Canadian Rockies icefields
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Banff & Jasper Loop
Lake Louise to Jasper
Lake Louise and Jasper sit about 207 km (129 mi) apart in a straight line, with Jasper to the north-west. It is leg 2 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
- 207 km · 129 mi
- Est. road distance
- 248–290 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 30 min – 4 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 65–95 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 248–290 km (154–180 mi) of road and 2 h 30 min – 4 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 Jasper
Allow a full day to drive the Icefields Parkway and 1–2 nights in Jasper for the SkyTram, Maligne Lake and dark skies.
Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure
Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier from the Icefield Centre.
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Glass-floored walkway 280 m above the Sunwapta Valley.
Sunwapta Falls
Falls cutting through a gorge just off the Icefields Parkway.
Bear's Paw Bakery
Jasper bakery for cinnamon buns, sandwiches and coffee.
Jasper Brewing Co.
Brewpub on Connaught Drive, the first brewery in a Canadian national park.
Athabasca Falls
Powerful falls squeezing through a quartzite gorge.
Before you leave Lake Louise
Give it a full day: early Lake Louise, a teahouse hike, and Moraine Lake by Parks Canada shuttle.
On this curated route
Where Lake Louise → Jasper sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Jasper to Lake Louise is the same 207 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in May, when Jasper averages highs 6°C warmer than Lake Louise. Over a year, Lake Louise gets about 290 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Louise high | -5° | -5° | -2° | 2° | 9° | 15° | 19° | 18° | 13° | 5° | -3° | -7° |
| Jasper high | -3° | -2° | 2° | 7° | 14° | 18° | 22° | 21° | 15° | 8° | 0° | -4° |
| Lake Louise rain | 69 | 56 | 89 | 70 | 82 | 117 | 86 | 70 | 80 | 86 | 90 | 66 |
| Jasper rain | 34 | 29 | 46 | 50 | 69 | 103 | 99 | 69 | 58 | 47 | 43 | 29 |
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 Jasper month guides.
Lake Louise to Jasper: questions travelers ask
How far is Lake Louise from Jasper?
Lake Louise is about 207 km (129 mi) from Jasper in a straight line, with Jasper to the north-west. By road, we estimate 248–290 km (154–180 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 Lake Louise to Jasper?
An estimated 2 h 30 min – 4 h 30 min, assuming 248–290 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 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 Lake Louise to Jasper?
Our Banff & Jasper Loop itinerary includes this leg. Banff & Jasper Loop runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Getting to Lake Louise
- Banff to Lake Louise 50 km
Guides for both ends
- Lake Louise travel guide
- Lake Louise weather best time to visit
- Jasper travel guide
- Jasper weather best time to visit
Jasper by month
Plan Lake Louise → Jasper 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.