The Banff to Jasper Drive: Your Complete Icefields Parkway Guide
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
If there's one drive in Canada that belongs on every road tripper's list, it's this one: The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North).
This gorgeous stretch of asphalt runs 232 km from Lake Louise to Jasper through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the planet. Glaciers, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, wildlife... around every corner. National Geographic has called it one of the most scenic drives in the world, and honestly, they're not wrong.
The Drive at a Glance
Banff to Jasper (via Icefields Parkway): ~290 km | ~3.5 hours without stops
Give yourself a full day. The Parkway technically takes 3.5 hours to drive straight through, but nobody should drive it straight through. Plan for a couple of stops, short hikes, wildlife sightings, and moments where you just pull over and stare.
A full day is the right call.
One important note: in a larger vehicle like a campervan, always add buffer time. Wind can slow you down on exposed stretches and the mountain roads reward a steady, unhurried pace.
Before You Leave: Two Things to Sort
Fill Up Your Gas Tank
There is only one gas station in 232 km of Icefields Parkway at the Saskatchewan River Crossing, roughly at the halfway point. Fill up before you leave Lake Louise or Banff. Gas at Saskatchewan River Crossing is available but pricey.
Download Offline Maps
There is no cell coverage on the Icefields Parkway. None. Download your maps before you leave, like Google Maps for driving and Canada Topo Map for hiking. This is part of the experience, but worth preparing for.
Must-Stop Spots From Banff to Jasper (Northbound)
Hector Lake Viewpoint
One of the first major viewpoints heading north from Lake Louise. The lake sits below you in a wide glacial valley, stunning colour, easy pull-off, worth every minute. Don't skip it because you think better things are coming. They are, but this one is still excellent.
Bow Lake
A classic Parkway stop with incredible reflections of the surrounding peaks. The colour of the water changes throughout the day. Great spot for a picnic or a short walk along the lakeshore.
Peyto Lake
This is the one. Peyto Lake is one of the most iconic views in the Canadian Rockies. A short hike up from the parking lot reveals a wolf-shaped lake of impossible turquoise colour stretching out between the mountain peaks. Our absolute favourite stop on the whole route. Don't rush it.
Saskatchewan River Crossing
The natural halfway point and the only services on the route. Fuel up if you need to, grab a coffee, and keep going. It marks roughly where Banff National Park meets the wild stretch toward Jasper.
Parker Ridge
A worthwhile short hike just south of the Columbia Icefield, 5.4 km return with 250m elevation gain. The reward is a sweeping view of the Saskatchewan Glacier. Wildlife is abundant in this area: mountain goats, elk, bighorn sheep. Give yourself about three hours return.
Columbia Icefield Area
One of the largest masses of glacial ice in the Canadian Rockies, you can see the Athabasca Glacier right from the road. The Discovery Centre has great interpretive exhibits. If you want to get up close to the glacier itself, you can hike to the toe for free.
Jasper: What to Do When You Arrive
Jasper is a small, quaint mountain town… Much quieter and more relaxed than Banff. The lakes and mountains are beautiful, the town has a genuine local character, and despite a significant fire in recent years, the surrounding scenery remains breathtaking.
A few things worth knowing once you arrive:
Skyline Trail
One of the best multi-day hikes in the Canadian Rockies. The Skyline Trail runs 44 km through high alpine terrain above the treeline. You'll need to reserve backcountry campsites in advance through Parks Canada.
The campervan angle here is simple and glorious: park it in Jasper before you set out, hike the trail, and come back to a real bed, a full kitchen, and a clean set of clothes waiting for you. That's a very different end to a backcountry trip than most people get.
Stargazing on the Icefields Parkway
Jasper is home to one of the largest Dark Sky Preserves in the world. The Icefields Parkway is one of the top destinations for night photography in Canada where the Milky Way is visible in a way most people have never seen before. If you're doing this drive, plan to be somewhere on the Parkway after dark at least once. It's breathtaking.
Jasper Park Lodge
Even if you're not staying there, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is worth a visit. It sits on the shores of Beauvert Lake with stunning mountain views in every direction. Walk the grounds, grab a drink, and take it all in. A lovely way to spend an afternoon in town.
Maligne Lake and Spirit Island
A boat cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island is one of Jasper's signature experiences. Book ahead in peak season.
The Return Route Worth Taking
Most people retrace straight back from the Parkway to Banff, but we suggest a different side trip along the way.
On your way south from Jasper, turn east on Highway 11 toward Nordegg. The detour adds time, but Abraham Lake on this route is absolutely stunning, a wide, milky glacial lake in a wide open valley that looks completely different from anything on the Parkway. And it's undervisited.
Most people never see it.
From there, we recommend retracing your route to take in the mountain scenery from a fresh perspective, rather than continuing across the flat prairie landscape toward a larger city like Red Deer.
Campervan Tips for This Route
A campervan is genuinely the best way to do this drive. Here's what to keep in mind:
Gas: Fill up in Banff or Lake Louise before heading north. Fill up again in Jasper before heading south or east.
Groceries: Stock up before you leave. The only food options on the Parkway are the Lodge at Bow Lake, Saskatchewan River Crossing, and the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. A packed lunch is the way to go (and eating it at Peyto Lake is one of life's great experiences).
Campgrounds: There are 11 seasonal campgrounds along the Icefields Parkway, open June through September. Check Parks Canada for availability and book ahead. And read our other guide on Where to Stay in Banff.
Cell service: Download everything before you go and enjoy the disconnect.
The Bottom Line
The Banff to Jasper drive is the trip. It's the one people talk about for years afterward, the one that ends up in framed photos on walls, the one that makes people want to come back.
A campervan is the right vehicle for it. You're not rushing to check in anywhere. You're not worrying about parking or restaurants. You just drive, stop when something takes your breath away (and a lot of things will), and sleep somewhere spectacular at the end of the day.
We've driven this route more times than we can count and it never gets old.
