Itinerary to 10 days or more allows for a more immersive experience.

What is the Distance Between Banff and Jasper?

Banff and Jasper are about 180 miles apart if you take the gorgeous Icefields Parkway route. So, the drive usually takes between 3 and 4 hours. However, it’s wise to allow extra time for stops to soak in the breathtaking scenery along the way.

Also, this journey offers a chance to experience some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the Canadian Rockies, making it more than just a standard drive from point A to point B.

Banff and Jasper Road Trip Map

So you have a visual understanding of our Canadian Rockies road trip, see the below map. While in total it is about 12 hours of driving, we still barely scratched the surface of all of the beauty in Canada.

Banff Jasper Itinerary – Day 1

On the first day you will arrive in Calgary, rent a car and head to Banff. We stopped for some groceries and snacks in Calgary before heading on to Banff.

After arriving, our first stop was the Banff Gondola. The gondola itself is about an 8 minute ride straight up the mountain with a total elevation gain of about 2200 ft. The top of the gondola sits at just under 7500 ft elevation.

Because we arrived in the evening, there were no crowds and there was no line to get on the gondola. We did pre-book the gondola which I would recommend just in case you go at a time that is more crowded. For pricing and to reserve the gondola online, click here. You can also dine at the Sky Bistro at the top of the gondola. We did not do this ourselves but instead ate in Banff town after riding the gondola back down.

Despite the weather being relatively warm while we were on our trip, the top of the gondola and the boardwalk to the peak were both windy and cold. You will certainly want layers for this portion of the trip, even if it was warm in town. Regardless of the weather, we felt like taking the gondola was an epic way to kick off our Banff Jasper itinerary and would highly recommend it.

At this point we were hungry so we made our way to Banff town. It is so incredibly charming and reminded me a lot of some of my favorite mountain towns like Aspen and Park City. We ate dinner at Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant which was delicious. Other restaurants we considered as well were Bear St Tavern and Banff Ave Brewing Co. We also really wanted to get BeaverTails after dinner but we were too full!

For hotel on night 1, we stayed at the Rimrock Hotel. It was lovely and well-located close to the gondola and just outside of town. However we did only have one night and very little time was spent in the hotel, so potentially going with a cheaper option may be warranted.

If we had more time and our flights had arrived earlier, we would have considered a hike to Tunnel Mountain and/or maybe some time at Two Jack Lake.

Banff Jasper Itinerary – Day 2

We lucked out that on day 2 of our Banff Jasper itinerary, the forecast said rain in the morning. That meant that most people decided to wait a bit before getting started for the day. So while we arrived to Johnston Canyon as our first stop of the day at around 10am, it was not very crowded. I would recommend arriving earlier in the day, especially if the weather is good as this is a very popular hike.

Johnston Canyon to Upper Falls is a 3.2 mile roundtrip hike that is rated moderate. The canyon itself is quite lovely and the railings and infrastructure are very interesting. On top of that, you will see several waterfalls along the hike.

After hiking Johnston Canyon, we ate some of our snacks and began the Icefields Parkway drive. Icefields Parkway connects Banff and Jasper and it is incredibly scenic and beautiful. You will probably want to stop every 5 minutes so don’t get too comfortable in the car. Some of our stops along the way were Herbert Lake, Hector Lake, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and Mistaya Canyon. Check out this post for an overview of where to stop on the Icefields Parkway.

In the late afternoon, we arrived at our hotel – Glacier View Lodge – located on the 3rd floor of the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. This hotel reminded me of the hotel I stayed at in Abisko, Sweden when I went to see the Northern Lights. Both are visitor centers with adjacent hotel, dining, and tour options.

Glacier View Lodge had a welcome reception for hotel guests and then took us to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. This was part of a package with the glacier tour the following day. As a note, if you want to do the skywalk, you have to park at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre and take a bus there. After the skywalk, we ate dinner at the hotel which was a buffet and pretty good. There aren’t any other options in the area though so you can’t be too picky.

Banff Jasper Itinerary – Day 3

We began day 3 with a glacier tour on the Athabasca Glacier. First you take a regular shuttle bus close to the glacier and then you get on one of the most intense looking vehicles and ride out onto the glacier itself. Please note, if you want to hike out there without the buses, you can hire a guide. There are both a 3 and 6 hour guided hike options. Walking on the glacier was very cool and we even [safely] witnessed an avalanche.

After the glacier tour, we continued on to Maligne Canyon in Jasper, passing some beautiful stops on the Icefields Parkway that we promised ourselves we would revisit in a few days on our way back. We ate lunch at Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen which was tasty but slow. After lunch we hiked in Maligne Canyon skipping bridges 5 and 6 due to time. Maligne Canyon was a bit similar to Johnston Canyon.

Then we drove to Maligne Lake. On the way to Maligne Lake, we stopped at Medicine Lake which was very beautiful. You do not realize how big Medicine Lake is until you continue driving past the viewpoint and it just keeps going.

Next up was a highlight of our Banff Jasper itinerary – the Maligne Lake Boat Cruise. We booked this in advance online here. This boat tour takes you out to see Spirit Island and you can even do a hike to get a better view of the island as well. This was definitely one of the best things we did on the trip and I would highly recommend it. On our drive to Jasper after the boat tour we saw a mom and baby moose and three black bears.

