Banff and Jasper with a Toddler: Ultimate 8 Day Itinerary with Everything You Need to Know

Traveled in August 2023

Ready to explore the natural wonders of Banff and Jasper with a toddler?

Here is everything you need to know to plan an amazing toddler-approved itinerary to Banff and Jasper.

Traveling to Banff and Jasper with a toddler is the perfect trip for easing your family in to traveling internationally. It is a relatively short flight from the west coast of the United States, it’s a clean and safe area, and there are plenty of outdoors activities for your active toddler to burn off energy. A perfect recipe for minimizing toddler meltdowns, in my opinion. But it’s not just fun for the kiddos. For the adults, the stunning views are a feast for the eyes, and there are hikes and activities to suit all levels of fitness.

This itinerary is a variation of the actual road trip that we did in the Canadian Rockies going from Banff to Jasper, then on to Vancouver. I realize that not everyone will want to drive all the way to Vancouver, so if I had to modify our trip to include only Banff and Jasper (and keep it toddler-friendly), this is how I would do it. This itinerary sandwiches days in Jasper in between days in Banff. The main reason for this is because the Calgary airport is much closer to Banff than to Jasper, so starting and ending the trip in Banff allows for a shorter drive to and from the airport. And less driving means less time entertaining your toddler in the car, so that’s a win for me. Grab your camera and car snacks and let’s get planning!

If you’re already familiar with how to get around Canada, then skip ahead to the itinerary to start planning your road trip. Otherwise, read on to find out how to tackle this road trip to Banff and Jasper with a toddler!

When to Go

We did this trip at the end of August and the weather was nearly perfect. Previously we traveled this region during early July and we had a fair bit of rain. Summer is the best time to visit to make sure all the hikes are open. However, there is also a chance of wildfire smoke obscuring the views. The employees told us that early September is actually a great time to visit because there are fewer crowds and the weather is generally still mild with no snow.

How to Get There

The closest airport to Banff is the Calgary International Airport (YYC). From the west coast of the United States, the flight to Calgary is a relatively short 3 hours. Calgary airport is a 1.5 hour drive from Banff and about a 5 hour drive from Jasper. Because of that big difference in drive time, I would try to avoid driving from Jasper to the Calgary airport.

Don’t forget your passport when packing!! Traveling to Canada feels a lot like traveling within the United States, so it is easy to forget that you need your passport. Also make sure that your passport is not expiring within 6 months of your trip date. If you need tips on how to apply for your child’s first passport, check out my handy guide that breaks down the steps.

Booking tip: certain flight searches like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google flights allow you to set price trackers that will alert you when the price of your flight changes. I never book a flight without tracking prices first because there is no better feeling than snagging a good deal! And if you book your flights with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire card (use my referral for bonus points!), the card usually includes some travel insurance protections (like lost luggage reimbursements, trip delay reimbursements, or trip cancellation insurance) to save you the cost of buying extra travel insurance.

Bonus Booking tip: sign your kiddo up for frequent flyer accounts with airlines to start earning airline miles for them! Most airline miles do not expire for minors so your kiddo will thank you later.

How to Get Around

This being a road trip, a rental car is a must. The Canadians drive on the same side of the road as the United States and the freeways are immaculately maintained, so driving is a breeze. The only tricky part is that Canada uses kilometers rather than miles. Drivers in Canada also seem more polite than in the Bay Area and the driving pace is slower. There are also highway patrol ready to ticket the unsuspecting American speeders. I have heard that the fine is pretty hefty, so don’t tempt fate. There is not much traffic on the highways in the Banff and Jasper areas.

The on-site car rental agencies at the Calgary airport are Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Alamo. I would recommend renting from an on-site car rental agency so that you don’t have to spend extra time (with your possibly cranky child) waiting for a shuttle to an off-site car rental agency. When we’re traveling with our toddler, we’re willing to spend more for convenience if that means avoiding a meltdown.

