The Parkway is entirely free to drive, and there is no toll. Though if you don’t have your own transport, we understand it’s one of the best ways to get around! Want to sit in the passenger seat? Radventures runs a very fun tour! Plus, you will miss so many wonderful places if you decide to take a bus tour they only stop at a handful of places. It’s a small road, and large buses typically crowd the road, and all pull over at the same stops at the same time, creating a bit of a jam. I’m not a huge fan of bus tours on the parkway. I would suggest driving the Icefields Parkway in any of the above besides a bus tour. In the summer, you’ll find a mix of all these things. A personal car, campervan, RV, bus tour, motorcycle, or if you’re really hardcore, you can bike it. There are a few ways to see the Icefields Parkway. Though you won’t see tons of larches along the drive, unfortunately. If you drive the parkway in late September, the road will be awash with fall colors. However, you do run the risk of some of the lakes not being completely thawed. Early June is as close to summer as you’re going to get without the hordes of tourists and crowds that you get in July and August. In my opinion, the best time to visit the Icefields Parkway is in June or September. You also get hints of fall color on the road in late September.

This is when the days are long, the wildflowers bloom, and the lakes are in their prime. Many people would say the best time to drive the road is in the summer, between mid-June and early September. It is open all year unless avalanche conditions are too high during winter storms - closures rarely last more than a day or two. The Icefields Parkway is excellent, no matter the season. When is the Best Time to Drive the Icefields Parkway? If you want to hike along the parkway, this time must also be accounted for. There are many must-visit sites along the way, and there is absolutely no way you can cover them all in a day unless you start at sunrise and end at sunset – rushing through every stop. If you venture out in the summer and start at sunrise and end at sunset, it’s possible to see most of the main stops on the Icefields Parkway, plus enjoy a hike like Parker Ridge or Wilcox Pass, or walk on Athabasca Glacier. That being said, we’ve done the drive a few times as a day trip and would say that 6-8 hours will give you ample time to take in the views, get out of the car at many viewpoints (though nowhere near all), and in general, have a lovely day. The other option is to stop overnight somewhere in the middle near the Columbia Icefields Center (the Glacier View Lodge is dreamy), but there are also a few Jasper campsites. You can drive sections from Jasper or Banff. If you have the time, I would give you at least two full days to drive the Icefields Parkway. However, driving straight from Lake Louise to Jasper in one sitting without enjoying all there is to offer would be a real shame. The absolute fastest you could make the drive is three hours.

Iceberg drive inn sunrise