Canadian Rockies trip from Calgary to Edmonton
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Detailed road trip itinerary for planning your trip, including a link to a Google map of the route, recommendations for duration at each destination, detailed articles on attractions in each destination, and recommended hotels.
In this itinerary, you start in Calgary and end in Edmonton, both of which have major airports. You can, of course, do the route in reverse as well. Another option is to continue from Edmonton back to Calgary to create a loop, which is sometimes convenient for returning a rental car or RV. The heart of this trip is exploring the wonderful Canadian Rockies in the section from Banff to Jasper.
Route Map:
♦ Link to Google Map with the Route
Destinations Along the Route
|
Destination |
|
Nights |
|
Calgary |
1-2 |
|
|
Banff |
|
3-4 |
|
Jasper |
2-3 |
|
|
Edmonton |
|
1-2 |
Total trip days: 7-12 days.
Route Length: 810 km. Total Driving Time without stops: approx. 10 hours.
Recommended Destinations, Accommodations, and Articles for Each Stop on the Route:
Most destinations have a link to my detailed article about them featuring photos, attractions, important tourist information, and recommended hotels.
Calgary - Calgary
Calgary is especially famous for the Calgary Stampede, the world's largest rodeo festival, which takes place in the city for about ten days every summer in the first half of July.
The Stampede is a colorful fair brimming with attractions, rides, and numerous booths. The highlight is watching the rodeo events. Exciting chuckwagon races are also held in the evenings.
Additional activities in Calgary:
-Walking tour of downtown and taking in the panoramic views of the city and the Canadian Rockies from a high tower in the city - CALGARY TOWER.
-A visit to the Winter Olympics park CANADA OLYMPIC PARK, also known as WinSport, which features a guided tour including a chairlift ride to the top of the ski jump, a visit to the sports hall of fame, and ski simulators. The site also offers ziplines, Bobsleigh rides, Skyline Luge sledding, and plenty of other attractions.
- A visit to Calgary's charming and expansive open-air museum HERITAGE PARK HISTORICAL VILLAGE, considered one of the most successful open-air museums in Canada.
♥ Recommended hotels in Calgary:
A 4-star hotel near the Calgary airport. Features an indoor pool and fitness center. Paid parking, free internet.
♦ Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District
A 3-star hotel in downtown. Each room features a seating area. Free bikes, free internet, fitness center.
♦ Alt Hotel Calgary East Village
A modern hotel in a central location with rooms for 2-4 guests. The hotel features a fitness center, billiards, two restaurants, and a bar. Free internet. Paid parking.
Article: ← Trips in the Banff Area
Banff - Banff
Banff National Park is one of the two largest and most popular parks in the Canadian Rockies: Banff in the south and Jasper in the north, both located in the province of Alberta.
Banff National Park includes the scenic and tourist-friendly town of Banff, which offers plenty of attractions and activities, as well as the breathtaking Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. It borders other successful parks already located in the province of British Columbia: Kootenay Kootenay and Yoho Yoho.
Highway 93 between Banff National Park, called the ICEFIELD Pkwy, is the most scenic and impressive highway in the Rockies and deserves a full day of travel. For those planning long treks and hikes on foot, it is recommended to spend more time in the area.
The nearest international airport to the park is located in the city of Calgary, about 130 km east of the town of Banff (about an hour and a half drive).
♦ Recommended guided tours from Banff to book via Viator:
♥ Recommended hotels in the Banff area (you can stay in Banff or in Canmore located just to the east of it)
♥ Recommended hotels near Lake Louise
Articles: ← Banff area ← Recommended accommodation in the Canadian Rockies ← Lake Louise and Moraine Lake ← Trip from Lake Louise to Jasper in the Rockies ← Kootenay Park in the Rockies - Kootenay Park ← Yoho Park in the Rockies - Yoho Park ← Recommendations regarding food in the Rockies
Jasper - Jasper
Jasper National Park is one of the most beautiful and visited national parks in all of Canada. The park is full of lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, towering peaks, and hiking trails of all difficulty levels. It is one of the best places for wildlife viewing, from elk to bears. In the center of the national park lies the charming town of Jasper, which serves as a wonderful base for exploring the entire park. Because it is very popular and the tourist season is short, you should book your accommodation as early as possible.
♥ Recommended hotels in Jasper
Articles: ← Trip to Jasper and its surroundings in the Rockies ← Trip from Lake Louise to Jasper in the Rockies
♦ Recommended guided tours in Jasper (from Viator):
Edmonton - Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of Alberta and is located about 360 km northeast of Jasper and about 300 km (three hours) east of the northern entrance to Jasper National Park.
Edmonton is a pleasant and welcoming city, but its number one attraction is undoubtedly the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping center in North America! A true paradise for shopping enthusiasts. It features more than 800 stores and services and about 100 restaurants and fast-food eateries. But it's not just shopping lovers who are invited to this massive destination. Under one roof, you will also find a unique hotel, a lovely water park (indoor and heated, of course), an amusement park, miniature golf courses, bowling, a pirate ship, an ice skating rink, an aquarium, a submarine ride, dolphin shows, and a host of other attractions..
♦ Guided tours in Edmonton to book via Viator:
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♥ Recommended hotels in Edmonton
Article: ← Shopping and Entertainment Center in Edmonton
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