This past May we flew to Calgary and spent 4 days road tripping through Banff and Jasper National Parks. We stayed in a number of different hotels along the way as we travelled though the area. Only one of the hotels I would not recommend and even still it was fine for one night. This is where to stay on a Banff to Jasper Road Trip.
So while I say that this is where to stay in a Banff to Jasper road trip this is really a road trip from Calgary to Jasper and back again. We flew from the YKF airport just outside of Kitchener. There are regular flights to Calgary so if you are local to southwestern Ontario or willing to drive there you can get more affordable flight options than heading to Toronto Pearson. Both Flair and Westjet fly out of YKF to Calgary.
When we touched down in Calgary we picked up our rental car at the airport and drove to Canmore.
Where to stay on a Banff to Jasper Road Trip
That first night we stayed at the MTN House by Basecamp. It is a renovated former Holiday Inn and I was really impressed by this property. The pull to stay in Canmore, especially at the beginning and end of our trip was that it is closer to Calgary and it is less expensive when compared with the main tourist areas of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.
We actually stayed at MTN House by Basecamp twice. On the night we arrived and on our last night before heading back to Calgary. The rooms were freshly renovated, clean and modern with a mountain lodge vibe. The room was spacious with two queen sized beds. We were travelling with our kids so having big enough space that we don’t feel on top of each other is important. But we also weren’t upgrading to a suite.
The Bathrooms were also large enough though fairly narrow. The fixtures were very modern with trendy brass details. There was loads of counterspace to place toiletries or if you are getting changed after a shower. There were also lots of larger towels. Not the tiny towels that some hotels try to pass off for an adult to dry off with.
The lobby area was very nice although we didn’t spend any time lounging in around there. It gives a ski chalet feel to the property. We did eat at the restaurant. We got breakfast that first morning.
The view from the rooms was fantastic because there are mountains all around. We are just outside of the main downtown of Canmore at this property so if you want to go into town you will have to drive. But it is right by the highway so if like us you are getting up the next morning for an adventure then you are conveniently situated.
Overall I really liked this property. Comfy beds, good location for roadtripping, lots of plugs close to the bed for charging, great washrooms. And the modern chalet decor was a great touch.
Our second night we stayed in Banff town at Hotel Canoe & Suites. This property is owned by the same people who own the Moose Hotel and Fox Hotel among others but the Canoe was cheaper. I am not sure if it was because of the construction on site but I think it was more likely because the Canoe is further from the main downtown area.
Hotel Canoe & Suites again has a ski chalet vibe from the outside but on the inside instead of wildlife as decor we have canoes.
As you can see the rooms were very fresh and modern. A bit smaller than the Canmore hotel but not terribly so. We had a balcony with this room that looked out over the mountains. It also allowed us to air out the perfume smell that was lingering in the room.
I think of all the places we stayed this was my favourite bathroom. There was no tub but we are not bathing in hotels anyways. Instead there was a large tiled shower. Large towels again. Can you tell I hate tiny hotel towels? Overall a really nice space.
Parking was a bit more complicated at this hotel. We parked out front to get checked in but then moved to underground parking. The nice thing though was that we walked or took the bus. So once we were parked we didn’t move the car again until the next morning when we moved to our next location.
I mentioned before that this hotel was a bit away from the main downtown area. I wouldn’t let this detract you from staying here was it was quieter here than downtown and we were offered a free bus pass for our stay. We walked into town with no issue but using the buss was super easy too. It was a straight shot into town and back to the hotel making this a very convenient option.
Overall I really liked this hotel too. It was more expensive than our stay in Canmore and that is all down to the fact that it was in Banff. I don’t necessarily think it was better than MTN House but I did like the bathroom more in this hotel. We didn’t try the restaurant so I can’t comment on that.
The next stop was our least favourite. We didn’t end up seeing Lake Louise because it wasn’t thawed yet and not at peak viewing. Moraine Lake was still closed because we visited in May. Ultimately based on our itinerary we could have skipped out on Lake Louise but we made it work. And considering we were driving onto Jasper it made sense to stay further along and closer to Jasper.
The Lake Louise Inn was one of the more affordable options in Lake Louise. Lake Louise was more expensive and has fewer options to stay at over all than Banff. There also isn’t much of a downtown area in Lake Lousie. It feels more geared towards skiing than everywhere else with the lack of the touristy downtown.
The Lake Louise Inn was disappointing because we got a room that had not been updated since the 1990s. It was old and tired and felt a bit dirty. The wifi was terrible. It was also very expensive to eat at the hotel restaurants even though they didn’t have the greatest reviews. We ended up eating at the hostel across the street twice. I think I would consider staying at the Hostel in a private family room if we make it back to Lake Louise. That said there are renovated rooms at the Lake Louise Inn and they looked lovely. So if I was to stay there again I would make an effort to ensure I was staying in a renovated room.
From Lake Louise we did the drive up the Icefields Parkway which was an amazing drive. We stayed just outside of Jasper at the Pyramid Lake Lodge. I think hands down this was my favourite hotel on the trip and the one I wish I had of stayed at another night to have a bit more time to explore the property and the area.
Pyramid Lake Lodge is exactly what it sounds like. It is a lodge style property on Pyramid Lake. The setting is so gorgeous. The Lake and Mountain are so picturesque. But it isn’t just the setting that make this a great spot. The rooms are comfortable and modern too.
The rooms are clean and modern. We had a balcony but because of the trees it is hard to see the lake from our room. The bathroom was a bit smaller than the others but still newly renovated and nicely tiled. It was a refreshing reset after the dingy room at the Lake Louise Inn.
The main lodge has the restaurant, check in and the gym. The hotel rooms are in the other buildings. There was construction going on while we were there with more buildings being added. We were on the second floor room which can be accessed from the parking area.
After Pyramid Lake Lodge we drove back down the Icefields Parkway and stayed in Canmore again before heading to the Airport the next morning. Here is how I would rank the hotels.
Most affordable – MTN House by Basecamp
Best Bathroom – Hotel Canoe & suites
Best property – Pyramid Lake Lodge
Most room for improvement – Lake Louise Inn
Where are you staying on your Banff to Jasper Road Trip?
