Banff National Park: 5-Day Icefields Parkway Itinerary
One park, two mountain towns, the best drive on Earth.
Banff to Jasper along the Icefields Parkway, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefield, and the Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
17 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Banff & Jasper · Canadian Rockies, Alberta
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
5 of the stops on these 5 days.
Plan and book your 5 days in Banff, one step at a time
How 5 days in Banff split up
Banff National Park is a 2,500-square-mile wilderness of glaciated peaks, impossibly turquoise lakes, and elk wandering the streets of a mountain town. It is Canada's oldest national park, yet it still feels genuinely wild once you leave the town of Banff behind. Many travelers reach Banff as part of a larger Canadian Rockies road trip, and the drive from Glacier National Park to Banff in Montana is one of the most popular ways in. See the FAQ below for the distance, drive time, and border-crossing details.
Day 1: Calgary → Banff · Tunnel Mountain & the Hot Springs
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Moraine Lake & Lake Louise · Plain of Six Glaciers
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Icefields Parkway South · Bow Lake & Peyto Lake
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: Columbia Icefield · Wilcox Pass & Athabasca Falls
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: Jasper & Maligne Lake · Spirit Island Cruise
2 stops · Day five
Calgary → Banff · Tunnel Mountain & the Hot Springs
Pick up the rental at Calgary International Airport and head west on the Trans-Canada Highway. In about 90 minutes the prairie gives way to the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies and you roll into the town of Banff, a real mountain town with a main street of restaurants, gear shops, and a gondola up Sulphur Mountain.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive from
~1.5 hr · Hwy 1 west · DrivePick up the rental at Calgary International Airport and head west on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1). In about 90 minutes the prairie gives way to the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies, and you roll into the town of Banff, a real mountain town with a main street of restaurants and gear shops.
Tunnel Mountain Trail~2.8 mi RT · easy · Bow Valley views · HikeA short, easy hike right from downtown Banff. About 2.8 miles round trip up Tunnel Mountain for classic views over the Bow Valley and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The trailhead is a short walk from Banff Avenue, no car needed.
Banff Upper Hot SpringsThermal pools · 37–40°C · paid in 2026 · ViewpointSoak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, natural thermal mineral pools open year-round and kept at 37–40°C. The historic 1932 bathhouse and the mountain backdrop make for an unforgettable evening. Note: the hot springs still charge their normal admission during the 2026 free-park-entry window.
Stay in BanffBanff townsite · book early · lodgeBase your first night in the town of Banff, walkable to restaurants, the gondola, and the hot springs. Free summer entry means Banff is exceptionally busy, so book your room months ahead.
Moraine Lake & Lake Louise · Plain of Six Glaciers
Reserve your Parks Canada shuttle for Moraine Lake weeks in advance, private vehicles have been banned since 2023, and sunrise slots vanish in minutes. Arrive at the Rockpile viewpoint early to beat the tour groups: the Valley of the Ten Peaks rising behind that impossibly blue water is the view that appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Moraine Lake (shuttle-only)
Rockpile viewpoint · Valley of the Ten Peaks · ViewpointThe view from the Rockpile above Moraine Lake, Valley of the Ten Peaks rising behind impossibly blue water, appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill. Private vehicles have been banned since 2023: access is by Parks Canada shuttle or bicycle only. Arrive early to beat the tour groups.
- Lake Louise → Plain of Six Glaciers
~8.4 mi RT · moderate · teahouse · HikeTake the shuttle to Lake Louise and hike the lakeshore to the Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse, about 8.4 miles round trip, moderate, for panoramic views of Victoria Glacier. The teahouse serves hot drinks and food, well worth the climb.
Stay in Lake LouiseLake Louise village · book early · lodgeOvernight near Lake Louise village so you can start the Icefields Parkway fresh tomorrow. Rooms here are limited and book out a year ahead in summer, reserve as early as you can.