Our hotel in Jasper was the Mount Robson Inn. This was probably the cutest place that we stayed on the whole trip. And our favorite meal of the trip was also in Jasper – Raven Bistro. If you are interested in eating here, definitely make a reservation as it is popular but so worth it. Once again we really wanted to get BeaverTails after dinner but we were too full.

Banff Jasper Itinerary – Day 4

On Day 4, we got up early for a hike without the crowds to Valley of the Five Lakes. When we drove by this hike the day before we noticed a packed parking lot but when we arrived around 7am there were only 2 other cars in the parking lot. The hike was quiet and peaceful and we even saw two black bears.

After heading back to our hotel for breakfast, we then began the drive back along Icefields Parkway towards Lake Louise. On the way we stopped at Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls, Waterfowl Lake, and Peyto Lake (again). We also saw a grizzly bear walking on the road and had to stop to allow it to cross.

When we got to Peyto Lake we also opted for the hike to Bow Summit, although early season/snowy conditions were present and this is a hike I would not recommend until later in the year. From here, we continued on to the Lake Louise Inn, enjoyed dinner at the hotel, and then went to Moraine Lake for sunset.

Banff Jasper Itinerary – Day 5

Day 5 finally felt like we finished the road trip portion of the Banff Jasper itinerary as this is the first time on our trip that we stayed in the same hotel two nights in a row. We began the day with an early morning (6am) hike to Lake Agnes Tea House with a continuation onto Little Beehive. There is actually a functioning tea house at the top of this hike. We ordered biscuits, tea, and hot chocolate. I wish all hikes had features like this!

Note: We were able to park in the lower parking lot for Lake Louise because we arrived early, however when we passed the turnoff for Moraine Lake, the parking lot for Moraine Lake was already closed. This is just important to note for planning in case you want to see Moraine Lake in the morning – you likely need to arrive very early.

After our morning hike, we went back to our hotel to freshen up and then went to a different type of tea – Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Afternoon Tea was a fun experience and I would definitely do this again. The Fairmont itself is fancy schmancy and very exclusive. They have several restaurants onsite but do not allow for dinner reservations unless you are staying at the hotel. However you can make afternoon tea reservations without staying at the hotel. For reference, nights at the Fairmont at this time of year are around $1500. There are not tons of food options in Lake Louise so this is important to note.

In order to get to Lake Louise in the afternoon, we took the shuttle which should be booked in advance here. While we could have maybe found parking at Lake Louise if we got lucky, we would have still needed to take the shuttle to Moraine Lake as they close the parking lot after it fills up in the morning for sunrise and do not re-open it until around 7pm.

After this, we took the shuttle over to Moraine Lake to see it in the afternoon. The blue is like gatorade and the video below is completely unedited.

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Two years later than planned but I made it 😍 Have you been to Canada?? #morainelake #banffnationalpark #canadabelike

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After visiting Moraine Lake, we went back to our hotel to rest for a bit. The early morning hike and the afternoon heat really wore us out – and maybe that it was day 5 of our trip. Then we went back to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for dinner and went to Alpine Social. I would *not* recommend this restaurant. To be honest, it was awful and expensive. The dinner the night before at our hotel was much better, as were the plain peanut butter sandwiches we ate for several lunches and snacks.

Banff Jasper Itinerary – Day 6

For the final day of our Canadian Rockies road trip, we went to back to Banff for breakfast at Melissa’s Missteak. It was a no-frills breakfast but just what we needed after our dinner from the night before. Then we walked around Banff town to grab some souvenirs before heading back to Calgary for our flights home.

Banff Jasper Itinerary FAQs

Is it Worth Driving to Jasper from Banff?

If you have the opportunity to do the drive from Banff to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway, don’t miss it! It’s an incredibly scenic route. If you can, allocate two days for the trip, one for the journey to Jasper and another for the return trip.

However, the length of your Banff Jasper itinerary depends on how many stops and detours you make along the way.

Is Lake Louise Close to Banff or Jasper?

When driving from Banff to Jasper along the incredible Icefields Parkway, the journey from Banff to Lake Louise is about 57 km. Then, from Lake Louise to Jasper, it’s about 233 km.

So, expect the entire journey to take around 4 hours with minimal stops. But don’t rush it since this route is filled with stunning sights and must-see spots. So, take extra time to soak it all in.

Is There Anywhere to Stay Between Banff and Jasper?

You’ll find many lodging options between Banff and Jasper, with Lake Louise is a standout choice.

In fact, consider staying at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise Inn, and Deer Lodge since these places give you a chance to rest. enjoy the scenery, and then hit the road afterward.

Do I Need a Car in Jasper?

To explore the 2.7 million acres of land that are included within Jasper National Park, you’ll need a car. It gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and access scenic viewpoints/trailheads.

Road Tripping in the Canadian Rockies

Hopefully this 6 day Banff and Jasper itinerary inspired you to take your own road trip through the Canadian Rockies to experience some of the wonders of Canada. Have you been to Canada before? Or is this bucket list trip on your list?? Let me know in the comments.

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Going North: My Sweden Itinerary
• Where to stop on the Icefields Parkway
• Best Places to Travel in 2023

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