Epic Banff to Glacier National Park Road Trip: Top Stops & Tips!
If you love road trips, few places in the world are as incredible and beautiful to drive around as the Canadian Rockies.
Stretching from British Columbia to Alberta, this incredible mountain range is home to some of the most gorgeous scenery on the planet and is the perfect destination for outdoor lovers. It can be, however, difficult to decide exactly where to go and what to see when visiting the Canadian Rockies.
My advice?
If you only have time for a road trip in Canada, make it an epic journey from Banff to Glacier National Park. This route will take you through some of the most spectacular scenery in North America, with plenty of opportunities to stop and explore along the way.
In this post, you will find a detailed itinerary for an unforgettable road trip through the Canadian Rockies, as well as all the information you need to know to make your trip planning a breeze.
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Banff to Glacier National Park: The perfect Canadian Rockies road trip Itinerary
This epic itinerary will take you from Banff National Park to Glacier National Park and is perfect if you love hiking and sightseeing.
The best way to experience this route is to take your time and stop at as many scenic viewpoints and hiking trails as possible.
This trip will take you about two weeks to complete, so make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the sights. Let’s get to it!
itinerary overview
Day 1: Calgary to Banff National Park
Day 2: Banff – Lake Minnewanka and Johnston Canyon
Day 3: Banff to Lake Louis and Lake Agnes Trail
Day 4: Lake Louise to Moraine Lake
Day 5: Off to Jasper National Park and Icefields Parkway
Day 6: Explore Jasper National Park
Day 7: Jasper – Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake, and Spirit Island
Day 8: Jasper to Yoho National Park
Day 9: Yoho to Glacier National Park
Day 10: Glacier National Park
Now let’s take a more detailed look at each day of this 10-day Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary.
Day 1: Calgary to Banff National Park
To begin this trip, I recommend flying into Calgary and picking up your rental car. From there, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive to Banff National Park. The drive is just gorgeous!
Once you arrive in Banff, take some time to explore the town and get acclimated to the altitude. There are plenty of great restaurants and cafes here, as well as shops and galleries.
Spend the night in Banff.
Day 2: Banff – Lake Minnewanka and Johnston Canyon
In the morning, take a short drive out of town to see some of the highlights of Banff National Park, such as Lake Minnewanka and Johnston Canyon.
Lake Minnewanka is a beautiful glacial lake with scenic views in all directions. You can take a short boat cruise on the lake, or go for a hike around the perimeter.
Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular hiking trails in Banff National Park. if you’re feeling adventurous, consider hiking up to the Ink Pots, a series of natural springs located along the trail. They were my absolute favorite part of the day.
Spend the night in Banff.
Day 3: Banff to Lake Louise and Lake Agnes Trail
On the third day, you will be visiting one of my favorite places in the world: Lake Louise!
This incredible turquoise lake is what Banff is all about. Several short hiking trails around the lake offer stunning views.
Be sure to also hike up to Lake Agnes Trail, which leads to a secluded teahouse nestled in the woods. The trail is fairly challenging, but the views from the top are worth it! (make sure to have some overpriced tea when you get there, it’s worth it!).
Day 4: Lake Louise to Moraine Lake
After taking some time to enjoy the sights at Lake Louise, continue your drive to Moraine Lake. This smaller lake is located in a more remote part of Banff National Park but is often just as popular as Lake Louise, especially in the morning.
If you are not driving (or would like to avoid the stressful experience of trying to find parking), I highly recommend checking out this tour.
Spend the night in Banff.
Day 5: Off to Jasper National Park and Icefields Parkway
On day four, it’s time to leave Banff and head north to Jasper National Park. The drive from Banff to Jasper is not a short one: it takes about 3-4 hours, so make sure to get an early start.
This is said to be one of the most gorgeous drives in the world!
One of the highlights of this drive is the Icefields Parkway, where you can stop at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, learn about the glaciers, and even take a ride on an ice explorer.
Spend the night in Jasper.
Day 6: Explore Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is one of the best places in the world to see wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for elk, bighorn sheep, and even bears as you explore this beautiful park.
There are plenty of great hiking trails in Jasper, but some of my favorites include The Whistlers Trail and Sulphur Skyline.
Day 7: Jasper – Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake, and Spirit Island
On day six, head out to see some of the highlights of Jasper National Park, including Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake, and Spirit Island.
Maligne Valley is home to several glaciers and waterfalls, as well as the famous Spirit Island. You can take a boat cruise on Maligne Lake to get up close to the glaciers and visit Spirit Island.
Medicine Lake is another highlight of Jasper National Park. This unique lake disappears and reappears depending on the time of year.
Day 8: Jasper to Yoho National Park
On day six, you will be leaving Jasper and heading to Yoho National Park. The drive from Jasper to Yoho takes about 1.5 hours (for this you will drive through Banff again, so feel free to stop for any hikes you might have missed!).
Yoho National Park is known for its waterfalls and pristine mountain lakes. Be sure to hike to the top of Takakkaw Falls, which has a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains.
Spend the night in Yoho.
Day 9: Yoho to Glacier National Park
The drive from Yoho to US Glacier National Park takes about 5 hours, while the drive to the Canadian Glacier National parks takes only one hour from Yoho.
No matter which one you choose, Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Make sure to take some time to explore all that this park has to offer.
Spend the night in Glacier National Park.
Day 10: Enjoy Glacier National Park
Today is your last day on this epic road trip! On your final day, take some time to enjoy the sights and sounds of Glacier National Park. If you have time, consider hiking up to one of the many glaciers in the park.
Day 11: Departure
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. On your final day, pack up and head back to Calgary to fly home (or wherever your next adventure takes you!).
I hope you enjoyed this road trip and that you have many more memories to cherish from your time in the Canadian Rockies!
Best time to visit the Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies are a beautiful destination year-round, but the best time to visit depends on your interests.
If you want to experience the full range of activities that the Rockies have to offer, the summer months are the best time to go. Hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, fishing, and golfing are all popular activities in the summer.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed vacation, spring or fall may be better for you. The weather is still nice during these months, but there are fewer tourists and the prices are lower.
Finally, if you love skiing or snowboarding, winter is obviously the best time to visit the Canadian Rockies! Whistler Blackcomb, Banff, and Lake Louise are all world-famous ski resorts (also, Lake Louise looks absolutely wonderful when it’s frozen!).
What to pack for this road trip
When driving from Banff to Glacier National Park, it’s important to be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions.
These are some essentials you should take with you:
- Hiking shoes
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Bear horn or bear spray (if you’re hiking in bear country)
- A camera! The Canadian Rockies are incredibly photogenic.
- Comfortable clothes for hiking and exploring
- Camping wear
- Power bank
- A waterproof jacket
- Camping food
- Swimsuit if you plan on swimming
Wrap-up: Banff to Glacier National park
That’s a wrap! This road trip will take you to the most beautiful places in the Canadian Rockies and I am certain that it will be epic. Personally, I can’t wait to go back to Canada and do some more exploring myself!
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