Driving from Vancouver to Jasper is an incredibly scenic, although slightly less popular, road trip here in Canada. With many tourists favoring to only drive as far as Banff or Lake Louise.
But, we did this drive in the summer, and let me tell you it was one of our favorite road trips we’ve ever done (and that’s coming from someone who lived in New Zealand, aka the road trip capital of the world!)
The shortest route from Vancouver, BC, to Jasper, Alberta, is 8 hours-long (without stopping). And this route goes via Clearwater. The longer route and the one we recommend taking goes via Banff and will take 11.5 hours (950 km) without stops.
But please don’t do this 950 km drive without making several stops along the way. We’ve listed 20 incredible stops here – and you may/ may not be able to do them all, depending on how much time you have. If you can allow at least 5 full days for the drive.
BEST Stops Between Vancouver and Jasper
The route I recommend here is the longer route via Banff, which is 950 km long and passes by Lake Louise, Banff, and the Icefields Parkway. As I said, allow at least 5 full days for the drive, and there are plenty of large towns along the way that you can stop off and spend the night at a nice hotel. Like, Whistler, Kamloops, Revelstoke, and Banff.
✅ Parks Canada Pass Info: The Government of Canada is offering free admission to places operated by Parks Canada from June 19 to September 7, 2026 inclusive.
1. Capilano Suspension Bridge
Your first stop is just a 15-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. I’m sure you’ve heard of the famed Capilano Suspension Bridge. This feat of engineering hangs 70 meters over the Capilano River, and it’s 137 meters long. And the views are stunning – think lush green forest and a gushing bright blue river!
I recommend spending at least an hour here. But it’s worth noting that the Capilano Suspension Bridge doesn’t open until 8:30 am. FYI, it closes at 8 pm for most of the year.
Tickets for the Capilano Suspension Bridge cost from $78 CAD per person.
2. Horseshoe Bay
Your second stop should be the quaint coastal village of Horseshoe Bay which is famous for being the spot the ferry leaves for Vancouver Island. Spend around 30 minutes here strolling around the sweet downtown area – grab a coffee from the Lookout Coffee Shop, which boasts lovely views of the Howe Sound, and then sit by the water to watch the huge ferries coming in and out.
3. Brittania Mine
Your next stop is definitely unique. The Britannia Mine was once the biggest copper mine in the world, and at its peak, it employed around 60,000 people. Today, you can learn all about the history of the mine at the on-site interactive museum. During your visit, you’ll get to ride on a train into the heart of the mine to see where miners dug for the copper.
You can buy a ticket to Brittania Mine here and it costs $42 CAD per person!
4. Shannon Falls
Before entering the small city of Squamish, you’ll come to Shannon Falls. It’s one of the tallest waterfalls in the state at 335 meters (1,099 feet!) It’s a short walk from the car park to the falls, and there are several viewpoints for you to marvel at this natural beauty and, of course, snap lots of photos!
5. Squamish
Squamish is a lovely little outdoorsy city – with a population of around 25,000.
It’s so picturesque here, and the popular Netflix TV Series ‘Virgin River’ is filmed close to Squamish (my mom loves that show!) We recommend spending a couple of hours in Squamish, strolling around the shops, maybe grabbing lunch and a coffee (we love Zephyr Cafe here) before heading up the Sea to Sky Gondola.
The Sea to Sky Gondola is a must-do while in Squamish. The gondola takes you up 2,900 feet, and along the ride, you can enjoy spectacular views of Howe Sound. Once at the top, you can go for a hike, walk across the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, and admire the views from the various viewing platforms! A ticket for this gondola costs around $75 CAD.
6. Brandywine Falls
Around 30 minutes from Squamish and just before you reach Whistler, we recommend stopping at another gorgeous waterfall.
Brandywine Falls is a spectacular 70-meter waterfall that can be seen from a viewpoint, a short walk from the car park. Or if you’re fit, you can do as the locals do and hike to the base of the falls.
7. Whistler
Whistler is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in Canada – with well over 3 million visitors vacationing here annually. Its popularity lies in the fact it is breathtakingly beautiful (think looming mountains and bright blue lakes). I recommend allowing at least one night here so that you can enjoy the best this stunning town has to offer.
