Answering Common Icefields Parkway Questions

The Icefields Parkway, connecting Banff to Jasper, is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Any visitor to the Canadian Rockies should make sure to enjoy the drive at least once. Here’s all you need to know!

How Long is the Icefields Parkway?

The Icefields Parkway is a 232-km stretch of highway that takes road trippers along the Continental Divide. It runs from Lake Louise in Banff to the Town of Jasper, both of which are fantastic places in themselves. You can drive the parkway from Jasper to Lake Louise, and from Lake Louise to Jasper.

---

How Long Does it Take to Drive the Icefields Parkway?

The quickest you could drive the Icefields Parkway would be about three hours, but rushing through without stopping to savor the experiences along the way would truly be a disservice to you and your time in the Canadian Rockies.

To fully appreciate the Icefields Parkway, consider dedicating at least one FULL day. That means starting early and planning to be out late. You can start from either Jasper or Banff, driving sections at your leisure. You could also plan to stay overnight near the Columbia Icefields Center if you want to take things a bit slower. The Glacier View Lodge offers a spectacular stay—or opt for one of the campsites scattered along the route.

If you’re absolutely pressed for time, we’ve found that a day trip spanning 6 to 8 hours will still give you a good taste of the drive. Often, visitors start in Banff and turn around at the Columbia Icefield.

It’s important to note that the Parkway boasts numerous must-see spots and some great hiking opportunities, but covering them all in a single day is practically impossible unless you rush from sunrise to sunset. Even then, you’ll miss out on some gems. If you plan to hike, don’t forget to allocate extra time for those adventures as well.

---

When is the Best Time to Drive the Icefields Parkway?

The Icefields Parkway is a great drive, no matter the season. It is open all year unless avalanche conditions are too high during winter storms — closures rarely last more than a day or two. The best time to drive the Parkway is in the summer when you can fully enjoy all the stops and hikes. We love anytime between June and September.

If traveling in the winter, the best time to drive the Parkway is between December and March, when the peaks are snow-capped, and it feels like you’re driving through another world. However, this is the most dangerous time to drive, as road conditions deteriorate in the winter. It’s also worth noting that services on the parkway, like restaurants, accommodations, campsites, and the only fuel station, are all completely closed from November to April, so extra planning must be done to make the drive.

---

The Best Transport Options

There are a few ways to see the Icefields Parkway. A personal car, campervan, RV, bus tour, motorcycle, or if you’re really hardcore, you can even cycle it. In the summer, you’ll find a mix of people doing all these things. Personally, I think the best way to see the Icefields Parkway is with your own personal vehicle; that way, you can stop when you want.

I’m not a huge fan of bus tours on the parkway. It’s a small road, and large buses typically crowd the road, and all pull over at the same stops simultaneously, creating a bit of a jam and busy experience for others. Plus the bus tours operate on a schedule with fixed stops, meaning you will miss so many wonderful places that they don’t stop at.

---

Does the Icefields Parkway Cost Anything?

The Icefields Parkway is free to drive, and there is no toll. However, it is in two national parks, and you will need a Parks Canada Pass to drive it. Passes are checked for at the entrance to the Icefields Parkway.

---

Is There Wildlife?

The Icefields Parkway is teeming with wildlife you can see along the drive. Be prepared to see deer, goats, elk, and even a bear or coyote if you’re lucky. We almost always see bears when driving the Icefields Parkway in the summer, but they stay away from traffic and noise pollution, so it’s not a given.

There is nothing wrong with slowing down to take a photo of a bear, but please be mindful of traffic and never get out of your vehicle. However, the slowing vehicle does create a “Bear Jam” from slowing vehicles. In limited numbers, this seems harmless, but it can quickly snowball.

Once one person pulls over to get a closer look at a bear, another car pulls over, and another, and so on. Eventually, people leave their cars and take selfies with the bear (yes, I’m serious), which is dangerous to humans and wildlife.

