Calgary to Jasper
 

We will be arriving in Calgary at approximately 1:30PM on September 4th and currently have reservations for nights 2-5 in Jasper. Since it is almost 400 km to Jasper should we plan on staying our first night in Calgary or would you recommend staying somewhere in between? What would be the scenic route we could take between Calgary and Jasper? Days 6-13 will be devoted to hiking in Yoho, Banff and Lake Louise areas.

We have a similar itinerary - flying into Calgary from New York on Sat 7/20 - plan to drive to Jasper that afternoon - any insight into best route and if this is too long of a trip would be most helpful!

It's about an 6 hour trip even with minimal stops. do you really want to do that after a long plane ride? The drive is a gorgeous one and should be taken at leisure with a few hours worth of stops for sightseeing etc. especially at the Icefields. Spend that first day in Calgary then leave early the next morning taking time out for places like Banff, Lake Louise, the Icefields and other sights.

Instinct cause people to drive from Calgary to Edmonton and then turn left and drive to jasper.<BR><BR>Do not do this.<BR><BR>The Rocky Mountains are on an angle, and it turns out to be just as close to drive from Calgary to Banff (more or less straight west) and then turn right (north) and go to Japsper throught the middle of the beautiful mountains.<BR><BR>If it was me (and it has been me; I used to live there) I'd stay in Calgary the first afternoon and night, and then make the drive to Jasper the next day, through Bannff and lake Louise and up the Icefields Highway.<BR><BR>BAK

Take a look at a good road map and you can answer the question more fully than we can explain it.<BR>

If Calgary doesn't grab your interest, & if you'd prefer not to overnight fairly close by (90 min - 2 hours), like in Banff (since you'll be seeing it later on your trip), then, you could also consider driving the Icefields Parkway, partway. <BR><BR>Depending on whether you need to go through Customs, too, at the airport, you don't want to line up too ambitious a drive. You'll need to get a rental car, etc, & probably won't be on your way from the airport until 3- 3:30pm or so - *if* your plane arrives on time.<BR><BR>If it were me, & I had lined up the trip as you have, I would either elect to stay along the Bow Parkway, not far north from Banff, or along the Icefields Parkway. Depends how tired you imagine you'll be in getting going on your trip, etc. (We're usually exhausted, by the time we get to our own airport to depart!)<BR><BR>If you didn't book a night along the Bow Parkway, it's a scenic, more quiet road leading from Banff northwards. Nice wildlife viewing at dusk & early. Not a bad idea to stay along there! We've never lodged there, but have driven it, & seen a nice amount of wildlife. It would be a way to slow down a bit & catch your breath, before proceeding.<BR><BR>We're currently trying to plan our first return to the Rockies (this fall most likely), & plan on staying along the Bow Parkway. Most of the lodging along the Bow (Baker Creek Chalets, Johnston Canyon Resort, & Castle Mtn.) are midway, probably only a half hour north of Banff. (The whole Bow Parkway only takes 45-60 min. vs. the quicker Highway which takes about 30 or so between Banff & Lake Louise.) <BR><BR>There is a popular hike there, highly recommended, which we didn't get to do last time - the Johnston Canyon hike. Plan to do it this time. Most do about a 2-hour hike there to some falls. We plan on doing the longer one, which takes 4-6 hours. <BR><BR>Another option to consider, would be to stay along the Icefields Highway. The lodging is a bit more basic (for the money), I believe, than what you'd find on the Bow Parkway, but if you'd like to get started, that's an option. There are a couple of places only 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up the Icefields, & a couple at the midway point. We're considering this, as well.<BR><BR>Just some more food for thought...hope this helps!