The Best Banff + Jasper Itinerary: 7 days

Looking for a Banff Jasper itinerary? Look no further. Being Canadian, and having spent a lot of time in Alberta (especially in the rockies) we are familiar with the best things to do and see in the area, as well as how to divide your time between the national parks.

This Jasper Banff itinerary is 7 days long – you need at least 3 days in Jasper, 1 day to drive to Banff, and a minimum of 3 days in Banff.

It’s pretty easy to add another day or two onto Banff at the beginning or end of your trip (depending on whether you start in Banff or Jasper) if you see fit.

There more things to do in Banff vs Jasper, so if you are able to spend an extra couple days, then I would recommend spending them in Banff.

So, let’s jump into your itinerary for Banff and Jasper.

**Travel to Jasper is not currently possible, and I don’t know when it will be again, due to the wildfires. My heart goes out to Jasper, and it will be a long time before anyone can travel there again. Once travel in Jasper is available again, be sure to head there – those small businesses will be needing the business to get back on their feet after this devastating event. **

What to Know About this 7-Day Banff-Jasper Itinerary

✅ I’ve written this itinerary to start in Banff and end in Jasper, but you can also do it the other way around.

✅ I recommend flying into one airport (Calgary) and flying out of the other (Edmonton) depending on whether you’re doing Banff or Jasper first. Calgary is easier to get to, that’s why I put Banff first.

✅ 7 days divided between Banff and Jasper is very doable, but also pretty busy if you want to see everything.

✅ This itinerary is doable with all age groups. I specialize in family-friendly travel, but but there are many adventure activities too for people looking for an extra challenge or excitement

✅ You can do this itinerary year-round, but there are a few activities which will be omitted if you’re not visiting between May and October, since they’re closed the rest of the year.

Banff Jasper 7 Day Itinerary

Banff is 145 km (90 miles) from the Calgary International Airport, and takes around an hour an a half to drive. Since there’s so much to do in Banff, I would recommend arriving in the area the day before Day 1 of the itinerary, unless you have an early morning flight.

Day 1 in Banff National Park

1. Take a walk up Banff Avenue

Banff is a really cute little town, and its definitely worth taking an hour or so just to walk up the main street, taking in the views, window shopping and grabbing a bite to eat.

I recommend starting north, and making your way south down Banff avenue, to lead into the next activity.

2. Cross over the Banff Pedestrian Bridge

At the south end of Banff Avenue, you’ll reach the Banff pedestrian bridge. Walk over it, and enjoy the views of the turquoise Bow River.

When you get to the other side, you’ll see the Cascade of Time Garden. Spend some time checking it out if you want. Admission is free.

It has beautiful flower gardens in the summer, and is decorated for the season year- round.

3. Do the Bow River Falls Trail

From the Cascade of Time Garden, it’s only another 15 minutes until you reach Bow River Falls.

It’s a lovely paved trail that walks along the Bow River, shaded with old growth trees.

The path is mostly flat, and very easy. There are some stairs at the end as you get closer to the falls viewing area.

Afterward admiring the falls, turn around and head back the way you came towards Banff.

3. Head to the Banff Gondola

After a morning of lots of walking around exploring Banff, you’re going to take a gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, to get breathtaking, aerial views of the surrounding landscape.

You can get your tickets when you arrive or grab them in advance to save time.

For a really special experience (and part of why I decided to save the gondola for the last activity of the day) is because you can eat at the Sky Bistro which has a view overlooking the rockies.

Reservations at Sky Bistro would need to be made in advance, and you can get a package which includes a meal and admission to the gondola if you book with them directly.

If you’re in Banff with kids, it might be worth it to know that the Sky Bistro doesn’t have kids meals – so they would have to be ok with eating some fine dining food. See their menu options here.

The Banff Gondola, gift shops and restaurant at the top are open until 9pm, so you have until then to enjoy this activity before heading back to your accommodations.

