Calgary to Jasper vacation
 

In September we are flying into Calgary and renting a car and driving to Banff. We plan on spending 2 days in Banff and then driving to Jasper in one day. I am trying to decide if we should spend 1 or 2 full days in Jasper? Then we are planning on driving to Calgary in one day and overnight there before flying out the next day. Any help in planning this trip I would really appreciate.

How many days do you have to work with?<BR><BR>I think one full day in Jasper would give you time to see the major sights:<BR>the Angel Glacier, Maligne Lake, and the Whistler if the day is clear.<BR>That argues for 2 nights in Jasper.<BR>My concerns are that you will miss so much on the Icefields Parkway on a quick trip.<BR>And when do you plan on dropping by Lake Louise and Moraine Lake??<BR>Both lakes are primary attractions and I think you would enjoy seeing both of them. <BR>Actually driving back to Calgary via the Icefields Parkway is probably your shortest route. And that would give you time to drink in some of that world class scenery.<BR><BR>Banff - Jasper is 287K (about 178 miles)<BR>Calgary - Banff is 128K, with the airport being on the northeast side of town, about 18K from the city center.<BR><BR>So figuring 415K Jasper to Calgary (257 miles), plus the airport, leaves you with an easy drive back to Calgary. <BR>Going by Red Deer is longer and going by Edmonton is much longer. <BR>Jasper - Edmonton alone is 366K plus 294K more Edmonton - Calgary.<BR>There is not much of a way to cut the corner around Edmonton either because the roads are mostly due north - south or due east - west, thus giving right angle changes of route. <BR><BR>I suggest you stay on the northeast side of Calgary before flying out. There are several large motels near, or on, Barlow Trail, which is the road to the airport.<BR>I have a favorite; ask me if you want to know.

Bob, thanks for your reply. We are flying into Calgary on a Monday and flying out from Calgary the following Monday. We want to stay in Banff and also Jasper. Should we stay somewhere else along the way? If you were spending these days what would your itenary look like? Also any suggestions on where to stay in Banff, Jasper and anywhere else along the way? I really appreciate your advise. A great web site!

I think you have a good game plan going without doing anything much to change it.<BR>If you spend two nights in Jasper and return to Calgary along the Icefields Parkway, that will give you a chance to see it coming and going.<BR>I have driven it several times and still feel that driving the reverse route, Jasper to Banff, gives you a different perspective. It does not look the same.<BR><BR>There are 4 places to stay along the parkway. <BR>The first one is the Num Ti Jah Lodge located 25 miles north of Lake Louise.<BR>I never stayed there because it was a little above my budget at the time. ($200 cdn for a double, which is about $125 US.)<BR><BR>There is a small village at a place called The Crossing where the parkway crosses the North Saskatechewan river and the David Thompson Highway joins the Icefields Parkway.<BR>I stayed there once. The rooms were ok for 2 people, a little small for 3 because of the extra bed.<BR><BR>The newest of the 3 is very close to the Icefields Center. It is the Columbia Icefields Chalet. I hear it is ok, but I never stayed there. It is priced about like the Num Ti Jah lodge.<BR><BR>And there is a 4th place about 35 miles south of Jasper on the parkway known as Sunwapta Falls Resort. <BR><BR>I do not know availability of rooms at any of these places.<BR><BR>In Jasper, I have stayed commercially at Jasper House Bungalows. We rented a small cabin with a separate bedroom and a little kitchen that was quite adequate. We paid over $100 US for the place, but it was satisfactory in every respect.<BR><BR>If you go to the Jasper National Park website, there is a link to accommodations in people's houses.<BR>These are referred to a "parks approved accommodations". I am not sure just how much approving the park authority actually does, but they are available.<BR>I stayed in one once; we had an OK room in the basement with our own entrance.<BR><BR>I think if you get an early start (before 10 AM) from Banff, you will have time to drive to Jasper and see some of the sights along the Parkway. Then you will have a chance to take in anything you missed on the return trip.<BR><BR>I have no recommendations on Banff because in past years we have based ourselves in Field in Yoho Park. <BR><BR>The amount of time you need for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake depends on how much walking you want to do.<BR>My wife and I like the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail that runs along the north shore of the lake all the way to the mountain wall that forms the backdrop for the lake. You see some very nice scenery on the walk to the little tea house near the end of the trail.<BR>Moraine Lake is more of a scenic view, but there is a lake shore path that is very scenic. <BR>I also think you would enjoy driving over the divide to Yoho Park and visiting Takkakaw Falls. It is quite high, 800 feet, and I think it is spectacular.<BR>You can also view the spiral tunnels on the Canadian Pacific rail line.<BR>

We just returned from a visit to the Banff-Calgary area. Forget Calgary. use it just for the airport. Banff is a great place to stay to visit 4 National parks.You can easily make it from Banff to Jasper in one day. In Banff we stayed at the Caribou Lodge and it was great- within easy walking distance to resteraunts, etc.