Icefields Parkway - Travel tips to help you plan your journey

A great swath of sensational country awaits you between Jasper, Alberta and Lake Louise, Alberta along the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93).

Named for the Columbia Icefield and the density of glaciers visible along the route, the parkway bowls along for 232 km (144 miles), passing through long, forested river valleys cradled by walls of dazzling peaks.

Before you embark on your Icefields Parkway journey, a little bit of planning is recommended. We suggest heading out early to avoid the traffic and improve your chances of seeing wildlife. Follow our tips below and be sure to download the Icefields Parkway Planner.

1. Places to Stay

There are two great recommended places to stay if you would like to bookend your Icefields Parkway experience in Lake Louise and Valemount, BC (1 hour west of Jasper).

Traveling the Icefields Parkway is best done by taking it slow.

Staying in Lake Louise or Valemount, BC, is the best way to make the most of your Icefields road trip.

Find Places to Stay

Cyclists pedaling on a quiet stretch of the Icefields Parkway with a lakeside mountain backdrop beside Bow Lake and a passing recreational vehicle nearby.

2. Take Your Time

The Icefields Parkway is more than a drive, it’s a journey of a lifetime that deserves discovery. You can plan your trip in advance, since mobile service is not available, or you can be completely spontaneous and let the landscapes guide you.

Download the Icefields Parkway Guide Map for comprehensive travel information to reference along the way.

3. Plan a Meal

There are few places to stop so pack a lunch or snacks before leaving. Lake Louise and Jasper have great bakeries that offer boxed lunches and freshly baked goodies. There are many fantastic picnic locations to enjoy a meal amidst outstanding vistas.

Places to Eat in Lake Louise

Places to Eat in Jasper

A couple drives a convertible along a scenic mountain highway, surrounded by dense forest and blue skies.

4. Fuel Up

Fuel up in Jasper or Lake Louise before starting out on the Icefields Parkway.

There is one gas station at the Saskatchewan River Crossing Resort but prices are typically higher than in Jasper and Lake Louise. During the peak summer months, there may be delays at the pump due to demand.

5. Bio Breaks

There are a number of locations en route for a bathroom break. Most viewpoints along the Icefields Parkway offer a pull out area or parking lot with outhouse facilities for men and women.

The only facilities with running water are at the Icefields Centre and Saskatchewan River Crossing Resort.

A young girl stands on a rock at Wilcox Pass, looking over a grassy meadow with grazing mountain goats and Mount Athabasca rising in the background.

6. Unplug

There is no cell phone reception along the Icefields Parkway. Banff National Park and Jasper National Park wilderness areas do not have cell phone towers. Turn off your device and enjoy the views.

Download the Icefields Parkway Guide Map as your reference guide for the drive.

7. Safety / Winter Travel

The parkway is busy in July and August with up to 100,000 vehicles a month. It is mainly two lanes with occasional passing lanes. It minimizes grades and hairpin turns but you should look out for wildlife, and vehicles stopped on the shoulder.

Snow can be expected at any time of year and extreme weather is common in winter.

Check Driving Conditions, pack extra clothing and drive within the speed limit.