Parks Canada discourages pulling over for bears and has even made it illegal for buses to do so. They can issue tickets, too. So if you see a bear on the road, slow down and admire it from the car, and do not cause a traffic jam, please. Giving large animals 30 m or three bus lengths of space from your vehicle is recommended, and bears 100 m or ten bus lengths. Never feed or approach wildlife.

---

Where To Fuel Up

There is only one gas station on the entire route, and it’s very expensive. If you’re coming from Lake Louise, you should fill up at the village before getting on the Icefields Parkway. If you’re coming from Jasper, fill up in town before getting on the Parkway.

The Saskatchewan River Crossing, about halfway on the route, is the only place to fill up. They charge higher-than-average prices for their fuel and snacks, but if it’s your only option, you’ll be happy it’s there. They are only open during the summer.

---

Cell Service on the Icefields Parkway

There’s not much cell service along the Parkway. If you’re driving from Lake Louise, you’ll lose a signal sometime after Herbert Lake. If you’re driving from Jasper, you can expect to have a signal until just after the Valley of the Five Lakes Trailhead.

You can sometimes make calls and check emails a few times along Highway 93 North. I typically get a signal at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre in the summer, but that’s really it.

---

Is There Anywhere to Eat

There aren’t many places to eat along the Icefields Parkway, so it’s best to pack a lunch and snacks for the drive. As far as food and restaurants go, The Lodge at Bow Lake has a small cafe open in the summer. There’s also a cafe at the Saskatchewan River Crossing, and the Columbia Icefields Center. All are a bit overpriced and mediocre, but if you’re hungry, you likely won’t care.

---

Do You Need a National Park Pass?

You will need a Parks Canada Pass to drive on the Icefields Parkway, and there are booths just as you’re leaving Lake Louise and Jasper to check if you have them. You can purchase a Parks Canada pass at any park gate. Or you can buy them online in advance. A Parks Canada Discovery Pass, which gets you entrance to all Parks Canada destinations for the year, is only $151.25 for a family.

Day passes are $11.00 per person, so depending on how many days you are staying, you may want to consider the Discover Pass. You will also need a Parks Canada pass to visit Jasper and Banff, so depending on the length of your trip, it’s probably worth buying the Discovery Pass.

---

Winter Driving on the Parkway

The Parkway is open all year round, though I wouldn’t advise driving it in the winter unless you have experience with winter driving. The photos above were all taken on a late November day – and it was pretty wretched.

If there’s been a significant recent snowfall, I would check the conditions and make sure you have a reliable 4×4 vehicle, at the very least. Snow/winter tires are mandatory on the Icefields Parkway from November 1 to April 1. If you’re driving in Alberta in the winter, your vehicle should have winter tires and an emergency kit in case you are stranded. Winter conditions last from late October/early November to April, but even September will see snow in the Rockies.

Highway 93 North isn’t plowed to the same extent as other roads in Alberta, and it is generally not salted. As mentioned above, there’s no cell phone reception to call for help, and it gets very, very, very cold in Alberta in the winter.

Getting stranded could mean life or death if you’re unprepared. Winter traffic is low compared to summer, so you could be waiting a bit until a passerby comes along. I should also mention that the only place you can fill up, the Saskatchewan River Crossing, closes in the winter, so you must get on the Icefields Parkway with a full gas tank in the winter. There are no services in the winter, so bring plenty of snacks!

---

Rest Stops

There are plenty of places to stop for a restroom if need be. Many of the main sites, like Peyto Lake and Bow Lake, have drop toilets, and the Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Glacier Discovery Centre have full rest-stop facilities (and a Starbucks) available in the summer.

---

What is the Best Way to Drive the Icefields Parkway?

We always get asked this, and honestly I don’t think there’s a best way. The views are amazing and unique in each direction!

---

Hikes on the Icefields Parkway

There are plenty of hiking opportunities on the Icefields Parkway. Some of our favorites are Parker Ridge, Bow Glacier Falls, Panther Falls, and Wilcox Pass.