Day 2 in Banff National Park: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise

Even though you have a car with you, I would recommend using public transit or a tour today for visiting Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

The reason being is that it’s no longer possible to park at Moraine Lake; due to it getting too crazy from over-tourism, Parks Canada closed it to private vehicles.

Lake Louise parking is still open, but its become almost impossible, especially if you’re in Banff during the summertime.

Your public transit options to Moraine Lake + Lake Louise:

• The Parks Canada shuttle service. You can drive (to Lake Louise park and ride only) and get a shuttle from there to the lake but it would need to be reserved in advance. You could head back to Banff and then take ROAM transit to Moraine Lake.
• This private tour is a simpler way to do it. 8 hours total, see both lakes in a small group. All travellers must be at least 12 years old
• The Moraine Lake Bus company (includes an option to see Lake Louise as well.) Book on the website here.

Early evening in Banff

After your visit to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise – regardless of how you chose to get there, it will most likely be the end of the day.

I recommend getting a bite to head, and head out to the Banff sign (just a 10 minute walk or 3 minute drive from downtown) to snap some photos.

Day 3 in Banff National Park

1. Head to the Johnston Canyon

The Johnston Canyon is one of the coolest hiking spots in Banff. You’re walking on a platform just inches above flowing rapids, in between the walls of a canyon. The views are so unique and incredible.

Like other activities in Banff, the parking lot at Johnston Canyon fills up fast, so get there as early as you can.

Hiking the Johnston Canyon is free, all you’ll need is your Parks Canada pass.

2. Do either Upper Falls or Lower Falls Trail

There are two options that you can choose from for a hike at the Johnston Canyon: Lower Falls or Upper Falls.

• Upper Falls Trail – 5 km (3.8 miles) takes 2-3 hours roundtrip
• Lower Falls Trail – 2.2 km (1.36 miles) takes about 1 hour roundtrip

I did the Upper Falls trail with my 1 year old, whereas my husband did the Lower Falls on a separate trip with his mom and sister.

Both are very nice, and doable for all ability levels. The Upper Falls is slightly more challenging, since its longer. But its almost completely flat and not too strenuous.

Your choice might depend on which view you want more. (Upper Falls is taller, but you can’t get as close to it.)

You can get a bit closer to Lower Falls, which some people might appreciate more – my husband’s sister took the photo above.

3. Lunch

After the Johnston Canyon hike, regardless of which route you took, you’ll probably be hungry.

There is a lodge right at the Johnston Canyon that sells food called the Blackswift Lodge, but only in the summertime. Either grab food there, or head back to Banff (as you’ll have to head back through Banff before the next activity anyway.)

4. Lake Minnewanka

Aim to arrive at Lake Minnewanka by late afternoon. It’s about 20 minutes from the town of Banff.

It’s just as popular as Johnston Canyon, so it has the same problem with parking spots filling up first thing in the morning in summer. Arriving late afternoon will free up some space, as thats when most people are heading out.

I recommend booking a 1-hour Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise (if you’re visiting between May and October.) There’s live commentary on board about the history at the area, which goes back thousands of years.

If you book the cruise, be sure to show up around 1 hour before the start of the cruise to ensure you find parking there.

Aside from the cruises, I recommend simply spending some time walking around the area. It’s absolutely gorgeous – personally, its my favourite place in Banff.

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are beautiful, but there was something so serene and peaceful about Lake Minnewanka. Take some time to just enjoy these views.

When you’re finished at Lake Minnewanka, head back to Banff. It’s your last night in Banff!

Day 4: Drive on the Icefield’s Parkway

Today will be spent driving from Banff to Jasper – or the other way around if you chose to put Jasper first on your itinerary.

The drive between Banff and Jasper is 288 km (178.9 miles) and takes about 3.5 hours without stopping.

However, you will be wanting to make lots of stops, so I would plan for a full day for doing this drive. (6+ hours.)