The best things to do in Whistler:
There are heaps of amazing activities to choose from in Whistler, from winter sports like skiing or snowmobiling to relaxing at an outdoor spa! Below you’ll find my top picks for things to do in Whistler.
- Skiing – Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort is consistently rated as one of the top ski resorts in the world, thanks to its tree-lined runs and powder conditions. If you’re visiting in the winter it’s a must-do. The ski area at Whistler Blackcomb is massive (it’s 4,757 acres) – that area includes 200 runs and 36 lifts. And there’s a run suitable for every ability.
- Off-road buggy – A great summer activity in Whistler is an off-road buggy tour. On this fast-paced tour, you’ll learn how to drive your very own 4×4 offroad buggy and drive up backcountry mountain roads and narrow thick-forested tracks. You can book the 3-hour Odyssey Tour here, prices start from $355 CAD per person! Which I think is pretty reasonable for this bucket-list-worthy experience!
- Ziplining – Ziptrek Ecotours offers 4 distinct zipline tours and the TreeTrek canopy walk. It’s also home of the Sasquatch – the longest zipline in Canada and the USA. The Sasquatch is 2km in length! There are several tours to choose from the Bear Tour (4 ziplines); the Eagle Tour (5 ziplines) and the Sasquatch one monster zipline.
- Scandinave Spa – Scandinave Spa a short drive from Whistler Village allows you to chill out in the heart of nature. This Nordic-inspired 20,000-square-foot outdoor spa is surrounded by cedar trees. And you can soak in the outdoor hot tub and experience the beautiful vista of Whistler’s natural beauty.
Where to stay in Whistler:
Located in Whistler’s Upper Village, at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. The huge Fairmont Chateau Whistler is one of the best places to stay if you’re visiting Whistler in the winter even if you don’t ski as there are loads of facilities here to keep you busy.
8. Pemberton
Just under a 30-minute drive from Whistler is the small town of Pemberton. It’s the perfect stop for a coffee at Mt Currie on Arbutus Street, home to the best coffee in the Whistler area. If you’re hungry, you can’t go wrong with the burgers at Mile One Eating House.
If you have time, one of the best things to do in Pemberton is to hike to Joffre Lakes – this hike can take up to 5 hours to complete. I would say it’s a medium level of difficulty, as there are a couple of uphill sections – a reasonable level of fitness is required for this trail. But, I promise the views along the way and the glacier-fed lakes (Gatorade blue in color) are well worth the long hike.
9. Kamloops
The city of Kamloops is a great place to spend the second night of your road trip from Whistler to Jasper. There are awesome restaurants, craft breweries and wineries a-plenty.
Pay a visit to Riverside Park for a walk in the evening, there’s a sandy river beach, various walking trails, and live music events on some weekend evenings. If you’re traveling with kids, a great place to take them is to the BC Wildlife Park. This is a zoo that houses native animals like grizzly bears and arctic wolves.
Fun fact – Jurassic World 3 and Twilight Zone were both recently filmed in the Kamloops area.
Where to stay in Kamloops:
There are two hotels I highly recommend in Kamloops -The first one is where we stayed when we did this road trip – Best Western Plus a 3-star hotel with an indoor pool and hot tub, and comfortable rooms which come with a flat screen TV and a microwave. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Rooms here start from about $200 CAD per night.
Our second recommendation is the luxurious Delta Hotel by Marriott, which has an outdoor pool and air-conditioned, spacious rooms. There’s also a gym, terrace area with lovely views and a 24-hour reception. A room here averages around $260 CAD per night.
10. Sicamous
The Sicamous area has over 1,000 km of coastline, so it’s no surprise that some of the best things to do here are water-related. Swim in the warm waters of Sicamous Beach Park or try kayaking, canoeing, or SUP paddle boarding, all popular activities here.
Treat yourself to homemade ice cream and artisan cheese at D Dutchman Dairy. This bright red building can’t be missed from the road and is very photogenic. We also loved Blondies Cafe for great coffee and yummy smoothie bowls.
Did you know – Sicamous is known as the houseboat capital of Canada!
11. Revelstoke
‘Small town charm, big mountain adventure” is the motto here in Revelstoke. In the town, there’s lots to do, think small museums, a brewery tour, an escape room, and even axe-throwing.
