Canadian Rockies icefields
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Banff & Jasper Loop
Banff to Lake Louise
Banff and Lake Louise sit about 50 km (31 mi) apart in a straight line, with Lake Louise to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Banff & Jasper Loop itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 50 km · 31 mi
- Est. road distance
- 60–70 km
- Est. drive time
- 45 min – 1 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Banff & Jasper Loop itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 60–70 km (38–44 mi) of road and 45 min – 1 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Most groups drive a rental car, which makes the Icefields Parkway easy to take at your own pace. Some popular spots, such as Moraine Lake, use shuttles in season. Check park and road conditions before each day and allow extra time for wildlife and scenic stops.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Lake Louise
Give it a full day: early Lake Louise, a teahouse hike, and Moraine Lake by Parks Canada shuttle.
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail
Flat path along the turquoise lake toward Victoria Glacier.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Boathouse
Rent a red canoe for a paddle on Lake Louise.
Lake Agnes Tea House
Historic 1905 teahouse at a hanging lake, reached by a 3.5 km climb.
Laggan's Mountain Bakery
Long-running bakery in Samson Mall; cheap sandwiches and pastries for the trail.
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
Longer hike past the lake to a teahouse below Victoria Glacier.
Moraine Lake
Glacier-fed lake below the Valley of the Ten Peaks; reached only by shuttle or tour.
Before you leave Banff
Base here 2–3 days: gondola and hot springs in town, Lake Minnewanka and Johnston Canyon nearby, and easy dinners on Banff Avenue.
Banff Gondola
Gondola up Sulphur Mountain to a summit boardwalk with views over six ranges.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Birthplace of Canada's national parks, with a thermal cave and marsh boardwalk.
Bow Falls
Wide falls on the Bow River below the Fairmont Banff Springs, an easy walk from town.
On this curated route
Where Banff → Lake Louise sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Lake Louise to Banff is the same 50 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in May, when Lake Louise averages highs 4°C cooler than Banff. Over a year, Lake Louise gets about 180 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff high | -5° | -4° | 0° | 4° | 12° | 17° | 21° | 20° | 15° | 7° | -1° | -6° |
| Lake Louise high | -5° | -5° | -2° | 2° | 9° | 15° | 19° | 18° | 13° | 5° | -3° | -7° |
| Banff rain | 45 | 42 | 61 | 62 | 83 | 121 | 70 | 63 | 69 | 61 | 60 | 48 |
| Lake Louise rain | 69 | 56 | 89 | 70 | 82 | 117 | 86 | 70 | 80 | 86 | 90 | 66 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Lake Louise month guides.
Banff to Lake Louise: questions travelers ask
How far is Banff from Lake Louise?
Banff is about 50 km (31 mi) from Lake Louise in a straight line, with Lake Louise to the north-west. By road, we estimate 60–70 km (38–44 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Banff to Lake Louise?
An estimated 45 min – 1 h 30 min, assuming 60–70 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Banff to Lake Louise?
Our Banff & Jasper Loop itinerary includes this leg. Banff & Jasper Loop runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Onward from Lake Louise
- Lake Louise to Jasper 207 km
Guides for both ends
- Banff travel guide
- Banff weather best time to visit
- Lake Louise travel guide
- Lake Louise weather best time to visit
Lake Louise by month
Plan Banff → Lake Louise with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.