Why You Should Do Both
Banff and Jasper are 144 miles apart, connected by the Icefields Parkway — one of the most scenic drives in the world. Most travelers who visit one end up wishing they'd done both, and the math works out: a 5- to 7-day trip can do justice to each park with the parkway drive serving as the spine of the itinerary.
This guide breaks down how the two parks compare, how to split your time, and what to do on the parkway between them. If you want the full day-by-day, see our 5-day Banff + Icefields Parkway itinerary.
Banff vs Jasper: How They Compare
| Size | Banff: 2,564 km² · Jasper: 11,228 km² (the largest in the Canadian Rockies) |
| Town vibe | Banff townsite: polished, touristy, restaurants and shops. Jasper: smaller, more workmanlike, mountain-town feel. |
| Crowds | Banff: very crowded in summer. Jasper: noticeably quieter even in July. |
| Iconic sights | Banff: Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Plain of Six Glaciers. Jasper: Maligne Lake/Spirit Island, Maligne Canyon, Athabasca Falls. |
| Wildlife | Both excellent — Jasper edges out for chances of seeing caribou, wolves, and (rarely) wolverines. |
| Hiking | Banff has more famous "greatest-hits" trails. Jasper has more wilderness solitude. |
| Dark sky | Jasper is the world's 2nd largest Dark Sky Preserve — much better for stargazing and aurora. |
How Many Days Per Park
The standard split for a one-week trip:
- Days 1–3 in Banff (or Banff + Lake Louise area): Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, town of Banff, Sulphur Mountain or a day hike, Johnston Canyon.
- Day 4: Icefields Parkway drive — Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls.
- Days 5–6 in Jasper: Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, Spirit Island, Mount Edith Cavell, Pyramid Lake.
- Day 7: Return drive back south or fly out of Edmonton.
If you only have 5 days: 2 in Banff, 1 on parkway, 2 in Jasper. If you have 10 days: add a backpacking trip in Jasper's Tonquin Valley or Skyline Trail.
The Icefields Parkway: The Drive Between
144 miles (232 km) on Highway 93 North. Marketed as "one of the most beautiful drives in the world" — it actually delivers. Allow a full day, with these stops:
- Bow Lake (km 36): Crowfoot Glacier reflected in turquoise water. Easy access.
- Peyto Lake (km 40): Wolf-shaped turquoise lake from a busy overlook. Get there before 8 AM or after 5 PM for crowd-free photos.
- Mistaya Canyon (km 71): Short walk to a slot canyon carved by the Mistaya River.
- Saskatchewan River Crossing (km 78): Gas, food, and the only services on the parkway.
- Big Bend & Big Hill (km 100): Switchbacks climbing toward Sunwapta Pass with classic Rockies views.
- Columbia Icefield (km 120): The Athabasca Glacier (walk to it, walk on it with a guide, or ride a snocoach). Wilcox Pass hike from here.
- Sunwapta Falls (km 140): Powerful waterfall in a sharp bend.
- Athabasca Falls (km 165): Thundering horseshoe waterfall, the most photographed on the parkway.
- Jasper townsite (km 230): End of the drive.
Gas only at Saskatchewan River Crossing in the middle; fill up at Lake Louise or Jasper.
What Jasper Does Better Than Banff
- Solitude at trailheads — even in peak summer, Jasper trails feel less crowded.
- Maligne Lake and the Spirit Island boat tour — there is no equivalent in Banff.
- Maligne Canyon — deeper and more dramatic than Johnston Canyon in Banff.
- Dark Sky stargazing — Banff has too much light pollution from townsite; Jasper is a designated Dark Sky Preserve.
- Mt. Edith Cavell & Cavell Meadows — wildflower hike with views of Angel Glacier.
- Tonquin Valley backpacking — multi-day route with horse-train history and the Amethyst Lakes.
- Caribou and wolverine sightings — exceedingly rare in Banff, occasional in Jasper.
What Banff Does Better Than Jasper
- The marquee turquoise lakes — Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are simply more iconic than anything in Jasper.
- Restaurants and lodging variety — Banff townsite has 100+ restaurants; Jasper has maybe 25.
- Day-hike density — more famous trails (Plain of Six Glaciers, Sentinel Pass, Cory Pass) per square mile.
- The Banff Gondola and hot springs — easy paid-attraction infrastructure.
- Easier access from Calgary — Banff is 90 minutes from Calgary airport; Jasper is 4 hours.
Driving Direction: South to North or North to South?
If you're flying in: Calgary → Banff → Jasper → fly out of Edmonton is the best one-way option (most rental car companies allow this for a $100–200 fee). Going the other direction (Edmonton → Jasper → Banff → Calgary) works too. Round-tripping from Calgary is the cheapest but adds a full driving day on the way back.
Best Time of Year
- July–August: Peak season. All trails open, all roads open, very crowded.
- Late June or early September: Sweet spot. Most trails open, fewer crowds, good weather.
- Mid-September to early October: Larch season. Most spectacular time for photos, but weather gets unstable.
- November–April: Both parks are open with reduced services. Ski season at Banff resorts. Maligne Canyon ice walks in Jasper. Plan for snow on the parkway.
Common Mistakes
- Doing Banff but skipping Jasper. The parkway is the spine of the trip — if you skip Jasper you miss the best drive in North America.
- Only one night in Jasper. Jasper deserves at least 2 nights so you can do Maligne Lake, Maligne Canyon, and one hike.
- Booking Maligne Lake boat tour day-of. The Spirit Island cruise sells out weeks ahead in summer.
- Driving the parkway in one direction only. Light is different in each direction — many travelers do the drive both ways across different days for more photos.
- No bear spray. Especially in Jasper's backcountry. Rent or buy in town.
