VIA Rail to Jasper & Edmonton

Itinerary best for

Culturally Curious
Travel Maximizers
Train Enthusiasts

Ride VIA Rail to Jasper through the Rockies from Vancouver, then on to Edmonton—a five-day journey where the train ride on the start of the adventure.

In Jasper, soar up the SkyTram, taste your way through a downtown foodie tour, hear Cree legends from Warrior Women and stargaze in one of the world's largest dark sky preserves. Then roll into Edmonton, where you can step back 150 years at Fort Edmonton Park and dig into the food and culture of Alberta's vibrant capital.

At a glance

5-day itinerary
1,585 km (985 mi) total distance
32 hrs 54 mins drive time
Your starting point is in Vancouver

3 destinations

Starts in

Vancouver

Day 1 drive time: 19 hr, 795 km (494 mi)

Day 1

Overnight on the VIA Rail Train

Fall asleep on a luxurious train and wake up in of the most breathtaking places on earth – Jasper.

Overnight on the VIA Rail Train

Canada's national rail passenger service invites you aboard to experience the Rockies like never before. Enjoy delicious meals, cozy accommodations and discover landscapes that will astound and amaze on your route to the historical site of Jasper station.

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Be sure you wake up early to catch the sun rising over the stunning Canadian Rockies.

Day 2 drive time: 25 min, 16 km (10 mi)

Day 2

Jasper

Discover the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies – an 11,000 sq km (4,247 sq mi) swatch of untamed wilderness.

Exterior of lodge with an outdoor swimming pool at night.

Day 3 drive time: 9 hr 24 min, 529 km (329 mi)

Day 3

Wildlife, Museums & Edmonton

Enjoy a few more attractions in Jasper before hopping back on a VIA Rail train to your next destination – Edmonton.

Star gazing under the northern lights at Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve in Elk Island National Park

Maligne Adventures - Wildlife Tours

Search for wildlife in Jasper National Park with Maligne Adventures. Led by a professional, certified guide, you'll venture into the scenic Maligne Valley to look for elk, bear, moose, bighorn sheep and deer. Early morning and evening tours promise the best opportunity for sightings.

Jasper Yellowhead Museum & Archives

The Jasper Yellowhead Museum historic gallery includes exhibits on the fur trade, the railway, and early exploration and tourism in Jasper National Park.

Friends dancing at dusk at the Edmonton Folk Festival

VIA Rail – Jasper to Edmonton

Edmonton is a vibrant urban centre in the heart of the wilderness, the largest northernmost metropolis, and the capital of Alberta. There's a uniqueness to how Edmontonians do ordinary things, and visitors are welcomed to be a part of it.

Fort Edmonton Park

Visit Fort Edmonton Park to step back in time more than 150 years. Nestled amidst 158 acres (64 hectors) of parkland, this living history museum brings stories from the fur trade and pioneer eras to life through costumed interpreters, interactive exhibits and historic replicas.

traditional dancers and musicians at Metis crossing perform in front of a wooden cart.

A Local Favourite

Métis Crossing

Métis Crossing offers visitors the opportunity to participate in guided cultural interpretive experiences, sharing the distinct Indigenous story of the Métis people in an interactive way. Visitors can enjoy Indigenous signature experiences, which include activities such as Walk in our Mocs, Paddle into the Past, and Meet the Métis.

Elk Island National Park Stargazing Experience

Join a Parks Canada interpreter around a campfire for an evening of storytelling. Search for stars or the awe-inspiring Northern Lights while taking in the grandeur of the expanding universe, and discover all that you can see and do under dark skies.

Day 4 drive time: 1 hr 45 min, 110 km (68 mi)

Day 4

Edmonton

Spend the day exploring Edmonton – there are so many things to do, see and eat!

Edmonton Food Tours

Taste your way through the historic Old Strathcona district with a local guide. Meet with Edmonton chefs, producers and farmers. Enjoy regional flavours, artisanal products and farm fresh produce at several neighbourhood eateries.

A Local Favourite

West Edmonton Mall

West Edmonton Mall spans the equivalent of 48 city blocks and includes more than 800 shops and services, a casino, movie theatres, mini golf course, a skating rink and the Sea Life Caverns aquarium.

Group of people dining outdoors under a tree canopy at Prairie Gardens, whilst bathed in sunlight. Adventure Farm

Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm

Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm is a working 35-acre (14-hectare) family farm with more than 50 family-fun farm activities, a garden centre, U-pick berry fields, a pumpkin patch, a klondike ghost town, seven-acre Corn Maze, and a whole host of indoor and outdoor adventure play to experience.

Art Gallery of Alberta

The Art Gallery of Alberta is a centre of excellence for the visual arts in Western Canada, connecting people, art and ideas. The institution is focused on the development and presentation of original exhibitions of contemporary and historical art from Alberta, Canada and around the world.

River Valley Adventure Co. – Edmonton Segway Tours

Explore Edmonton's lush network of waterfront trails on a guided Segway tour. The locally owned outfitter, located in the heart of the river valley, also offers mountain bike, stand-up paddleboard and sports equipment rentals, as well as the Urban Green Café with a year-round riverfront patio.

A young couple drinking coffee in the ICE District, in Edmonton

A Local Favourite

Edmonton ICE District

Within the ICE District you'll find Rogers Place, two new office towers, condos, hotels, a public plaza and much more. Spreading across 25 awe-inspiring acres (10 hectares), ICE District gives Edmonton an energy and feeling unlike anything the city has seen before.

A Local Favourite

Edmonton Oilers

Experience the rush of an Edmonton Oilers home game at Rogers Place, located in the city's famous sports and entertainment hub, the ICE District. Expect the fans to be loud and proud as they watch the orange and blue take on top National Hockey League teams.

Day 5 drive time: 2 hr 20 min, 135 km (84 mi)

Day 5

Edmonton

Enjoy the day sightseeing from the sky, wandering through a museum or exploring the great outdoors.

VIA Rail to Jasper & Edmonton

Ride VIA Rail to Jasper through the Rockies from Vancouver, then on to Edmonton—a five-day journey where the train ride on the start of the adventure.

At a glance

Vancouver

Overnight on the VIA Rail Train

Overnight on the VIA Rail Train

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Jasper

Jasper SkyTram

Jasper Food Tours

Warrior Women

Jasper Planetarium & Telescope Experience

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Wildlife, Museums & Edmonton

Maligne Adventures - Wildlife Tours

Jasper Yellowhead Museum & Archives

VIA Rail – Jasper to Edmonton

Fort Edmonton Park

Métis Crossing

Elk Island National Park Stargazing Experience

Edmonton

Edmonton Food Tours

West Edmonton Mall

Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm

Art Gallery of Alberta

River Valley Adventure Co. – Edmonton Segway Tours

Edmonton ICE District

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton

Edmonton Helicopter Tours / Air Taxi Charter

Royal Alberta Museum

Timberwolf Tours

Muttart Conservatory

Know before you go

VIA Rail to Jasper & Edmonton

Ride VIA Rail to Jasper through the Rockies from Vancouver, then on to Edmonton—a five-day journey where the train ride on the start of the adventure.

At a glance

Vancouver

Overnight on the VIA Rail Train

TIP FROM A LOCAL

Jasper

Wildlife, Museums & Edmonton

Edmonton

Edmonton

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Know before you go