Drive From Jasper to Banff – One Week Itinerary

There are many variations on how to drive from Jasper to Banff in one week. There are plenty of stops to make along the way including incredible hiking views, hidden wildlife, and picturesque lakes. The road trip can certainly be shorter (or longer) as the drive from Jasper to Banff with no stops is about a four hour route one way. However, since there is so much to see along the way it can easily last a week.

In this article, you’ll find:

• An itinerary listing what to do during a one week drive from Jasper to Banff.
• Suggestions on where to stay in Jasper, where to stay in Lake Louise, and where to stay in Banff.
• Suggestions on how to modify this itinerary (including shorten) to suit your trip needs.
• A word on safety in Alberta.
• Activities you may enjoy in Banff and Jasper (both as a group and a solo traveler)
• Helpful resources for planning your trip.
• Items you may wish to add to your packing list.
• Top 5 FAQs on driving from Jasper to Banff.

Catch an early flight into the Edmonton International Airport, pick up your rental car, and drive via the AB-16 highway into Jasper National Park. It is about a 3.5 hour journey with no traffic. The first day should be a “travel day” unless time or energy allows for more. Here’s suggestions on what to do while you are based in Jasper:

• Visit Pyramid Island. This is best on your first day as it is only 15 minutes from town.
• Visit Lake Maligne (approx, 45 minutes from town) as well as taking boat ride to Spirit Island. If you wish to take a break from driving, there are guided tours available which include Medicine Lake.
• Relax at the Miette Hotsprings (approx. an hour from town).
• Hop on the Jasper Skytram for incredible views. You can also book a guided tour on the Skytram.
• If you have some extra time or omit some of the above, a wildlife evening tour is a great option.

• Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge 
• Pyramid Lake Resort
• Mount Robson Inn
• Gorgeous Deluxe Three Bedroom Log Home with Mountain Views
• Executive Mountain Chalet

Begin day three early with a drive towards Lake Louise. Technically, this is about three hours from Jasper, but there is plenty to see as you drive along the scenic Icefields Parkway. Here are suggestions of notable stops on the drive, but watch out for signs on the drive for more sites and hikes along the way.

• Athabasca Falls: Take a 1KM hike to see these waterfalls. If you are up for some adventure, this is a great spot to go water rafting.
• Sunwapta Falls: Another waterfall a short hike away (1.5km). And white-water rafting on the river here is an option too.
• Columbia Icefield Skywalk: This is a glass-bottomed bridge. You’re in for some pretty incredible views all around. Cost to visit is $36/per adult. Check hours and purchase tickets in advance here.
• Waterfowl Lake: A beautiful scenic mountain lake. The water is turquoise in the sunny summer months. And this is also a campground site.
• Peyto Lake: Another turquoise-colored lake which is fed from Peyto Glacier. *This is my favorite spot in Jasper!)

After the scenic drive, base yourself in Lake Louise. Spend your second day in the area (a canoe ride here is a must!). Here’s more details on renting a canoe. And head over to Moraine Lake easily from Lake Louise. The drive is approximately 20 minutes. This second day is a perfect day to relax by these two picturesque lakes.

• Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
• Lake Louise Inn
• Cozy, Budget-Friendly Room in the Mountains

Before driving to Banff on Day 5, consider visiting Yoho National Park. It is less than five minutes away from Lake Louise. (Lake Louise to Banff is actually only a 40 minute drive. You can visit Yoho in the morning and be in Banff by the late afternoon to check into your hotel). Banff itself is a larger town than Jasper and certainly has more tourists. Here are suggestions on what to do while you are based in Banff:

• Fairmont Banff Springs: The hotel has picturesque views of the Rockies, especially from its Lookout Patio. Great place for lunch or just to visit for its view.
• Banff Upper Hot Springs: The perfect place to unwind. You can pick between the one in Banff or Jasper (or do both!). I’ve done both on two separate trips and don’t necessarily favor one over the other.
• Banff Gondola: Catch some views from this gondola. You can pre-book tickets here.
• Lake Minnewanka: This is a large glacier lake where you can do a boat cruise and rafting.
• Sunshine Meadows: This is a great area to hike and catch some gorgeous views of the Rockies.

The above are suggestions of popular spots, but in Banff there are plenty of turns to take off the beaten path.

• Canalta Lodge
• Moose Hotel and Suites
• Rustic Budget Banff Condo with Fireplace and Hot Tub Access
• Cozy Condo in the Rockies

The drive from Jasper to Banff in one days covers a ton of sites. But as I said in the start of this post, the route itself with no stops is about four hours. Therefore you can certainly modify your itinerary (shorten to 3 or 5 days) depending on time and must-sees. Here are some suggestions on ways to modify the above itinerary.

• Spend one night in Jasper instead: the town itself is small enough and while one night will limit how much you see in the surrounding area, it is fine if you arrive earlier in the day.
• Skip staying in Lake Louise: simply base yourself in Jasper and then Banff. This will still allow you to visit the surrounding area since the drive from Banff to Lake Louise is only 40 minutes.
• Skip Jasper entirely: If you are very limited with time (i.e. 3 days), then visit Lake Louise and Banff. (I do love Jasper as it is a quieter area than Banff with more wildlife so the alternative is skipping Banff but Lake Louise is a highlight for sure!)

• Reverse the trip from Banff to Jasper: This is certainly do-able if it makes more sense for you to fly into Calgary.
• Add nights in Edmonton: This is optional if you are arriving late at night or wish to visit Edmonton itself. (Personally, I do not feel it is necessary to stay in Edmonton. The biggest attraction in the city is West Edmonton Mall)
• Add nights in Calgary: Calgary has much more to do than Edmonton. If time allows, add 1-2 nights in the city. The drive from Banff through Canmore to get to Calgary is also quite lovely.

Are you planning to drive from Jasper to Banff? Share in the comments!
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Canada is a relatively safe country. As a females driving from Jasper to Banff, we felt fine at all times. Read up on road trip safety in Canada, especially if you are driving in the winter. And in all my posts I do mention travel insurance in case something goes wrong. If applicable to you, check with your employee benefits to see if you are covered. Otherwise, I like World Nomads as it’s quite reputable and provides 24-hour assistance.

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h4″ question-0=”Is it better to drive from Banff to Jasper or Jasper to Banff?” answer-0=”It does not matter necessarily which direct you wish to start the drive. Determine which city (Edmonton or Calgary) is cheaper to fly into and pick that as your starting point.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h4″ question-1=”Is there a train from Banff to Jasper?” answer-1=”At this time, there is no direct train from Banff to Jasper. Renting a car, booking a private transportation, or taking a public tour bus are the best ways to get around.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h4″ question-2=”Which is better Jasper or Banff?” answer-2=”Banff is more popular than Jasper as there is more to do and since it is closer in proximity to Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h4″ question-3=”How long is the drive between Banff and Jasper?” answer-3=”The drive from Jasper to Banff (or vice versa) is approximately four hours with no stops. But of course, there are plenty of stops to make along the route.” image-3=”” headline-4=”h4″ question-4=”Is it worth going to Jasper from Banff?” answer-4=”Absolutely. There is tons of incredible scenery, lakes, and wildlife on the drive. If you do not have time to make many stops, the drive itself is still worthwhile.” image-4=”” count=”5″ html=”true” css_class=””]