Tips For Driving The Icefields Parkway

There’s a lot to see and do on the Icefields Parkway. It can become overwhelming to know when to go and how much time to allow for the drive. We’ve put together all the information below that should help you plan your drive on one of the world’s most scenic mountain roadways.

What Is The Driving Time And Distance For The Icefields Parkway?

The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 N.) is a 232 kilometer mountain pass road running through the heart of Banff and Jasper National Parks. It serves as a connection between the area of Lake Louise and the town of Jasper. According to Google maps it takes approximately 3 hours to drive from one end to the other. However, you would not want to do such an injustice to this magnificent scenic route by driving that quickly.

How Much Time Should I Allow To Experience The Parkway?

It’s unlikely in the midst of a busy summer that you could drive the parkway in 3 hours. There’s a heavy volume of traffic, including recreational vehicles and tour buses. The top driving speed is 90 km/hr but there are places where you have to slow to 50 km/hr. Always keep alert for wildlife that may be near or on the road. 

To really appreciate the parkway you need to take the time to enjoy the scenery and sights. Pack a picnic meal and make a day of it. You’ll have no problem spending 5 to 8 hours to get from one end to the other. There are numerous view-point pullouts, hiking and walking opportunities, waterfalls, lakes and attractions to see along the Icefields Parkway.

The time of year will dictate how many daylight hours you have and therefore how much you can see and do. If you want to do any significant amount of hiking consider spending a night along the way and spread the drive over a two day period. 

What is the Road Like?

It’s a fully paved road with wide shoulders. For passing through such an extreme landscape and two high mountain passes it’s probably a lot better than you would expect. The majority of the road is easy to drive, with only a few areas of steep grade or switchbacks. Large RV’s do not have an issue navigating it.

When Is The Best Time To Drive The Icefields Parkway?

Although the road is open year round, most of the travel on it is done from May to October. The peak time to visit is from June to September, these months offer the best chance of good weather, favorable road conditions and wildlife viewing opportunities. July and August are extremely busy. 

The highlight for many visitors to the Canadian Rocky Mountains is seeing the turquoise waters of the glacier lakes. Due to the extremely high elevation of the popular lakes on the parkway, (such as Peyto Lake) they remain frozen well into the spring, until mid-June or longer.

Winter conditions can occur by early to mid-October and sometimes continues sporadically into the month of May and June. All services on the parkway such as restaurants, accommodation and the only fuel station are closed from November to April. If you want to experience the Athabasca Glacier Ice Explorer Adventure it operates from approximately April to October.

For more help on when to plan your trip see our post on The Best Time To Visit The Canadian Rocky Mountains

What Can I Expect For Weather And Temperature?

You never know what to expect for weather and temperatures in the Rocky Mountains, it highly unpredictable. The weather can change many times throughout the day. The temperature change from midday to evening can be drastic. The higher you go in elevation the colder the temperatures can be. The best way to dress is in layers so you can shed or put on clothing as needed.

From June to September the daily average lows can range from 3C. to 8C. and the average highs from 15c. to 22C. You can experience the whole range of these temperatures during your drive. It could be 15C. in Banff, then 2C. at the Peyto Lake Lookout or at the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center and then back to 15C. near Jasper. 

The spring and fall weather might surprise you, these seasons can still see heavy snowfall. The summer tends to have many dry and sunny days, but you can experience rain and even light snow at higher elevations. Any of the months from November to April can be expected to have temperatures below freezing and snow.

Should I Drive The Parkway In Both Directions?

If you have the time, absolutely. You can stop at places of interest along the way and hit the ones you missed on the way back. The scenery is stunning and different in both directions. You can either make the return trip in one full day or stay for a night or two at either end in Jasper or Lake Louise, returning in the opposite direction. 

Are There Gas Stations And Washrooms On The Icefields Parkway?

Plan accordingly, there is only one gas station on the Icefields Parkway. It is located at the Saskatchewan Crossing. When you reach this area, make sure you fill up if you need to, especially when traveling in the direction of Jasper. It’s at least 150 km’s to the next gas station. If you’re driving the other direction towards Lake Louise it’s approximately 80 km’s. Before you leave the Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper area fill up your tank prior to heading to the parkway. Due to the remote location the fuel at the Saskatchewan Crossing is the highest price in the province.

