Western Canada · Route map
West Coast and Rockies Family Adventure
This family-friendly road trip balances the must-see icons of Vancouver and the Rockies with manageable drive times for the kids. We have excluded the 10-hour drive from Vancouver to the Rockies in favor of a quick flight to Calgary, keeping your pace relaxed.
- 1
Vancouver
arriving Vancouver Airport
3 nights
Coastal rainforests, biking Stanley Park, and suspension bridges.
- 2
Banff
3 nights
Gondolas, hot springs, and iconic glacial lakes.
- 3
Lake Louise
1 night
Early morning lake views before the crowds arrive.
- 4
Jasper
2 nights
Wildlife spotting and the Icefields Parkway drive.
- 5
Edmonton
departing Edmonton Airport
Drive here from Jasper to fly home.
- ✦5 stops · 9 nights
A sample from our journal — written by Waypora, kept as inspiration
Use this as a starting pointThe day-by-day
Welcome to Vancouver
Arrive into Vancouver
Flight · Morning · Vancouver
Land at Vancouver International Airport.
SkyTrain transit to downtown Vancouver
Transfer · Afternoon · Downtown Vancouver
The Canada Line is faster and cheaper than a taxi with excited kids in tow.
Afternoon at leisure around Coal Harbour
At leisure · Afternoon · Coal Harbour
Walk the seawall to spot seaplanes landing against the mountain backdrop.
Overnight in Vancouver
Accommodation · Evening · Downtown Vancouver
Treetops and Giant Trees
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Excursion · Morning · North Vancouver
Arrive at opening to cross the bridge before the tour buses plug it up.
Bike loop of Stanley Park
Excursion · Afternoon · Stanley Park
Rent bikes nearby and ride the flat, nine-kilometre seawall trail.
Stop at the Second Beach playground to let the kids burn off extra steam.
Overnight in Vancouver
Accommodation · Evening · Downtown Vancouver
Granville Island and Marine Life
Granville Island Public Market
Excursion · Morning · Granville Island
Grab a bag of honey dip donuts from Lee's Donuts immediately upon arrival.
Salish Sea whale watching safari
Excursion · Afternoon · Richmond
Board a high-speed catamaran to search for killer whales.
Dress in layers even on warm days because the open water gets icy cold.
Overnight in Vancouver
Accommodation · Evening · Downtown Vancouver
Fly East to the Rockies
SkyTrain to Vancouver Airport
Transfer · Morning · Vancouver
Flight from Vancouver to Calgary
Flight · Morning · Calgary Airport
Pick up rental SUV at Calgary Airport
Car hire · Afternoon · Calgary Airport
Self-drive Calgary to Banff
Self-drive · Afternoon · Banff National Park
Drive west into the Rocky Mountains on Highway 1 for ninety minutes.
Overnight in Banff
Accommodation · Evening · Banff Town
Canyons and Mountain Views
Johnston Canyon upper falls walk
Excursion · Morning · Banff National Park
An easy family walk on suspended catwalks over a roaring canyon.
Be on the trail by 8:00 AM to beat the massive crowd.
Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
Excursion · Afternoon · Banff Town
Walk the boardwalk at the top to the old cosmic ray station.
Overnight in Banff
Accommodation · Evening · Banff Town
Lakes and Paddles
Canoeing on Lake Minnewanka
Excursion · Morning · Banff National Park
This lake gets windy by noon, so paddle early for glassy waters.
Afternoon explore of Banff avenue
At leisure · Afternoon · Banff Town
Pop into peak-distraction stores like the rock shop for fossil-loving kids.
Overnight in Banff
Accommodation · Evening · Banff Town
The Iconic Turquoise Waters
Self-drive Banff to Lake Louise
Self-drive · Morning · Lake Louise
Drive forty minutes north on the scenic Bow Valley Parkway.
Lake Louise shoreline trail walk
Excursion · Morning · Lake Louise
Park at the resort early or pre-book the Parks Canada shuttle months ahead.
Moraine Lake exploration
Excursion · Afternoon · Lake Louise
Climb the Rockpile trail for the ultimate Canadian postcard view.
Overnight in Lake Louise
Accommodation · Evening · Lake Louise Village
The Icefields Parkway
Self-drive Lake Louise to Jasper
Self-drive · Morning · Icefields Parkway
A stunning four-hour drive through Canada's most spectacular mountain highway.
Columbia Icefield skywalk & glacier tour
Excursion · Afternoon · Jasper National Park
Ride an all-terrain Ice Explorer out onto the Athabasca Glacier.
Fill your kid's water bottle with fresh, freezing glacier run-off.
Overnight in Jasper
Accommodation · Evening · Jasper Town
Wildlife and Deep Canyons
Maligne Canyon loop hike
Excursion · Morning · Jasper National Park
Walk as far as the fifth bridge where the canyon gets dramatically deep.
Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island
Excursion · Afternoon · Jasper National Park
Keep eyes peeled along the road for roadside black bears and elk.
Overnight in Jasper
Accommodation · Evening · Jasper Town
To Edmonton and Home
Self-drive Jasper to Edmonton Airport
Self-drive · Morning · Edmonton
Drive four hours east along Highway 16 directly to the airport.
Drop off rental SUV at Edmonton Airport
Car hire · Afternoon · Edmonton Airport
Fly out of Edmonton
Flight · Afternoon · Edmonton Airport
Like the shape of it?
Make this trip yours.
Start from this plan and tell us what's different about your trip — your dates, your pace, your people. We'll rewrite it around you.