The Canadian Rockies is one of the most beautiful areas in Canada, with stunning mountain views, bright blue lakes, and huge waterfalls. Trust me, you will fall in love with the area as soon as you arrive!

We spent an entire week exploring the Canadian Rockies, and it was nothing short of amazing. We unfortunately visited during the wildfire season, which meant most areas were pretty smoky, but the views were still gorgeous. We explored Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, and Jasper National Park all within our week, making it an incredible trip!

Although you could spend months exploring Canadian Rockies, you can visit the popular areas in just a week. I created this guide to have the best 7-day Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary, so you can explore Banff, Yoho, and Jasper in one incredible trip.

Get your cameras and hiking boots ready!

NOTE: Jasper was impacted by wildfires in July 2024. To stay updated, please visit here.

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Tips for Visiting the Canadian Rockies

Start your days early. Over four million people visit Banff and Jasper every year, and the area is busy, especially during peak season. I recommend starting your day early to beat the crowds and avoid congestion getting into the park. Some popular attractions had full parking lots before 8:00 AM when we visited, so we decided after our first day to wake up earlier to explore the most popular areas first.
Buy your park pass in advance. Most must-see attractions in this itinerary are in national parks, so I recommend buying a park pass for the total number of days you will be exploring the area. It will allow you to go in and out of each national park without spending time waiting in line each day.
Plan your trip to Moraine Lake ahead of time. Because Moraine Lake is one of the most popular places to visit in Banff, its road is closed to private vehicles to help alleviate traffic and congestion at the spot. Banff offers a few shuttles from downtown or nearby Park and Ride lots. You can take the Roam Public Transit from downtown, or you can take the Parks Canada Shuttle from the Lake Louise Park and Ride. I recommend buying any bus reservations in advance because they will sell out quickly.
Stay aware of bears and other wildlife. The Canadian Rockies have so much wildlife, including grizzly bears and we saw many animals while driving around the park. I recommend packing bear spray, making noise while hiking, and hiking in groups. If you have questions, I recommend speaking with a local park ranger.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

Closest Airports to the Canadian Rockies

The Calgary International Airport is the closest airport to the Canadian Rockies with the best flight options, especially if you are flying internationally, but you could also fly into Edmonton International Airport. Calgary is about 1.5 hours from Banff and 4.5 hours from Jasper.

We flew into Calgary because there were better flight options, and it took us about 5 hours to drive to Jasper National Park. It was a long drive, but the views along the route were incredible! We almost flew into Edmonton then out of Calgary, but it ended up being easier to fly in and out of Calgary.

I also recommend renting a car when you arrive at the airport because it is the easiest way to explore the Canadian Rockies. Banff and Jasper have shuttle services, but I prefer renting a car to be on my own schedule.

Where to Stay in the Canadian Rockies

The two best areas to stay in the Canadian Rockies are Banff and Jasper. I recommend spending half your road trip in Jasper, then moving to a Banff accommodation so you can be closer to the attractions in this itinerary.

Banff and Jasper have everything you need for your trip, including shops, restaurants, and accommodations for every budget.

We loved staying in both towns because they were stunning! The views of the surrounding mountains from downtown are gorgeous, and you will love walking around Banff and Jasper.

Jasper Hotels

Jasper Campgrounds

Wapiti Campground

Whistlers Campground

Banff Hotels

Banff Campgrounds

Tunnel Mountain Village I Campground

Two Jack Lakeside Campground

What to Pack for the Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies have unpredictable weather that can change quickly, making it crucial to pack layers, especially if you are hiking. Even if you visit in the summer, I recommend packing a warm layer just in case.

This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:

Canadian Rockies Road Trip Map

Canadian Rockies Road Trip Itinerary

One of the best things about this itinerary is its flexibility, allowing you to switch around days or start in Banff and end in Jasper. I created it so you can rearrange it to best fit what you want to do during your road trip.

I learned a lot when we visited and made mistakes, so you do not have to! I used everything I learned to create the best itinerary for visiting the Canadian Rockies.

Days 1-2: Jasper National Park

Your first two days in the Canadian Rockies are spent exploring the beautiful lakes and trails in Jasper National Park.