Full washroom facilities are available at Saskatchewan Crossing and at the Icefields Discovery Center. Almost all other main attraction sites have some type of toilets available. 

Are There Restaurants Or Place To Purchase Food?

It’s highly recommended to bring your own picnic lunch or evening meal. Stop and eat it at one of the many scenic viewpoints. There are only a few food services on the parkway. They are expensive and there can be long lineups in the busy summer months.

• Sunwapta Falls Resort – cafe
• Columbia Icefields Visitor Center – restaurant, grab and go cafe, love it or hate it there’s a Starbuck’s
• Saskatchewan Crossing – restaurant, pub, cafe and a small convenience store
• The Lodge On Bow Lake – a cafe with snacks and drinks

Icefields Parkway Accommodation Options

Accommodation on the Icefields Parkway is limited to keep the environmental impact to a minimum. There are a few campgrounds, hostels and lodges that you can use as a base to further explore the parkway. Most of the accommodation is nothing glamorous. They are expensive due to the cost to run in such an isolated location. There is no accommodation available in the winter on the parkway. Most places are open from May to October, with some open in April. Plan ahead, they all book up quickly for the summer months. 

Hotel And Lodges On The Icefields Parkway

• The Glacier View Inn at the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center
• The Crossing Resort at Saskatchewan Crossing
• Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Resort
• The Lodge on Bow Lake -This is the only accommodation on the parkway that is open in the winter, but only from February to early April. Then they re-open again from June to early October.

There’s a few more accommodations at the very far end of the parkway near Jasper and more accommodations in the town of Jasper and around the Lake Louise area.

Hostels On The Icefields Parkway

The hostels along the parkway are operated by Hostelling International Alberta. Take note that they are considered wilderness hostels, some of them have no running water, showers, flush toilets or electricity. They are Mosquito Creek, Rampart Creek, Hilda Creek, Athabasca Falls and Beauty Creek.

Is There Camping On The Icefields Parkway?

There are campsites along the parkway and most of them operate on a first come, first serve basis. It can be difficult to get a spot in the summer, arrive before noon for the best chance. The sites are at Mosquito Creek, Waterfowl Lakes, Rampart Creek, Wilcox Creek located in the Banff National park section of the parkway. More details can be found here: Parks Canada Banff Camping

On the Jasper National Park section there is the Wilcox Creek, Columbia Icefield, Jonas Creek, Honeymoon Lake, Mount Kerkeslin, Wapiti and Whistlers Campgrounds. More details can be found here: Canada Jasper Camping

Some of the campgrounds have washrooms and running water, others have pit toilets. None of them have power or sewer services for RV’s, so plan to be self-sufficient during your stay.

The campsites closer to the towns of Jasper and Lake Louise are reservable, Expect them to be fully booked in the summer, you need to plan ahead.

Is A Park Pass Required For The Icefields Parkway?

Yes, a national park pass is needed for the Icefields Parkway at all time.s The parkway runs through Banff and Jasper National Parks and is considered a scenic roadway, not an essential transportation route. Even if you drive straight through on the parkway without stopping along the way you need a pass to travel on it. Parks Canada booths are at each end to check for passes.

Read our detailed guide on understanding the parks Canada entry fees for everything you need to know about the National park passes and how and where to purchase them.

Is Self Driving The Best Way To Experience The Icefields Parkway?

Yes, driving your own vehicle or a rental vehicle is the best way to experience everything the parkway has to offer. There’s nothing particularly daunting about the drive. It’s a well constructed and maintained two lane, paved road. 

Vehicle rentals are available at the Calgary or Edmonton airports if that’s how you are arriving. The towns of Banff and Canmore have vehicle rentals and in lesser availability there are rentals in Jasper.

What If I Don’t Want To Drive, Are There Tours Or Buses?

There are tours and shuttle trips that will take you from Banff to Jasper via the parkway. Do your research and try find a company that allows a bit more than a few minutes outside of the bus at the highlight attractions. 

There are bus options from Banff and Lake Louise to Jasper via the parkway. They are simply a mode of transportation with no stops.

Is There Cell Phone Service On The Icefields Parkway?

Expect cell phone service to drop off shortly after you start traveling in either direction on the Icefields Parkway. Don’t expect or rely on having any service for most of the route. The exception is Saskatchewan Crossing when it’s open and their wifi is turned on. 

What Are The Winter Driving Conditions On The Icefields Parkway?