Icefields Parkway South · Bow Lake & Peyto Lake
Begin the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) north from Lake Louise, widely considered one of the most scenic drives on Earth. Stop at Bow Lake for mirror reflections of Crowfoot Glacier, then continue to Peyto Lake, a wolf-shaped turquoise lake viewed from an overlook that is far quieter before 8 am or after 5 pm.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive the Icefields Parkway
~1.5 hr to the Crossing · Hwy 93 · DriveBegin the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) north from Lake Louise, widely considered one of the most scenic drives on Earth. Past this point there are no towns and almost no cell service for the 144 miles to Jasper. Download offline maps before you leave.
Bow LakeCrowfoot Glacier reflection · ViewpointStop at Bow Lake for mirror reflections of Crowfoot Glacier. An easy pullout right off the Parkway, short walks along the shoreline give the best angles.
Peyto Lake viewpointWolf-shaped turquoise lake · ViewpointA short walk leads to the famous overlook above Peyto Lake, a wolf-shaped sheet of turquoise glacial meltwater. The viewpoint is busy midday; it is far quieter before 8 am or after 5 pm.
The Crossing ResortSaskatchewan River Crossing · only gas · lodgeThe Crossing Resort at Saskatchewan River Crossing is roughly the halfway point on the Parkway and one of only two lodges on the entire route (the other is Glacier View Lodge at the Columbia Icefield). This is also the only gas station on the Parkway, fill your tank here. Both lodges book out months ahead.
Columbia Icefield · Wilcox Pass & Athabasca Falls
The Columbia Icefield straddles the Banff–Jasper border and feeds rivers flowing to three different oceans. Stop at the Icefield Centre for views of the Athabasca Glacier; the paid glacier walk on the ice itself is touristy but memorable. For a far better vantage, hike the Wilcox Pass Trail (about 5 miles / 8 km round trip, moderate) above the highway for an elevated view over the entire icefield.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Columbia Icefield / Athabasca Glacier
Icefield Centre · feeds three oceans · ViewpointThe Columbia Icefield straddles the Banff–Jasper border and feeds rivers flowing to three different oceans. Stop at the Icefield Centre for views of the Athabasca Glacier; the paid glacier walk on the ice itself is touristy but memorable.
Wilcox Pass Trail~5 mi / 8 km RT · moderate · icefield views · HikeHike the Wilcox Pass Trail (about 5 miles / 8 km round trip, moderate) above the highway for an elevated view over the entire Columbia Icefield, a far better vantage than the crowded viewpoints below. Watch for bighorn sheep on the ridge.
Athabasca FallsThundering horseshoe falls · ViewpointA quick stop just south of Jasper: Athabasca Falls is a powerful horseshoe waterfall where the river funnels through a narrow quartzite gorge. Easy paved viewpoints and short walkways make it a fast, dramatic break before town.
Stay in JasperJasper townsite · Day 4 + 5 base · lodgeJasper is smaller and less commercial than Banff, with a genuine mountain-town feel. Base here for tonight and tomorrow so you can explore Maligne Lake without re-locating. Jasper is also a Dark Sky Preserve, look up after dark.
Jasper & Maligne Lake · Spirit Island Cruise
Spend the day at Maligne Lake. Drive the Maligne Lake Road (about 45 minutes from Jasper townsite) to the lake. The famous Spirit Island view is reachable only by the Maligne Lake Cruise, a 90-minute guided boat tour, and the only way to reach the viewpoint (there is no road or trail to it). Book the cruise ahead in summer.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Maligne Lake Cruise → Spirit Island
90-min boat · boat-access only · ViewpointDrive the Maligne Lake Road (about 45 minutes) to Maligne Lake. The famous Spirit Island view is reachable ONLY by the Maligne Lake Cruise, a 90-minute guided boat tour. There is no road or trail to the viewpoint, so this cruise is the only way to see it. Book ahead in summer.
