5-day itinerary
5 Days in Banff & Jasper
Two bases, the Icefields Parkway in between, and time at the lakes early enough to enjoy them.
Last reviewed September 2026
Five days is enough for the Rockies if you keep to two bases. Banff first for the lakes, then Jasper by way of the Icefields Parkway, with one full day given to the drive itself.
- Length
- 5 days
- Pace
- Active — early starts, one long driving day
- Best for
- Mountain parks • Road trips • Wildlife • Hiking
Day 1
Calgary to Banff
Morning
Land at Calgary, collect a rental car, buy a park pass.
Afternoon
Drive 90 minutes to Banff, check in, walk the town and the Bow River path.
Evening
Dinner in Banff; early night for tomorrow's start.
Where to eat
Banff Avenue and the streets just off it.
Where to stay
Banff town, or Canmore for better value.
Transportation
Rental car from Calgary airport.
Map & location
Calgary sits east of the mountains; the Trans-Canada Highway runs west to Banff.
Helpful tipBuy bear spray locally if you plan to hike; it cannot travel by air.
Day 2
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Morning
Reach Lake Louise at first light, or take the seasonal shuttle if access is managed.
Afternoon
Moraine Lake by shuttle, then the Lake Agnes teahouse trail if you have energy.
Evening
Return to Banff; Upper Hot Springs before dinner.
Where to eat
Lake Louise village at lunch, Banff for dinner.
Where to stay
Same base.
Transportation
Car plus park shuttles; private vehicle access to Moraine Lake is restricted.
Map & location
Lake Louise is 45 minutes west of Banff; Moraine Lake sits up a side road from there.
Helpful tipCheck current shuttle and reservation arrangements the week before — they change seasonally.
Day 3
Icefields Parkway to Jasper
Morning
Leave early. Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Mistaya Canyon in the first half of the drive.
Afternoon
Columbia Icefield, then Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls approaching Jasper.
Evening
Check in at Jasper; quiet dinner in town.
Where to eat
Pack lunch — options along the Parkway are minimal.
Where to stay
Jasper town.
Transportation
230 km, roughly 3.5 hours without stops — allow the full day.
Map & location
The Parkway (Highway 93) runs north from Lake Louise to Jasper through glacier country.
Helpful tipFuel at Lake Louise and again at Saskatchewan River Crossing; there is nothing else.
Day 4
Jasper
Morning
Maligne Canyon walk, then Medicine Lake on the way to Maligne Lake.
Afternoon
Maligne Lake — boat cruise or shoreline trail.
Evening
Wildlife watching along the valley at dusk, from the road and at a distance.
Where to eat
Jasper town.
Where to stay
Same base.
Transportation
Car; distances within the park are short.
Map & location
Maligne Lake Road runs southeast of Jasper town past the canyon and Medicine Lake.
Helpful tipDawn and dusk are the best wildlife hours — stay in your vehicle and keep moving on.
Day 5
Return south, or fly from Edmonton
Morning
Drive the Parkway south again — it looks different in the other direction — or head east to Edmonton.
Afternoon
Continue to Calgary, with a stop at Bow Lake or Johnston Canyon.
Evening
Depart, or overnight near Calgary airport.
Where to eat
Lake Louise or Banff en route.
Where to stay
Airport hotel if your flight is early.
Transportation
Jasper to Calgary is about 5.5 hours without stops; Jasper to Edmonton about 4.
Map & location
Two return options: south on the Parkway to Calgary, or east on Highway 16 to Edmonton.
Helpful tipAn open-jaw flight into Calgary and out of Edmonton saves a long backtrack.
Before you book this route
- A Parks Canada pass is required and can be bought in advance or on arrival.
- Access arrangements for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake change between seasons — check current details.
- This is bear country; carry spray where recommended and give wildlife a wide margin.