If you do not have experience driving in snow and icy conditions it’s not recommended to drive the Icefields Parkway in the winter. The photos below were taken at the end of March on a drive from Lake Louise to the Bow Summit and the Peyto Lake Lookout. The roads in this section were in a passable condition because there had been no recent snowfall. Although you can see there’s really only a partial clearing of each lane in the first photo. Take a look at the snow piled up on the sides of the road and you can imagine how much has fallen in the months prior.

Summary Of Winter Driving Guidelines For The Icefields Parkway

In the late fall or early spring be prepared that you could encounter full winter driving conditions. From November to April it’s a given, but even in October, May and into June the conditions can range from dry bare pavement to several inches of compact snow and/or icy sections.

Make sure your vehicle has proper winter tires rated for snow and ice. They are mandated by law when traveling on the Icefields Parkway from November 1st to April 1st.

Pack an emergency kit for use in the event that you become stranded due to road conditions or heavy snowfall. Traffic is sparse in the winter and it could be some time before another vehicle comes by that could help. Remember there will likely be no cell phone service to call anyone.

It’s common for sections of the parkway to be closed during extreme weather conditions and with short notice. Closures can be anywhere from a few hours to a full day or days in the case of severe snowstorm. Partial road closures occur at times for avalanche control. Check for closures and weather forecasts right before leaving. Sudden weather changes can occur in the mountains. A snowstorm can come without any warning.

The parkway is not considered an essential transportation route and therefore it does not receive the same priority or level of plowing that the Trans Canada Highway and other main roads do. It’s not salted or cleared down to bare pavement, it remains compact snow throughout most of the winter.

Travel early in the day so that you can reach your destination before dark. The plowing maintenance starts at 7am in the morning and stops at 3:30 pm each day. No plowing is done past that time of day from November to April.

From November through March or into mid-April amenities are closed, this includes the only gas station, restaurants and accommodations on the Icefields Parkway.

For more winter driving information see Parks Canada winter maintenance and safety on the Icefields Parkway. Always check the road conditions right before you go at 511.alberta.ca or dial 511. You can also visit one of the Parks Canada information centers in Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper to get up to date information.

Directions For Accessing The Icefields Parkway

Traveling east on the Trans Canada Highway #1 the access to the parkway will be approximately 15 minutes past the town of Field. It’s just prior to reaching the access for the village of Lake Louise. Watch for the signs that say exit for the Icefields Parkway/Hwy 93N.

From Calgary or Banff – Head west on the Trans Canada Hwy, 3km’s past the access for the village of Lake Louise. Watch for the signs that say exit for The Icefields Parkway/Hwy 93N. The access is 50 minutes from Banff and 2.5 hours from Calgary.

Directions For Getting To Lake Louise, Banff Or Jasper When Exiting Either End Of The Parkway

As you get closer to Jasper end of the parkway there are a variety of accommodations, including Becker Chalets, Wapiti Campground and Jasper House Bungalows. The turn off to Whistlers Mountain and the Jasper Tramway are on the left hand side.

The parkway ends at an intersection. Going straight will take you into the town of Jasper where there is accommodation, shopping, restaurants, the tourist information and the train station. Turning right will take you to the Jasper Park Lodge, Annette and Edith Lakes and Maligne Lake.

At the end near the Lake Louise area you’ll see exit signs to head west to Field (Yoho National Park) or continue straight heading east and it will connect up with the Trans Canada Highway. After a few kilometers you’ll see exit signs for the village of Lake Louise and Lake Louise. Or you can continue east towards Banff which will take approximately 40 minutes, watch for exit signs.

Safety And Respect Of Wildlife Along The Icefields Parkway

Like anywhere else in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the same rules for safe wildlife viewing apply to the Icefields Parkway. Don’t be one of “those tourists” that ends up on youtube being mocked for an extreme lack of intelligence by trying to take a selfie beside a bear or any wildlife for that matter. It’s incredibly dangerous, could end in fatality and it’s against the law.

Slow down, use caution and give wildlife space when they are alongside the road. Don’t get out of your vehicle. If you’re hiking or walking and see wildlife remember the one bus, two bus rule. Stay one bus length away from large ungulates such as elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and moose and two bus lengths from bears, wolves and cougars.

See our guide for more information about safe wildlife viewing in the Canadian Rockies