Here are the stops you should make (on the way from Banff to Jasper, so do them in the opposite order if you’re coming from the other way around.)

1. Peyto Lake

1 hour from Banff (100 km or 62 miles)

Pull over and head to the Peyto Lake viewing point – it’s only a 2 minute walk from where you park.

It’s probably one of the most scenic views on the whole Icefield’s Parkway, I definitely wouldn’t miss this one.

You can stop just to snap some photos of this view, or you can walk up the side of the mountain (just a short, 10 minute hike) a little bit to get more views of the lake.

2. Jasper National Park Icefield Information Centre and Glacier Gallery

Just over 2 hours from Banff, and over 1 hour from Jasper

When you reach the Jasper Icefield Information Centre, you are past the halfway point – closer to Jasper, than to Banff.

It’s a great spot to stop for lunch, with a beautiful view of these rocky mountains.

We simply stopped there to enjoy the views. There’s an eatery, cafe, washrooms and viewing platforms. Check out the menu options here.

Another option is to take a shuttle from the Discover Centre to the Glacier Skywalk, which is 20 minute away.

(Optional) Glacier Skywalk Adventure

20 minute shuttle ride from the Discovery Centre

The Glacier Skywalk is a new attraction that opened just 10 years ago. You can walk along a horseshoe shaped ramp enjoying 360 views of the surrounding rockies, over 900 feet above the ground.

It’s only open from May to October. If you want to do this, then you can book the Columbia Icefield Adventure (including Skywalk) online here.

You should set aside about 45 minutes to an hour for the whole Icefield Adventure Experience.

4. Sunwapta Falls

41 minutes to Jasper (55.8 km or 34.6 miles)

After you get back to your car from the Discovery Centre, you’re going to drive for another 35 minutes until you reach Sunwapta Falls. I’d highly recommend making a stop there.

From the parking area, which is at the end of the access road, its just a short downhill hike until you reach this waterfall.

At the parking area, you’ll find washrooms and garbage cans. Give yourself about 30 minutes total for the short walk down to the falls, enjoying the view, and then making your way back to the car.

Drive for another 20 minutes until you reach your next waterfall, and final stop on the Icefields Parkway.

5. Athabasca Falls

20 minutes to Jasper

Athabasca Falls will be your last stop before arriving in Jasper. It’s a glacier-fed waterfall, and one of the most beautiful in Alberta.

There’s a short paved trail from the parking lot leading you to the falls. From there, you can walk on a (mostly) flat platform going around the falls seeing them from different viewpoints.

There are also some other trails; one of them is a short walk down below near the river. Athabasca Falls can just be a quick stop if you want it to be, but if you want to get some extra hiking in, then this article has a lot more in depth information about the falls specifically.

After Athabasca Falls, you’re in the home stretch to Jasper! Continue on to your accommodation in town.

I’ve written about most of the stops on the Icefields Parkway, especially the ones that we have personal experience with. However, there are countless stops to make along the way. You can read about potential other places to pull over at the Icefields Parkway website.

Day 1 in Jasper: Skytram + Food Tour

Today, we’re going to do the Jasper Skytram and Food tour. These two activities are sold together as a package deal if you’re coming between March and October, and if you buy them directly from the official website. The cost for the package deal for both is $167, which saves $25 per person.

1. Walk up the main street of Jasper

Take a walk along the main street of Jasper first thing in the morning.

The town of Jasper is not huge, but its very picturesque and its definitely worth walking up the main street.

Jasper knows how to do breakfast – there’s a really good cafe scene and numerous great places grab breakfast in town. A few favourites are:

• Sunhouse Café – an upscale breakfast with premium coffees and great views
• Jasper’s Wafflato -serves an all day breakfast; is known for its very elaborate fancy-decorated waffles
• Lostlands Café – a more casual affair with grab and go, but has places to sit as well
• Coco’s Café – great hearty breakfasts with healthy options too. (including a vegan menu)
• Wicked Cup – hearty breakfast sandwiches and pancakes, but a bit further south of town so you might need to drive there

2. Head to the Jasper Skytram

After breakfast, the first thing to do on your first day in Jasper is to get the best views of the surrounding rockies. You’re going to be heading up Whistlers Mountain, which is 8,100 feet (2470 metres) high.

