Alaska Highway—the Icefield Parkway Route

Total Drive Time: 16 Hours and 02 Minutes

Enjoy the beauty of the Rocky Mountains as you drive the Icefield Parkway. Get a taste of the Cowboy trail as you make your way up to Banff National Park and Jasper National Park to take the scenic way up to mile zero of the AlCan Highway!

When you cross the US/Canada border into Alberta, Lethbridge is your first major stop along Highway 4 or Highway 5. Refuel your vehicle and your spirit in this thriving heart of Southern Alberta.

The Tourism Lethbridge Visitor Centre

• Free sani station for your RV

• Public washrooms

• Free WIFI

• Travel assistance, maps and brochures.

Lethbridge is home to the largest trestle train bridge of its kind in the world! We're also the hub to 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Learn more about our top attractions now.

After continuing north to Calgary, connect to Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway to reach Banff National Park. Then head north on Highway 93, the Icefield Parkway to continue through the majesty of the Alberta Rockies. You'll pass pristine mountain lakes, the Chateau Lake Louise, the Athabaska Glacier, Jasper National Park and more.

Highlights along the Route

• Discover Alberta Ranching history in Longview Alberta The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada! Try your hand at some cowboy skills and learn about old-ranching ways as you wonder through the original buildings on site!

• Get a real taste of Alberta at one of the many Rodeos throughout the summer!

• Try some true Alberta beef in Longview at the Longview Jerky Shop or the World Famous Steak House

• Explore all the beauty Banff National Park has to offer! Canada's first National Park boasts everything from Hikes and wildlife to dining & unqiue stores. Looking to camp in Banff? Make sure to book your spot early!

• Just North of Banff just up the Icefeild Parkway you'll find Jasper National Park! Home of the Athabaca Glacier, dark skys and beautiful hikes Jasper is a true jem! Make sure to book your spot early!

• Home of the beaver boardwalk, sanddunes and the gateway to the greatout doors Hinton is a city to remember!

• Dinosaurs, and Funhouse oh my! Find all of these great things and more in Grand Prairie!

• Welcome to Mile 0! Dawson Creek B.C. is your starting point for the Alcan highway, enjoy the rest of your trip!

Lethbridge

After stocking up in Lethbridge with all the essentials and having a good night's sleep it is time to get out and explore!

Fort Whoop-Up Museum

Explore the whiskey trade and the indigenous history of the Lethbridge area at the Fort Whoop-Up!

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Experience peace and serenity in the middle of the city and Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens! Enjoy the beautiful and enchanting Japanese garden and enjoy the wonders a multicultural friendship can bring. 

Galt Museum and Archives

Learn about Lethbridge and Southern Alberta at the Galt Museum and Archives! From coal mining to beer Lethbridge has it all! The history of Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta can be explored through the Galt's rotating world-class exhibits, special events, and school and community programs. 

Southern Alberta Art Gallery

Specializing in conceptual and installation art, the Southern Alberta Art Gallery offers a fresh perspective on the southern Albertan experience.

Helen Schuler Nature Centre

Situated on a 200 acre nature preservation park with scenic views of coulees and cottonwood forests, the Centre offers a walk on the wild side only minutes from downtown. 

Alberta Birds of Prey Centre

The Alberta Birds of Prey Centre is Canada’s largest birds of prey facility. Situated on a 70-acre wetland area site our centre is a celebration of nature featuring the hawks, falcons, eagles and owls of Alberta.

Daytrips from the City!

Stay awhile and enjoy more of Southern Alberta!

Fort Mcleod

Fort Museum of the NWMP

The Fort Museum of the Northwest Mounted Police and First Nations Interpretive Centre provides a glimpse into the past with hands-on programs and interactive exhibits.

4 UNESCO Sites

Dinosaur Provincial Park

Calling all Dinosaur lovers! Come explore one of the richest dinosaur fossil locales in the world! With more than 500 specimens found and 58 discovered in this park, it is truly a dinosaur fanatics' dream! With exhibits, video theatre, a fossil prep lab and more on-site, there is something new for everyone to discover! 

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Perhaps the most uniquely named attraction in Canada, Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump spans 6000 years of southern Alberta history. Built right into the side of the Porcupine Hills, the museum’s design won the Governor General’s Gold Medal for Architecture in 1990. The museum serves as a reminder of the deep intertwining of Indigenous culture and the earth. 

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

With thousands of preserved rock-art drawings dating back to 1050 B.C., Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park features the highest concentration of petroglyphs and pictographs in the world. Nowhere else in the world can you find anything quite like this, so what are you waiting for?

Waterton Lakes National Park

While less trafficked than Banff or Jasper, Waterton is equally (if not more) astounding; just as the path less travelled usually is. This Unesco World Heritage Site boasts some of the best hikes and views in the southern Canadian Rockies. In addition to the fantastic eats that can only be found there, this is certainly one stop you don't want to miss.