Because you only have two days in Jasper, I recommend starting your days early and making the most of your time. Trust me, you are going to want to spend every second of your days exploring everything Jasper offers.

Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake will be your go-to spots for sunrise. We watched the most beautiful sunrise at Pyramid Lake, and we were the only people there! Pyramid Lake has a small island in the middle that is the perfect location to watch the sunrise. After watching the sunrise, I recommend stopping at Patricia Lake on your way out. In my opinion, Pyramid Lake is the most beautiful spot for sunrise, so I would prioritize that over Patricia Lake.
Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake are some of the most iconic lakes in Jasper National Park. Although you can enjoy the views from the lake’s shores, I recommend taking a cruise into the 14-mile-long glacier lake, which brings you near Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in the Canadian Rockies! You can also hike an easy 1.7-mile roundtrip hike along the shores of Maligne Lake and Moose Lake. If you visit in the morning, you are likely to see some wildlife, too!

Note: If you want to rent a canoe, kayak, or rowboat on Maligne Lake, I recommend arriving right when it opens because the rentals sell out quickly. To be honest, boat rentals are pretty pricey, so we skipped it. It was much more fun to hike along its shores and go on the cruise.

Lake Annette and Edith Lake are two more beautiful lakes in Jasper National Park that are beautiful swimming spots! If you do not want to jump into glacier waters (I feel you, I did not want to either), you can hike a 1.7-mile paved trail around Lake Annette or rent a paddleboard.
Valley of Five Lakes is one of the most iconic hikes in Jasper National Park, and you have two hikes to choose: 6 miles and 3 miles. If you have time, I recommend hiking the longer trail, but honestly, you cannot go wrong with either. The third and fourth are the most beautiful lakes, in my opinion, and make perfect picnic locations. Because this is a very popular hike, I recommend arriving at the trailhead early. The parking lot can be full by 9:00 AM!

how to spend 3 days in jasper

the best easy hikes in jasper

Pyramid Lake - Photo by Alex Iby - Canadian rockies road trip - canadian rockies itinerary

Day 3: Icefields Parkway

It is time to pack up and start the drive on one of the most beautiful roads on the planet. The Icefields Parkway is a breathtaking drive connecting Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, and you will spend the entire day exploring it.

There is so much to see on the Icefields Parkway, so I recommend stopping at every overlook. It is well worth it, I promise!

Once you arrive in Banff, you can check into your accommodation, grab some food, and rest up for more adventures to come.

Want to start your day exploring a beautiful waterfall? Athabasca Falls is not a tall waterfall, but it has a gorgeous backdrop of Mt. Kerkeslin. A short hike brings you into the canyon to the waterfall, offering beautiful views of the blue waters and surrounding mountains.
Athabasca Glacier is next on the itinerary and might become one of your favorite things on the road trip! It is the most-visited glacier in North America, and it is part of the Columbia Icefield, the only remaining part of what used to be a huge ice mass covering most of Western Canada. Many of the tallest mountains in the Canadian Rockies are situated here, so the views are AMAZING! I recommend going on a tour so you can explore the glacier and get up close and personal with it. You can also walk along the glass-floored Skywalk to enjoy the beautiful views.
Peyto Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and yes, the waters are THAT blue! A 2-mile paved trail leads you to the iconic spot where you will be one of a million people taking in the view. If you are looking to get away from the crowds, you can follow the trail to Bow Valley Summit, which offers more beautiful views of the lake from the south, looking north. Even with crowds, it was one of my favorite spots in the Canadian Rockies!
Bow Lake is another beautiful but lesser-known lake, and it is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park, sitting at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. If you are looking for a reflection shot, this is the lake for you! Clear skies and calm waters allow for a beautiful reflection of its neighbor, Bow Summit. Bow Lake is the perfect sunset spot, too!

Day 4: Yoho National Park

I hope you are not over beautiful lakes because you have so many more to see on your Canadian Rockies road trip!

Yoho National Park is the neighbor of Banff National Park, making it a perfect day trip to get beautiful views with fewer crowds!

We absolutely loved visiting Yoho National Park, so I know you will enjoy it. The views are just as beautiful as those in Banff and Jasper, but for some reason, it is less visited. You could spend a few days exploring it, but you can see most of the must-see attractions within a day.

