Drive from Edm to Jasper
 

need advise on driving times from Edmonton to Jasper and Jasper to Banff/Lake Lousie. Have 7 days in canada and thought we'd fly to Edm-drive to japer for 2 nights then on to Banff-departing back home from Calgary. Trip is planned for June

Edmonton to Jasper townsite is approximately 3.5 hours driving time (not including stops).
Jasper National Park eastern gates are 3 hours from Edmonton, and 30 minutes away from Jasper townsite.
The Yellowhead highway (#16) is divided all the way to Hinton, so it's an easy fast drive (speed limit = 110 km/h); once you get into the park however, you will need to slow down, and be watchful for mountain sheep or elk on the road.

A hint - gas is cheaper (usually) outside of the mountain parks, so refuel in Hinton (from Hinton to Jasper townsite is 45 minutes driving).

Forgot to add - the driving time from Jasper townsite to Lake Louise is about 2.5 hours if you drive the speed limit and do not stop along the way.
However, there are so many interesting points of view (glaciers, waterfalls, scenic viewpoints etc.), that I can't remember the last time (if ever!!) that we drove the Icefield Parkway without a single stop. Assume that it will take you at least four hours.

I have driven the Icefields Parkway many times. To do it in 4 hours?
Why go there to start with?
It is one of the most beautiful drives you will ever see. If you don't agree, then one of us is out of focus.

Edmonton to the Jasper gate is a good long drive, as indicated.
Something like 200 miles.
Once you enter the park, the townsite is about an hour down the road, depending on wildlife viewing traffic jams.

I don't know where you are coming from Bob with your dismissive responses to my postings, but it sure sounds as if you need a vacation.

You can easily drive the Icefield Parkway in 4 hours, or even in much less time. Naturally you can spend a whole lot more time, it's up to you and depends on your interests, the type of acitivities that you like, and also the weather. It does rain in the mountains, and when clouds roll in they can cover the mountains and the scenery is "lost" in the mists.
By the way, it does not take an hour to drive from Jasper Park gates to Jasper townsite; we drive it regularly -spring, summer, autumn, and winter - in about 30-35 minutes, and it can be easily done in 45 minutes. This of course assumes that you do not stop along the way (to photograph mountain sheep or elk along the highway, for example) or have to drive slowly, as happened last summer, when smoke from forest fires reduced the visibility on the road.

Hi lescott,
Please take Borealis' advice. Bob is somewhat of a joker if you read his responses to other posters. Borealis' advice is very sound, and her time lines are correct.

Backing up Borealis' times on this, as we're in Jasper at least twice every year. Also, when the speed limit drops to 70 inside the park, even if "all the other kids" are not slowing down, it's really in your best interests to - besides the possibility of a ticket, you also run the risk of hitting a large animal on the highway. The speed limit drops for all the "popular" roadside spots - because they're popular with the critters, not the tourists!

The Icefields Parkway drive can take as long as you want - but it's breathtaking! I'd gas up in Jasper, though, before leaving, as the gas prices at Saskatchewan Crossing (the next gas after Jasper)are incredibly steep.