The Jasper Skytram is only a 10 minute drive from the town of Jasper, and the ride to the top takes around 7 minutes to reach the top of the mountain.

At the top, you’ll find a large viewing area, with 360 views of the surrounding rockies. There’s also a restaurant and gift shop were you can get Canadian souvenirs.

There is an option to hike the rest of the way to the summit of the mountain, which takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on your ability level. You can read about the trail here.

If you’re doing this between October and May, you’ll likely need cleats at the bottom of your boots are there’s already snow at that time of year!

The restaurant at the top of Whistlers Mountain called Summit Café. Since I recommend doing the food tour after, I would only have a light meal since you’ll be eating all afternoon.

The Summit Café has a different vibe from the Sky Bistro in Banff; serving mostly comfort food, like mac and cheese, poutine and soups.

2. Do the Jasper Food Tour

This might surprise you because of its size, but Jasper is actually a foodie town. The food tour in Jasper is the top rated food tour in Canada.

Jasper food tours start at 2:30pm every day, and run for 3 hours. They can accommodate allergies, vegetarian and gluten free diets.

Be sure to book in advance, either the package with the gondola, or on its own!

After your food tour, spend some more time on the main street, doing some shopping and enjoying more of the quaint Jasper ambiance.

Head back to your accommodation to rest up for tomorrow, as tomorrow is a big day.

Day 2 in Jasper: Maligne Canyon + Maligne Lake and Pyramid Lake

Day 2 will be a busy day seeing the most picturesque lakes and sights in the area. This day will have more driving than yesterday or tomorrow.

I recommend bringing:

• a couple snacks to keep in the car
• good walking shoes

1. Drive to Malinge Lake (50 minutes from Jasper)

Maligne Lake is one of the most beautiful glacier fed lakes in the rockies, known for its emerald colour and stunning backdrops of mountains. You won’t be able to stop taking photos here.

If you’re visiting between May and October, then I recommend doing a Maligne Lake Cruise, which you should book as far in advance as possible.

The Maligne Lake cruises leave between 9am and 5:30pm, and last about 1.5 hours. Select the earliest time that you think you can be there for. I recommend as early as possible, so that you have time for the afternoon activities.

Whether or not you do a cruise, you could spend anywhere from a couple hours to the full day in Maligne Lake.

If you’re only spending 3 days in Jasper, then I wouldn’t spend the full day here, because we’re trying to fit 1-2 other activities into today too. (However, you can read ahead and see if you want to make time for those or if you’d rather just have the day at Maligne Lake.)

There’s a lot of wildlife that inhabit the area that you could spot, such as elk, moose and deer. It’s much easier to see wildlife in Jasper as opposed to Banff.

After you’re done in Maligne Lake, head back towards Jasper.

2. Stop at Maligne Canyon on the way back to Jasper

I highly recommend making stopping at Maligne Canyon. It’s about 15 minutes from the town of Banff.

The short (and easy) hike takes you on cross cross walkways above the canyon, so you can see the rapids and rock formations from hundreds of different angles. It is really cool.

Give yourself 30 minutes or less to spend at Maligne Canyon, before heading back to Jasper.

Maligne Canyon, like most places in Jasper, is the kind of place where you can spend hours, or just a quick pit stop to get glimpses of the unique views.

3. (Optional) Head out to Pyramid Lake.

Depending on how much time you spent at Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon, you may have time or energy left over to squeeze one more pretty view into today. (And if you don’t, then I would try to fit it in to tomorrow instead.)

Pyramid Lake is only a 10 minute drive from the town of Jasper, so it can be squeezed in to today, or any of the other days where you see fit.