Takakkaw Falls is the second-tallest waterfall in Canada and is only a short walk from the parking lot. I LOVED this spot. We had the entire place to ourselves, and the views were beyond beautiful. A lot of trails start here, too, so if you want to hike, it is a great area for it! One of the best hikes is a 6-mile hike to Yoho Lake.
Emerald Lake is the largest lake in Yoho National Park and is one of the most iconic in the area. There is so much to do at Emerald Lake, so make sure to allocate some time to be here! I recommend hiking the easy 3.5-mile hike around the lake because the views are stunning! You can also rent rowboats and canoes to explore this beautiful lake, but to be honest, they are pretty pricey. If you want to splurge, it is a fun activity though!
In the western parts of Yoho National Park lies Wapta Falls. Although not tall like Takakkaw Falls, Wapta Falls will impress you with its power. In terms of water volume, it is the largest waterfall in Yoho National Park, at 59 feet tall and 330 feet wide. An easy 3-mile roundtrip hike gets you up close and personal with Wapta Falls.

best hikes in yoho national park

Days 5-7: Banff National Park

It is finally time to explore the iconic Banff National Park. The 4,000 square miles of Banff National Park hold some of the most beautiful places, from majestic mountains to amazing wildlife.

There are many spots to visit in Banff, so make sure to pull over everywhere you can because every spot is worth the time. You can also add many easy hikes in Banff to your itinerary.

Fun Fact: Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park.

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake will be your go-to spots for sunrise. There are easy trails that bring you around each shoreline, but I think the best views are at the first viewpoint area. It will be packed, but you will be able to find a great spot to take pictures and watch the sunrise.

Note: Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles to help alleviate traffic and congestion. Instead, you have to use the public shuttle bus system.

Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka are two more beautiful lakes. You can walk along each lake or take a cruise on Lake Minnewanka. The cruise is a really fun way to explore the lake.
Johnston Canyon is one of my favorite spots in Banff National Park, so I know you will love it. The 3-mile roundtrip hike brings you through a beautiful canyon along Johnston Creek, with multiple waterfalls along the way. If you want to hike more once you are at Upper Falls (the last waterfall), don’t fret! An additional 2-mile hike leads to the Ink Pots. These are green mineral springs that sit in a beautiful meadow.
Johnston Canyon is along Bow Valley Parkway, so you can drive along it after hiking through the canyon. Bow Valley Parkway runs parallel to the Trans-Canada Highway for 30 miles, and it is a great alternative drive between Banff and Lake Louise once you have already explored the Icefields Parkway. It is also an awesome spot to see wildlife, especially if you drive on it in the morning. We saw moose, deer, and bears on this road!

Storm Mountain Lookout and Morant’s Curve are two pull-off spots that do not require hiking to enjoy the views. Morant’s Curve is one of the most photographed spots in Banff National Park! If you plan it right, you can capture the classic picture of a train driving along the blue river.

Downtown Banff is one of the most beautiful mountain towns in the world and the perfect way to spend an afternoon shopping, eating delicious food, enjoying the views, and visiting museums. You can also explore some fun nearby attractions, including the below.
Bow Falls is a beautiful 30-foot waterfall that is a must for everyone to visit. The easy 1.8-mile trail follows along the Bow River before crossing the Banff Pedestrian Bridge and bringing you to the Bow Falls Viewpoint. I loved this hike because you get beautiful views of the river, waterfall, and downtown.
Tunnel Mountain is a fun 2.8-mile roundtrip trail near downtown, offering some of the best views near downtown Banff! Although the hike is under 3 miles, it is steep in some sections, but I promise it is worth it for the beautiful views!
Surprise Corner Lookout is one of my favorite scenic lookouts in Banff, overlooking Sulphur Mountain and Banff Springs Hotel. If you want to watch the sunset, I recommend going to Surprise Corner Lookout. It is easily one of my favorite sunset spots near downtown, and you will be in awe of the views!

If you want to visit Banff and Jasper, this guide is the perfect place to start planning! It has everything you need to know to create the ultimate 7-day Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary. And trust me, you will fall in love quickly!