15 Beautiful Alberta Road Trips

Quite possibly the most varied province in Canada, there are so many incredible Alberta road trips. From the rugged Canadian badlands to the jaw-dropping Rocky Mountains, Alberta has everything you could want. Whether it’s exploring the wide-open prairies or one of Canada’s most photographed lakes, there’s an Alberta road trip for everyone.

Alberta is also the home province of Must Do Canada and we know this place better than anyone. We’ve driven from North to South and from West to East, chronicling many of our experiences on this website and on our Youtube channel. Alberta is our backyard and we love it here.

Whether you’re looking for a summer road trip, a winter road trip, or just a weekend getaway from one of the big cities, we’ve got 15 Alberta road trip itineraries for you to choose from.

15 Amazing Road Trips in Alberta

Alberta is a unique province in Canada. Although it has no access to the ocean, it has almost everything else you could ask for. In the West, you’ll find the world-famous Canadian Rockies, which is home to popular places such as Banff and Jasper. Just east of the mountains is the foothills and the prairies, which are home to Calgary and a variety of western-style small towns. In the north, you’ll find the sprawling Boreal forest and to further southeast of the province is the incredible Canadian Badlands and some of the richest dinosaur fossil discoveries on Earth. Alberta doesn’t have the ocean but it has everything else and the 15 road trips in Alberta mentioned below will showcase the best of the province from all four corners.

Icefields Parkway

When it comes to road trips in Alberta, the most famous of them all is the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper. This world-famous Alberta road trip has been proclaimed as one of the best in the world, so it’s easy to see why it’s often ranked as the best in the province. Starting from Lake Louise and going all the way up Highway 93 to Jasper, you’ll pass towering mountain peaks, turquoise-colored lakes, a variety of glaciers, the Columbia Icefields, and many stunning waterfalls. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Where and How

The Icefields Parkway officially starts near Lake Louise and ends in Jasper, so you can start from either end. We recommend going both ways and deciding which direction you like best. Both are amazing but we tend to like the drive from Jasper to Lake Louise even better.

How Long You Need

The 230-kilometre highway takes three hours without stopping but we’d recommend reserving an entire day. There’s so many scenic pull-outs, viewpoints and natural attractions along the way that you do not want to rush it.

Best Time to Go

The Icefields Parkway is a beautiful drive all year long. The summer and the fall are the most popular times to go as more attractions are open, the roads are generally safer, the weather is nice, and the lakes are beautifully turquoise. However, the winter is also a great time to go. You just need to be more prepared. Not only can the roads be closed due to avalanches and other hazards but it’s also mandatory to have winter or snow-rates tires.

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Important Notes

Parks Pass: The Icefields Parkway is located in both Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. You will need a Parks Pass to enter. These can be purchases at the parks entrance, parks offices, or online. They cost approximately $20 per day or about $140 for the entire year.

Fuel: We highly recommend fuelling up before you begin this drive, either in Lake Louise or in Jasper. There’s only one gas station along the way at Saskatchewan River Crossing, which is the half-way point more or less. However, it’s not open year-round. It’s not a long trip but just to be safe, fill up beforehand.

Want more? Click here to read our guide to the Icefields Parkway!

Calgary to Lake Louise

If we had to pick the Alberta road trip that we’ve done the most, it would be the drive from Calgary to Lake Louise. Since we live in Calgary, we’re always driving out to Banff and Lake Louise to go skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer. Other times we go just to enjoy the beauty of both the town of Banff and the surrounding area. After all, it’s only two hours to go from a major city to a stunning glacial lake.

Where and How

Unless you’re coming from BC, you’ll likely be starting in Calgary and heading out to the national parks. The two-hour journey will take you past the Kananaskis, Canmore, and Banff before arriving in Lake Louise. What’s cool about this road trip is that you really see the contrasts of scenery, going from the flatter foothills of Calgary to the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rockies. There are lots of things you can do along the way to extend this trip from a couple of hours to a few days.

How Long You Need

This 180-kilometre trip takes just two hours without stopping. However, we always recommend stopping along the way. We also recommend taking the Bow Valley Parkway, which we’ll discuss below.

Best Time to Go

This road trip can be done throughout the year. Both Banff and Lake Louise are popular throughout the year. The highest crowds can be found in the summer when temperatures are at their highest. However, the winter is a magical time of year to visit as you’ll find frozen lakes, world-class skiing, and more.

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Important Notes:

Parks Pass: Banff and Lake Louise are located within Banff National Park, which means you’ll need a parks pass. If you’re going to be spending one week or more in any national parks across the country within a year, we highly recommend buying a Discovery Pass.

Bow Valley Parkway

Although the parkway is currently closed to traffic (won’t reopen until 2022), it’s still a beautiful road trip done by bike! The Bow Valley Parkway is a little side highway next to the Trans-Canada that provides a more scenic and narrower highway through the mountains. We love it in the winter when you’re surrounded by snow-covered trees. It’s also home to the incredible Johnston Canyon, one of the top hikes we recommend.

Where and How

Just past Banff on the way to Lake Louise, you’ll see an exit to Highway 1A, less than 8 kilometers from Banff. If you’re coming from Lake Louise, you’ll want to take Whitehorn Road / Highway 1A East towards the ski hill, turning right onto highway 1A.

How Long You Need

The highway itself is less than 60 kilometres so it really won’t take you more than an hour. However, we highly recommend stopping to hike into Johnston Canyon, or enjoying one of the many other hikes in the area.

Best Time to Go

This is also a popular road trip in both summer and in the winter. Johnston Canyon is equally beautiful in all seasons. However, the road is currently closed to vehicle traffic until 2022.

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