Visitors come from far and wide to experience Jasper National Park’s 11,000 square kilometres of glaciers, lakes and Rocky Mountain peaks, along with iconic sites like Spirit Island, Mount Edith Cavell, Athabasca Falls and Maligne Canyon.
We can’t wait to welcome you to experience it all. Here’s what you need to know to start your journey to Jasper.
If you’re coming to Alberta to visit Jasper, you might land at Edmonton International Airport because it’s a slightly shorter journey to Jasper than from Calgary. Edmonton, which is the capital of Alberta and the second biggest city in the province, is about 365 km away from Jasper and the drive will take you around four hours.
Your other option is to land at Calgary International Airport. Calgary is the biggest city in the province with 1.3 million residents and plenty to explore. The journey to Jasper is longer from Calgary — just under five hours — but you may have come through this city to visit Banff first, a stop you can make on your journey.
From Edmonton: Head west from the city on Alberta Highway 16, which leads directly into the mountains to Jasper. (Total time: 3 hours 50 minutes)
From Calgary: Head west out of town on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) towards to mountains. Keep driving past Banff and right after Lake Louise, you’ll continue forward on Alberta Highway 93 (rather than veering left to continue on AB-1. Follow to Jasper! (Total time: 4 hours 45 minutes)
From Banff: Stopped in Banff first? You can continue down past Lake Louise to Alberta Highway 93, also known as the Icefields Parkway. It’s a beautiful drive, but make sure to check for road closures if you’re travelling in the winter. (Total time: 3 hours 30 minutes)
From Edmonton: There are several bus transportation options from Edmonton, including SunDog Tours and Cold Shot.
From Calgary: If you’re not looking to rent a car and drive, take the Brewster Express in the summer from the Calgary Airport or downtown. In the winter, this bus doesn’t take you all the way to Jasper, so you’ll have to connect through Edmonton. This includes services like Red Arrow, Rider Express, Cold Shot and The Canada Bus.
From Banff: Hop on the Mountain Connector from Sundog Transportation to travel to Jasper from Banff and relax during this scenic bus ride.
Snow is plentiful in the Rocky Mountains and if you visit in the winter, you’re sure to see a snowfall or two. The weather can get chilly and dry — expect average lows of -15°C but prepare for colder as the temperature can get to -30°C. Pack warm clothes and look forward to favourite winter activities like skiing at Marmot Basin, skating on frozen lakes, snowshoeing and soaking in the Miette Hot Springs.
While snow lingers, temperature highs hover around 10°C. Alberta gets a lot of sun, so you might feel a bit of summertime weather. Don’t be surprised when locals emerge in shorts while snow remains on the ground. All your favourite winter activities are available through most of the spring — like skiing and snowshoeing — but with warmer weather. Seasonal summer activities also start opening in May, so look out for sightseeing and touring!
At last, it’s warm and sunny! The weather can still get cool in the summer, especially during the evenings and early mornings. If you’re heading out on a hike, you might start with a light jacket and pants and end up in shorts and a T-shirt. This season, some of our favourite attractions open including Maligne Lake Cruise, Columbia Icefield Adventure and boat rentals on Pyramid Lake.
It’s the season of watching the leaves change, and if you’re lucky, seeing the first snowfall. You’ll find mornings to be quite chilly and then warm in the afternoon in early fall. By December, temperatures will likely be cool all day. Enjoy picturesque autumn views on one of many hikes open well into this season.
If you’re driving, you’ll need to purchase a park pass to enter Jasper National Park. The park passes and fees help maintain and service the park. You can purchase your pass at the entry gates to the park or in advance online.
