Select all. Deselect all. Popular cities to stop between Jasper National Park and Banff. Always show route lines. Start date —. Start planning. Wanderlog staff. Still using Google Sheets to plan? Try the trip planner and place bookmarking app everyone's been raving about. Never forget to visit a restaurant or juggle with Google Sheets again. There is a plethora of wildlife along the Icefields Parkway. We almost always see a bear when driving from Jasper to Banff, but they tend to stay away from traffic and noise pollution.
Once one person pulls over to get a closer look at a bear, another car pulls over, and another, and so on. Parks Canada discourages pulling over for bears and has even made it illegal for buses to do so.
They can issue tickets too. So if you see a bear on the road, slow down and admire it from the car, and do not stop and cause a traffic jam, please. If there is a pull-off or parking lot nearby, feel free to stop, but still, give the animal some space.
The only other fuel between the drive from Jasper to Banff is at Lake Louise village. The gas stations in Lake Louise are open year-round. There are a few times along the Icefields Parkway where you will be able to make calls and check emails if need be.
The TransCanada section of the drive has cell service. Pick up groceries in either Banff or in Jasper and enjoy those while on the road. If you miss food in Banff, your last stop for snacks for a while is in the Lake Louise village.
There are two gas stations with a few convenience store items, though the Petro Canada has more on offer. Beyond that, you can grab a quick bite at either the Trailhead Cafe or Laggans. There is not much in terms of food or restaurants once you get on the Icefields Parkway.
Here are the popular highlights:. Is chocolate or ice cream better? Both towns and the surrounding areas are absolutely beautiful and some of the best scenery on Earth. In fact, just like chocolate and ice cream, perhaps they go better together! Banff is certainly in a more convenient location and because of that, it has far more tourists and far more attractions. Jasper is like a more local Banff.
It still receives its fair shares of tourists but due to the increased isolation, remains far quieter and yet equally beautiful. We recommend visiting for three days, although you could easily spend longer.
The daily passes expire at 4 pm the following day. The Discovery Pass gives you unlimited admission for a year to all national parks and national historic sites across Canada. For more information, visit the Parks Canada website. Just like Banff and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway drive is fairly mild and warm in the summer months and very cold in the winter.
Icefields Parkway winter driving can be hazardous as the roads can be very icy. We love doing road trips in Canada and this is the best one of them all. Despite being a 3-hour drive, it always takes us six hours or more due to all the scenic stops along the way. Regardless, check the Icefields Parkway road conditions before you embark on your journey, especially if driving in the winter. Note: the driving conditions are quite different between the summer months and the winter months.
The summer months are a much safer time to go, although you still have to be on the lookout for wildlife and other cars as this is a very busy time of year on the highway.
In the winter, however, the roads can be very slippery and covered in snow or ice depending on the time of year. Every time we drive the Icefields Parkway, we notice people driving very slow or almost stopping in the middle of the highway to see wildlife or some incredible view such as a waterfall or a glacier. Do not do this. There is a lot of traffic and the last thing you want is an accident spoiling your Canadian holiday.
There are many different rental car companies and we typically just use a search engine such as Expedia to scour prices and find a good deal. There are days when it is dry, but due to its location, snowstorms can come out of nowhere. If you do have winter driving experience, there are still some things to note:. It traverses two national parks and is very well maintained. You can also fill up in Banff or Lake Louise.
In addition to gas, the only places to find food along the way would be at the Saskatchewan River Crossing, the Icefields Visitor Center, or Sunwapa Falls Resort, which is very close to Jasper. Once in Jasper, there are many incredible restaurants and fast food joints. Obviously, these will be much more expensive, but they also come with an experienced driver who can tour you around worry-free. Another popular method of driving from Banff to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway is by bus.
Although it lacks the freedom of a car, it can be cheaper and also allows you to sit back and relax and not worry about being behind the wheel. There is no direct train that goes from Banff to Jasper. However, there are a couple of train excursions that include the Icefields Parkway in some way. There are so many places to see and things to do along the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper. If you have loads of time and want to do hikes, there are many trails to choose from.
Located just 5 minutes west of Banff is beautiful Vermillion Lakes. Check out the latest prices and availability here. Distance from Jasper — 58 miles Distance from Banff — miles. Click here for directions to Tangle Ridge from Jasper. One of the best viewpoints to admire the gorgeous panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies is at Tangle Ridge. As you approach the parking area, you will quickly realize why this is a spot you will want to experience. Interpretative signs are available to give you an idea of the peaks you see in front of you.
Both Tangle Ridge and Mushroom Peak are incredible mountains and perhaps the really adventurous folks will start plotting their routes to hike to the summit…we opted to save this for a return trip to Jasper! The towering Mount Columbia is the second highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies and can be viewed from this location but regardless of where your eyes wander, you will likely be drooling over the plethora of amazing scenery.
Distance from Jasper — 60 miles Distance from Banff — miles. Click here for directions to Tangle Falls from Jasper. Are you already missing the sight of gorgeous waterfalls? Located on the side of the Icefields Parkway, Tangle Falls is a multi-tiered cascade which will not only impress the waterfall lovers out there but also offer the opportunity to see wildlife wandering around the edge.
We saw a number of Bighorn sheep on the Icefields Parkway before capturing a glimpse of one that had clambered up the side of Tangle Falls. The view from the edge of the road is gorgeous but if you choose to capture a closer look, be careful when hiking up the side of the falls.
Click here for directions to the Glacier Skywalk from Jasper. Everything included in this itinerary involved a natural attraction, with one exception — the Glacier Skywalk. Given that I referenced this was a controversial topic, you may be wondering why I would include this.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and obviously, the construction of this had an impact on the wildlife and overall appearance along this stretch of the Icefields Parkway.
However, I personally think this is a spot you have to check out for yourselves and determine whether this is something you are in favor of. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Glacier Skywalk and although we are not the most adventurous folks in other words, we are not extreme skydivers or bungee jump seekers! The interpretative walk prior to walking out on the glass platform was thoroughly informative but nothing could quite prepare you for the panoramic bliss that you see once you step out on the platform.
Any fears you may have will quickly disappear as your mind drifts away to admire the beauty in front of you! Distance from Jasper — 65 miles Distance from Banff — miles. Click here for directions to the Athabasca Glacier from Jasper.
The Columbia Icefield is one of the iconic parts of Jasper National Park that you will likely want to spend some time exploring. If you are ready to enjoy the experience of a lifetime, head to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center and sign-up for an excursion to walk on the Athabasca Glacier courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada. The Columbia Icefield actually comprises of six glaciers with the Dome, Stutfield, and Athabasca the only ones visible from the Icefields Parkway.
The incredible sight of the Ice Explorer heading out on the glacier may just be enough to convince you that this is something you cannot afford to miss. Renowned as one of the easiest glaciers in the world to access by car, the Athabasca Glacier unsurprisingly attracts visitors from all corners of the globe. Distance from Jasper — 77 miles Distance from Banff — miles.
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