Kamptribe
14 daysNational ParksCanadaStart point: Vancouver (YVR)

Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies

From the Pacific to the glaciers

These two weeks from Vancouver to Calgary are the big Canada trip in one line: first the coast and the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler, then the long drive inland to Jasper, and finally the Icefields Parkway down to Lake Louise and Banff. It is a one-way trip — you return the RV in Calgary — so you never drive the same stretch twice. Split the long day between Whistler and Jasper with a night around Kamloops or Wells Gray; after that the drives stay short and the days revolve around glaciers, lakes and wildlife.

Stops on this route

  1. Vancouver
  2. Whistler
  3. Jasper
  4. Banff
  5. Calgary

Highlights

  • Sea-to-Sky Highway — Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola at Squamish and bear spotting in Whistler
  • Jasper — Maligne Lake, Athabasca Falls and elk around town, with more room than Banff
  • Icefields Parkway — Columbia Icefield, Peyto Lake and Bow Lake on one of the world's great mountain roads
  • Lake Louise & Moraine Lake — by Parks Canada shuttle, reserved in advance, because the RV stays at the campground
  • Banff — Johnston Canyon, Two Jack Lake and the Banff Gondola before you roll into Calgary

Good to know

Duration
14 days
Best time to go
Mid-June to mid-September (Icefields Parkway and Moraine Lake Road are snow-free then; August is prone to wildfire smoke)
Cost estimate
€160–€240 per person per day for a family of four (indication, checked September 2026)

Day by day

  1. Day 11 night
    VancouverArrival and a hotel night; pick up the RV the next morning.
  2. Day 22 nights
    WhistlerThe Sea-to-Sky Highway with Shannon Falls; gondola and mountain lakes.
  3. Day 41 night
    Wells Gray (Clearwater)The long drive to Jasper split at the waterfalls of Wells Gray.
  4. Day 53 nights
    JasperMaligne Lake, Athabasca Falls and wildlife at sunrise — from a distance.
  5. Day 82 nights
    Icefields Parkway → Lake LouiseColumbia Icefield and Peyto Lake; arrange the Lake Louise shuttle or parking in advance.
  6. Day 103 nights
    BanffTunnel Mountain, Johnston Canyon and the Bow Valley Parkway (check the seasonal rules).
  7. Day 131 night
    CalgaryReturn the RV, a hotel night and the flight home.

National parks on this route

Handy for this route

Plan this route