Revelstoke Mountain is the mecca of alpine mountain biking and offers incredible lift-accessed biking. If you’re visiting in Winter, the mountain has 65 ski runs. Whilst in the Summer you can enjoy the Pipe Mountain Coaster, the Aerial Adventure Park, and of course the mountain biking as mentioned above. No matter the season, there’s a full day of activities at the Resort.
Where to stay in Revelstoke:
I advise spending the night in Revelstoke to break up your journey from Vancouver to Jasper nicely. I loved the Mount Revelstoke Alpine Chalets! Each chalet comes with a balcony (overlooking the mountains), a fully equipped kitchenette and a seating area with a TV. Expect to pay around $119 CAD per night here.
12. Glacier National Park of Canada
Glacier National Park is an adventure lover’s heaven. Climb up mountain peaks, camp next to a glacier-fed river, go hiking amongst the stunning scenery, and take a mountain bike ride on one of the trails. One of my favorite hikes in the park is the 7.2 km trail that takes you along the abandoned railway tracks of Canada’s first trans-continental railway.
You can even explore what’s left behind of the Glacier House hotel – Western Canada’s first luxury mountain resort. A series of avalanches starting in the year 1910 caused the railway line, which passed the hotel, to be moved, thus taking away their tourist traffic, and so it eventually closed and was left to go to ruin!
13. Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake is located in Yoho National Park, and it’s one of the most popular and photographed lakes in the area. It’s the largest lake in the park and is surrounded by the President mountain range.
The hike around the lake, clocking in at about an hour, is a great way to see the lake as well as the world-famous Burgess Shale fossil beds, the Michael glacier, and an avalanche slope carpeted by meadows where moose often graze. Other than moose, you are likely to see bald eagles, ospreys and waterfowl around the lake’s edge.
14. Lake Louise
Lake Louise is world famous for its gatorade-blue waters and it attracts millions of visitors every year. The Victoria Glacier, the luxurious Fairmont Lake Louise hotel, and the incredible hiking trail and skiing on offer all add to its appeal.
Rent a canoe from the boat dock and see the lake from a different perspective. Worth noting is that Lake Louise is frozen over half the year, so, ice skating is a popular activity during the winter. You can also enjoy sleigh rides, ice climbing, skiing, and snowshoeing during these colder months.
Pop into Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for lunch or spend the night here if you want to feel really fancy. Many of the rooms at this bucket-list-worthy property boast lake views. Just imagine waking up to that view in the morning!
15. Johnston Canyon
One of the most noteworthy stops on the drive from Lake Louise to Banff is Johnston Canyon. Located just 25 minutes from your previous stop, this popular hiking destination features a series of picturesque waterfalls.
The trail, which is accessible year-round, takes you through a lush forest and along dramatic canyon walls, offering an invigorating start to your trip. The Lower Falls are a mere 1.1 kilometers from the parking lot, making it an ideal stop for all ages and abilities.
The trail leads you to the Lower and Upper Falls, providing breathtaking views of cascading water and lush forest. If you’re up for a bit more adventure, continue to the Ink Pots, a series of vibrant, mineral-rich pools that are as mesmerizing as they are serene.
16. Banff
The drop-dead gorgeous mountain town of Banff is often compared to Whistler as both towns are home to some of the best ski runs in North America and attract a mostly young, fun crowd.
As you can imagine, Banff is a very popular tourist destination, with July and August being the busiest months here.
Best things to do in Banff:
As you can guess, in such a busy tourist town, there’s lots to do in Banff, but some of my favorite things to do here include:
- Taking in the jaw-dropping scenery from the Banff Gondola – this 8-minute gondola ride takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain. As you can imagine, the views on the way up and from the top are astounding and you’ll be able to see Banff town as well as 6 different mountain ranges. The highest Starbucks in Canada is located in the lower terminal here.
- Joining a 3 hour white water rafting trip – In the summer months you can book this fun whitewater rafting tour on the nearby Kicking Horse River, which is known to have some of the best rapids and whitewater in the country! It costs from $148 CAD per person.
- You can even do a grizzly bear tour from Banff, where you go in search of the elusive grizzly bear in nearby national parks. This tour is a firm favorite of mine! This tour includes lunch at Canada’s highest restaurant.
Where to stay in Banff:
We stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs – the epitome of luxury. This giant historic hotel is located within Banff National Park – around an 8 minute drive from the center of town. It is truly a bucket list stay.
17. Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is famous for its turquoise blue glacier-fed waters. The brilliant display of blue is fed by the Peyto Glacier high above the lake and part of the Wapta Icefield.
The viewpoint is one of the most spectacular in all of Banff National Park and a super popular spot for photographers. In my opinion, it’s as pretty as nearby Moraine Lake but without the crowds. The trail to the viewpoint starts at the far end of the car park. The hike up to Peyto Lake Lookout is short and sweet and takes around 10-15 minutes uphill.
18. Columbia Icefields
The Columbia Icefields is one of the most unique stops on the drive from Banff to Jasper, and it’s the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. You can join a walking tour that takes you right onto the Athabasca glacier!
We chose to just visit the Icefield Skywalk as we were short on time. It’s a glass-floored lookout, which was a little scary. But, it’s well worth it as, along the way, you learn about the story of the Icefields. You will also be treated to an epic view of the Sunwapta Valley.
19. Sunwapta Falls
Fed by the Athabasca Glacier, the Sunwapta Falls is a stunning place to stop. The falls are 18 meters tall. This site is good for a quick stop – the upper falls can be viewed from the car park if you’re short on time. You can go white-water rafting (imagine!), and there are many awesome hiking trails, two of the most popular being the hikes to the Lower and Upper Falls.
20. Athabasca Falls
The lovely Athabasca Waterfall stems from the Athabasca River and is 23-meters tall. There are a number of lookout points where you can see the power of the falls. The falls itself are not very high compared to others in the Canadian Rockies, but the size of the river makes these falls one of the most powerful in the country!
21. Jasper
Jasper is one of my favorite towns in Canada. When I visited, I could really imagine myself living there. Not only is it incredibly scenic, but it’s the right mix of small town charm with lots of activities and great restaurants.
Jasper is home to the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve in the world. The annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival is held in October every year – it draws thousands of visitors and has had guest speakers from NASA as well as Hollywood celebrities in the past. Jasper has over 1,200 km of hiking trails, and some of the best in the area include Pyramid Lake and Maligne Canyon.
Another great thing to do in Jasper is to hop on the Jasper SkyTram – Canada’s highest and longest, guided aerial tramway up to the top of the 2,263-meter summit. Grab some food at the restaurant at the top, and enjoy views of Mount Robson (in the next state, B.C.).
If you’re visiting Jasper in the Summer and you’re feeling adventurous, then you must book onto the two hour white water rafting tour on the Athabasca River. This is grade 2 rafting so expect to get wet!
Where to Stay in Jasper
- Fairmont Jasper Park is a collection of luxurious log cabins located on the emerald-green Lac Beauvert. This is the ultimate bucket-list-worthy hotel in Jasper!
- Chateau Jasper is a cozy hotel surrounded by the mountains of Jasper National Park and a 10 minute walk from the center of town.
- Jasper Inn and Suites just off Highway is a cozy inn-style property with a pool and a sauna.
- Bear Hill Lodge relaxed cabin-style accommodation (with fireplaces) surrounded by woodland.
My Top Tips for this Drive:
- Ensure your car is prepared for the journey by checking fluid levels, tire pressure, and fuel, as services can be sparse in remote areas.
- If you’re doing the drive in the winter, ensure you have winter tyres.
- Pack essentials like snacks, water, and a first-aid kit, and consider downloading offline maps since cellular service may be limited in certain stretches.
- Be mindful of wildlife on the roads, especially in national parks.
Renting a Car in Canada
Canada is made for exploring on a road trip. It’s the best way to see the country, in my opinion. FYI, we tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. which is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
My tips for renting a car here in Canada:
- Rent a car from a major city, i.e., Vancouver, as prices tend to be lower – more competition = better prices.
- Try to drop your car off at the same location you picked it up, as some car rental companies will charge you a relocation fee.
- Prices will be cheaper in the off-season (November to April).
Thanks for Reading!
Cheers for sticking with me ’til the end – we loved the drive from Vancouver to Jasper. We took 4 full days to complete it, and to be honest, that amount of time really was necessary as there is so much to do and see along the way.
Your next read –
Our Guide to Exploring Canada in a Campervan
Last Updated on March 5, 2026 by snaphappytravel