Booking tip: if the car rental agency has a free membership program, sign up for it! Members usually get extra perks like a free additional driver, discounts, or faster reservation check ins (all very desirable things when you have an overtired toddler in tow).

Show Me the Money

The currency in Canada is the Canadian dollar (CAD). Google “Canadian dollar to USD” to find the current exchange rate. We used our no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card (use my referral for bonus points) during the whole trip and did not need to get any cash. If you prefer to have some cash on hand, I recommend getting cash from ATMs after you arrive in the country for the best exchange rate. Some ATMs will give you a choice of withdrawal amount in USD or in the local currency – always select the local currency for the best exchange rate.

Saving tip: to avoid ATM fees (from the foreign bank and your bank), look for a checking account that offers ATM fee reimbursements. I can personally recommend the Schwab investors checking account and the Betterment checking account for this purpose.

How to Stay Connected

Some cell phone companies include Canada and Mexico in their plans. If that is the case for you then you are all set.

If your cell phone plan does not include Canada, then the cheapest way to get international cell phone data is to use an e-sim with an unlocked cell phone. This was my first time using Airalo to purchase an e-sim and it worked seamlessly. I had doubts but figured I could always purchase a prepaid SIM card in Canada if it failed. I was actually surprised at how well it worked given the low cost, and am planning on using it again on future trips. The downside is that you only have data and no phone service when using Airalo e-sims, so it’s a good option if you don’t anticipate needing to make phone calls. The Airalo website has great tutorials and I also watched this Youtube video for more installation tips.

If you will need to make phone calls, then you can purchase a prepaid SIM card in Canada. However, those will be more expensive than the e-sims. If your cell phone is not unlocked, then you can turn on international roaming with your cell phone carrier. This is the most expensive option.

Where to Stay in Banff and Jasper with Toddler

For this road trip itinerary, you will be staying 2 nights in Banff, 3 nights in Jasper, and 2 nights in Banff again.

Booking tip: because traveling with a toddler is so unpredictable, I always look for refundable bookings. That way I can book way ahead of time for my peace of mind, but also have the flexibility to cancel without losing any money if our plans should change.

Where to Stay in Banff

Most people visiting the Banff region choose to stay in either the town of Banff or Canmore. Canmore is about a 25 minute drive away from Banff, so this adds to your daily driving time. Accommodations in Canmore are usually cheaper, but we found the extra cost of staying in Banff worth it for the benefits of shorter driving times. Accommodations in Banff book up fast and are not cheap, so if traveling in the peak summer season do start booking lodging at least 3 months ahead of time.

Banff Hotel Recommendation:

We stayed at the Tunnel Mountain Resort in a 1 bedroom with a loft. This loft was like a condo with a small kitchen. When traveling with a little one, we always find it helpful to have a kitchen with a fridge. The lodgings are nothing fancy, but they are clean, and the location is great for exploring. There aren’t many “resort-y” amenities, as there is only a small pool and a small play structure area on site. But were out exploring for most of the day, so we did not need any of those resort amenities.

Where to Stay in Jasper

I would recommend staying in Jasper to minimize your driving time. Accommodations are limited in the town of Jasper, so book accommodations early and be warned that they are not cheap.

Jasper Hotel Recommendation:

We really enjoyed the Pine Bungalows. It’s not right in the main town so it still felt like we were in nature, and it is only an easy 5 minute drive into town. We had a heritage cabin, which is a 2 bedroom cabin with a bathroom and a kitchen. It was like camping, but with real beds and a bathroom (we like the idea of camping but realistically we are not that outdoorsy). The cabins are built along a river, and you can spot some animals across the river if you’re lucky. Each cabin also has a firepit outside, and the hotel provides firewood. The restaurant at this hotel, Kumama Bistro, was surprisingly THE BEST meal we had in Banff and Jasper. The staff were also the absolute kindest. Highly, highly recommend. 