You’ll be travelling froPyramid Lake road, which is very scenic. You’ll also pass Patricia Lake on the way, so keep your camera handy or prepare to make a stop or two.

Pyramid Lake has a nice wooden boardwalk that you can walk along to get views of the lake.

After Pyramid Lake, head back to your accommodation and rest up. Tomorrow will be a more relaxed day with much less driving.

Day 3 in Jasper: Hot Springs + town of Jasper

If you’re doing this itinerary the other way around (Banff first, and then Jasper) then use Day 3 in Jasper as Day 3 in Jasper instead.

1. Head to Miette Hot Springs

The last day in Jasper will be spent at Miette Hot Springs, which is about an hour from the town of Jasper. It’s the hottest, and also the highest hot spring in Canada, at 5,200 feet above sea level.

Its also the only public hot spring in Jasper National Park. Tickets aren’t sold online, and entrance is first-come first served, so you can just pay for admission when you get there.

Depending on your schedule and personal preference, you can visit Miette in one of two ways:

• Stop at Miette Hot Springs on the way to the airport in Edmonton (It’s 1 hour from the town of Jasper, and only 3 hours from the airport. ) It’s literally on the way, so that’s why it might make sense to do it that way.
• If your flight is too early, or if you’re going to fly out tomorrow instead

It’s worth it to know that there is no restaurant at the Miette Hot springs, only vending machines, so eat before you come.

Miette Hot springs is only open from May to October, so this is only relevant if you’re coming between those times.

If your trip to Jasper does not fall during the warm months (May through October) then I would recommend doing a winter activity today instead. You could go skiing at Marmot Basin Ski Resort, or do a winter wildlife discovery tour with Sundog Tours.

Where to Stay in Jasper and Banff

Here are some great places to stay in both towns that put you close to attractions and things to do

Three days is enough for the highlights in Banff, but it doesn’t leave enough time to see Yoho National Park which is nearby. If you have more time, I recommend an extra day or two in Banff. Check out my 3-5 day Banff itinerary here. The three day is very similar to what I wrote above, but scroll down to the 5 day option for more ideas.

What to Bring to Jasper and Banff Itinerary

• Layered clothing. I cannot stress this enough. Banff and Jasper will be chillier than you would imagine, because of their high elevation. It rarely gets hot there. I went in late June one year, and found myself in long sleeves most of the time.
  
• Bug spray, and/or mosquito repellant stickers
  
• Waterproof hiking boots for all that hiking and walking around, such as these ones
  
• Winter wear if you’re visiting from October and April. You’ll need a hat, scarf, mitts plus the waterproof footware.

Banff + Jasper FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about visiting Banff and Jasper

How many days do you need in Banff and Jasper?

You will need the bare minimum of 7 days to explore both Banff in Jasper (3 days in each, and 1 in between to drive on the Icefields Parkway.) However, any extra day after that is a huge benefit, to give you more time to explore the rockies

Should I spend more time in Banff or Jasper?

You should probably spend more time in Banff than in Jasper, because there’s more to do in Banff. Banff is also more touristy, so you might need more time to do the activities that are there.

Is it worth driving from Banff to Jasper?

It’s definitely worth it to drive from Banff to Jasper. The drive along the Icefields Parkway is probably the most beautiful scenic drives in the world, and it shouldn’t be missed.

Can you do Banff and Jasper in 3 days?

No, 3 days isn’t enough time to see both Banff and Jasper. It would be better to spend 3 days in one or the other – not attempt to see them both in 3 days. At the very minimum, you might be able to do both Banff and Jasper in 4 days – but you will not see everything.

Final Thoughts on 7 Day Banff Jasper Itinerary

I hope that this 7 day Banff and Jasper itinerary has made your trip planning much easier. You’re heading to one of the most beautiful, picturesque places in the world and there are so many things to do. I know that this trip will be a rewarding, memorable experience!