- Getting home: fly Edmonton or return Day 6
One-way route · Edmonton 3.5 hr · DriveThis is a one-way route, do not plan to drive back to Calgary tonight (Maligne Lake to Calgary is roughly 5.5 hours). Either overnight in Jasper and fly out of Edmonton (about 3.5 hours northeast) the next day, or make the return drive down the Icefields Parkway its own travel day (Day 6).
Book the 4 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Banff
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Banff
What we actually learned on the road.
Get the Parks Canada Discovery Pass
The annual Discovery Pass (about CAD $75) covers Banff, Jasper, and every Parks Canada site, and pays off quickly on a multi-day trip. Outside the Jun 19–Sep 7, 2026 free-admission window, you need a pass to enter.
Book the Moraine Lake shuttle months ahead
Private vehicles are banned at Moraine Lake, you must take the Parks Canada shuttle or bike in. Reserve at reservation.pc.gc.ca; sunrise slots vanish in minutes. Same-day tickets are not reliable.
Fuel up at Saskatchewan River Crossing
It is the only gas station on the 144-mile Icefields Parkway, and there is almost no cell service the whole way. Fill your tank and download offline maps before you leave Lake Louise.
Reserve Parkway lodging very early
The only two lodges between Lake Louise and Jasper, The Crossing Resort and Glacier View Lodge, fill up nearly a year ahead in summer. Book early, or plan to drive all the way through to Jasper on Day 3.
Late September is the secret season
July and August have the best weather, but late September brings golden larches, thinner crowds, and softer light. Trails and the Parkway are generally snow-free from late June through September.
Respect the wildlife
Grizzlies, black bears, and elk are common. Carry bear spray, keep 100 m from bears and 30 m from elk, and never get between a cow elk and her calf in spring. Elk often wander Banff townsite itself, and are heavy wild animals, not tame park deer, so do not pose for photos beside them.
Bring cash for the alpine teahouses
The historic teahouses above Lake Louise, the Plain of Six Glaciers and Lake Agnes, have no electricity or Wi-Fi and run card payments on slow satellite terminals that frequently drop offline. Carry Canadian cash so you can actually buy tea and soup after the climb.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Banff glacier trip: the questions people ask most.
The drive from Glacier National Park to Banff is roughly 250 to 300 miles and takes about 4.5 to 6 hours, depending on your exact start and end points and how long the border crossing takes. Most routes cross into Canada at Roosville (north of Eureka, Montana) or at Carway on the way past Waterton. You will need a valid passport, and border wait times vary, so build in a buffer. Distances shift a fair bit depending on whether you leave from the west or east side of Glacier, so treat these as estimates and check current road and border conditions before you go.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 4 nights, sites along the route
Book directat source - Moraine Lake shuttle
2 × $29$58
- 4 nights, rooms along the route
from $123 a nightfrom $492 - Moraine Lake shuttle
2 × $29$58
Yulia, ExplorOFF founder★★★★★5.0 from 20+ guided tripsGoogleAirbnbFrom$3,7302 people, 4 nights- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide
- Moraine Lake shuttle, booked for you
- Airport pickup, every drive, all the gear
- Weather turns, they rewrite the day
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
The Moraine Lake shuttle, which you cannot drive
Private cars have not been allowed up the Moraine Lake road since 2023, so getting there means a shuttle seat. They sell out through July and August, and the early runs go first because that is when the water is still.
Booking Banff
Everything below is booked with the operators direct. We earn a commission on some of them, which is what keeps the itineraries free to read.
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Glacier National Park to Banff Road Trip
The drive from Montana to Banff: distance, border crossings, the Waterton route, and how to combine both parks.
Best Hikes in Banff National Park
Plain of Six Glaciers, Sentinel Pass, Cory Pass, Sulphur Mountain, the 12 best day hikes ranked.
Banff & Jasper Combined Trip
How to split your days, the Icefields Parkway between them, and Banff vs Jasper compared.
What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
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How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”