Banff and Jasper with a Toddler 8 Day Itinerary

You will be out most of the day for this itinerary, so if your toddler is still taking multiple naps then expect most of those naps to happen in the car. Because car naps are unpredictable and it’s ideal to let your kiddo sleep so they’re not cranky, decide on a couple must-sees for every day rather than trying to see everything because you will lose some time waiting for them to finish napping. Using this strategy, we knew that we probably wouldn’t see everything on our list, but limiting our goals for the day meant a less cranky child during the must-sees. We used the nap times to eat our packed lunches, enjoy the view from our car, drive to the next destination, or plan the next day’s activities.

Although there are many more adventurous hikes and activities in this area, the ones we chose are ones we could manage while carrying a toddler (and with two out-of-shape grandmas). On that note, you will need to carry your toddler, as most of the hikes are not stroller friendly. So make sure you pack a carrier of some sort. Your back and arms will thank you.

Banff and Jasper with a Toddler Itinerary at a Glance

• Day 1: Fly from home to Calgary. Drive from Calgary Airport to Banff (1.5 hrs). Stay in Banff. 
• Day 2: Johnston Canyon (30 min) – Explore Banff or Banff Gondola. Stay in Banff. 
• Day 3: Banff to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway (all day) stopping at Bow Lake – Peyto Lake – Waterfowl Lake – Mistaya Canyon. Stay in Jasper. 
• Day 4: Valley of the 5 Lakes Hike (15 min) – Athabasca Falls (15 min further). Stay in Jasper.
• Day 5: Maligne Lake scenic boat tour (1 hr) – Maligne Canyon (40 min further). Stay in Jasper. 
• Day 6: Pyramid Lake (14 min) – Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway stopping at Sunwapta Falls – Athabasca Glacier. Stay in Banff.
• Day 7: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (1 hr) – Emerald Lake (30 min further). Stay in Banff. 
• Day 8: Drive from Banff to Calgary Airport (1.5 hrs). Fly from Calgary to home.

Day 1: Arrive in Canada

Land at Calgary airport and after picking up your rental car, make the 1.5 hour drive from Calgary to Banff.

Logistics Tip: you can buy a parks pass online or at the entrance gates of the park. We drove straight by the entrance gates and didn’t realize it, so we purchased it online when we arrived at our hotel. You do need to print out the pass and display it on your car dash while you are in the park. The same pass is good for Banff and Jasper, so calculate the days you will be in both parks.

Day 2: Johnston Canyon (Banff)

Johnston Canyon is an easy 1-2 hour paved hike along a canyon gorge that ends in a waterfall that can be viewed through a cave opening. We did have to wait a while to go into the cave as there is only space for one family to enter at a time.

With more time, explore these other Banff activities:

Day 3: Drive the Icefields Parkway (Banff to Jasper)

The Icefields Parkway is basically a long highway that connects Banff and Jasper. But not just any highway, it is a highway with some of the most gorgeous pit stops you have ever seen. Some of these lakes and attractions are literally next to the road, while others require a bit of hiking. The hikes are usually on paved or gravel roads, but can be somewhat steep (kids should be in a carrier since these are generally not stroller friendly). Every stop has a parking lot, but the parking lots are usually not very large. You may need to circle to find parking if you go during high season.

There are SO MANY beautiful stops along this parkway, and many amazing hikes, but they require more time than we could reasonably afford with a toddler who naps. Below are the toddler-friendly highlights that we hit along the parkway in the order you would reach them when going from Banff to Jasper, including the amount of driving time it takes to get there and approximately how long you can expect to spend at each stop. Because we will be driving back from Jasper to Banff on the Icefields Parkway, we will save some of the stops for the way back to help break up the drive.

