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Itinerary best for
  • Outdoor Adventurers
  • Winter Sports Enthusiasts
  • Culturally Curious

A winter road trip through Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Edmonton, packed with snowy adventures and cozy indoor warmups to reveal the best of winter.

Hit the slopes at legendary ski resorts, crunch through frozen canyons, go dog sledding and glide along on a sleigh ride. Then thaw out with brewery tours, gallery stops and mountain-view dining before the next snowy adventure calls. It's a Canadian road trip built for travellers who want big outdoor thrills with plenty of warm places to land.

At a glance

  • 9-day itinerary
  • 1,382 km (859 mi) total distance
  • 17 hrs 28 mins drive time
  • Your starting point is in Calgary
7 destinations
Starts in

Calgary

Day 1 drive time: 51 min, 31 km (19 mi)
Day 1

Calgary

Kick off today on the local ski hill and end it in an interactive music museum.

People play instruments inside the Studio Bell museum.
Two skiers head down a hill with trees and a chairlift in the background.

WinSport Canada Olympic Park

Channel your inner gold medalist at the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics. This urban ski hill offers three runs, plus a halfpipe, terrain park, beginner areas and a tube park for non-skiers. Your dazzling views on your run include the Rockies and Calgary’s skyline.

88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary, AB T3B 5R5
Couple having dinner at Sky 360 restaurant with views of the city skyline from the Calgary Tower.

Ascend the Calgary Tower

Get acquainted with Calgary from just above the heart of downtown. The iconic tower—which has a natural gas-fuelled flame on top to mimic an Olympic torch—gives sweeping views of the city from the observation deck. Be sure to walk the glass floor for dizzying sights of ant-sized people below.

101 9 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1J9
People play instruments inside the Studio Bell museum. A Local Favourite

Studio Bell - National Music Centre

Studio Bell holds an impressive collection of musical instruments, gear and memorabilia that tell the stories of legendary Canadian musicians. Explore hands-on exhibits, then head to the King Eddy across the street. It’s home to live music and happy hour in what was one of the oldest hotels in Calgary.

850 4 St. SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1R1

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Minutes from Studio Bell, visit Inglewood for shops, craft breweries and great local restaurants.

Day 2 drive time: 1 hr 21 min, 108 km (67 mi)
Day 2

Canmore & Kananaskis

Wake up and crawl into the belly of a mountain. Later, refuel with a local brewery tour.

A man holding a framed picture.
Day 3 drive time: 54 min, 37 km (23 mi)
Day 3

Banff

Walking in a winter wonderland looks different here. You’ll walk a canyon, a summit and frosty falls.

A girl walking by Bow Falls beside the Bow River in Banff
Day 4 drive time: 1 hr 43 min, 128 km (80 mi)
Day 4

Banff National Park 

Pick from one of the legendary ski resorts in and around Banff, then relax in the famed hot springs.

A woman enjoying the pool at the Banff Upper Hot Springs
Day 5 drive time: 58 min, 67 km (42 mi)
Day 5

Lake Louise

Try four quintessentially Canadian ways to travel today: snowshoe, skate, dog sled and sleigh.

A group of travellers enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride along the shore of Lake Louise with a frozen waterfall and forest in the background.
Day 6 drive time: 3 hr 39 min, 331 km (206 mi)
Day 6

Icefields Parkway

Today is one of the most scenic drives on the planet and includes otherworldly ice formations.

A snowshoe-clad couple hugs in front of a helicopter near Marvel Pass in Banff National Park.
Day 7 drive time: 28 min, 17 km (11 mi)
Day 7

Jasper

Learn to ice climb and look for distant galaxies. It’s not your average day.

Couple viewing projected sky at the Jasper Planetarium
Day 8 drive time: 4 hr 46 min, 429 km (267 mi)
Day 8

Edmonton

Embrace your return to city life with some shopping, a hockey game, and maybe even a helicopter ride.

A couple walks down the sidewalk in Edmonton’s ICE District.
Day 9 drive time: 2 hr 48 min, 234 km (145 mi)
Day 9

Northern Alberta & Edmonton

Travel back in time to learn about Métis culture and enjoy a final historical view of Alberta at a museum.

Couple leaving the Royal Alberta Museum in downtown Edmonton

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An idyllic winter moment on Banff Avenue at dusk, with shops lining either side of a street that seems to lead toward a mountain.
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A skier carving and skiing down an intermediate run, under the chairlift, at Banff Sunshine Village.
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Know before you go

Where to Stay
Getting Here
Climate & Weather
Maps & Transportation
Health & Safety
Frequently Asked Questions