Day 4: Valley of the 5 Lakes Hike and Athabasca Falls (Jasper)

Start the morning with a 2.8 mile hike at the Valley of the 5 lakes (14 min from Jasper, time needed 2-3 hrs). This loop trail takes you along 5 lakes, which are truly stunning. We did this first thing in the morning to ensure we found parking. By the time we finished, the parking lot was full. There is a bathroom in the parking lot. There is a shorter hike (instructions below), and a longer hike. We did the shorter hike, but be warned that the way back can be a pretty steep uphill climb. Some hikers we met along the way said that they saw some bears in the hills around the trail, so we saw many people with bells attached to their backpacks as a way to warn the bears and keep them away.

Follow Trail 9a for 0.5 miles across the boardwalk (don’t turn onto Trail 9) and up the hill, then take a left at the junction to follow Trail 9b. Hike down the hill on 9b. At the bottom of the hill, you’ll see the First Lake on your left. Take a right at the junction with 9a, which will take you to the rest of the lakes and finish out the loop.

Reward yourself after your hike with an easy waterfall at Athabasca Falls.

Day 5: Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon (Jasper)

Start the day with a 1.5 hour scenic boat tour across Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. The boat ride was a lot of fun for my toddler. During the ride you can take turns stepping outside to feel the spray of the water and the wind in your hair. Spirit Island is sacred to the indigenous people, so you are only allowed about 15 minutes on the island and are asked to stick to the designated loop path, but it’s enough time to take pictures and enjoy the serenity of the place.

Recommend booking tickets ahead of time to make sure that you get the time you want. Keep in mind when selecting your time slot that it takes 1 hour to drive to Maligne Lake from Jasper. Apparently there is usually a good chance of spotting bears and other animals along the highway from Jasper to Maligne Lake, but you have to go at dusk when the animals are active.

Day 6: Pyramid Lake then Drive the Icefields Parkway (Jasper to Banff)

Then head back to Banff via the Icefields Parkway again. To break up the drive, stop at Sunwapta falls (45 min from Jasper, short walk to viewpoint, time needed 20 min) and Athabasca Glacier (45 min from Sunwapta falls, short walk to viewpoint, time needed 30 min). From Athabasca Glacier, it is a 2 hour drive back to Banff, so it would be ideal to time this drive during naptime.

Day 7: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Emerald Lake (Banff)

Prepare your eyes for the wonders that are the jewel-colored lakes of the Banff region!

Logistics Tips: Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake now requires a shuttle booking. You can no longer drive directly to the parking lots. Book tickets for the shuttle here by clicking on “Day Use.” If no tickets are available, 60% of them are released 2 days before. So set a reminder on your phone to log on and book. You will park at a public lot located about 50 minutes away from Banff.  Board one shuttle to the first lake, then you will board another shuttle to go to the other lake, and finally another shuttle to return to the parking lot. If shuttle tickets are sold out or this sounds too complicated, book a day tour to the lakes.

Day 11: Fly Home

Sadly it’s time to say bye to the beauty of the Canadian Rockies and end your epic road trip to Banff and Jasper with your toddler. Drive the 1.5 hours from Banff back to the Calgary airport.

Reality Check of Traveling to Banff and Jasper with a Toddler

There is A LOT of driving in this itinerary to Banff and Jasper with your toddler. Even though the drives are broken up with many stops in this itinerary, there are some long stretches in the car with your toddler. We had times where we pushed nap time longer than we should have. Which earned ourselves kilometers of driving with a scream-crying overtired toddler. Toddlers are high energy creatures and don’t like to be confined to a car seat for long. You definitely need to come prepared with all the car snacks, activities, and likely give in to screen time for your sanity. And that’s ok! It’s vacation. For this to be a vacation and not a struggle, ease up on the rules. It won’t ruin your child forever, I promise.

If you want to maximize your time in Canada and see even more waterfalls, check out my post with our detailed road trip itinerary from Banff to Jasper to Vancouver! Or if you’re looking for another trip destination full of natural beauty, check out our toddler-friendly Switzerland itinerary!