Canadian Rockies 10 Day Road Trip: A Money-Saving Itinerary

Contributor Story by Ann Lee Flynn

Ann Lee Flynn and her husband completed a 10-day Canadian Rockies road trip in late August 2026, driving 1,300 miles in a large loop beginning and ending in Calgary. At 72 and 70, they describe themselves as healthy travelers but not serious outdoor types, making their itinerary especially useful for travelers who want scenic drives, easy walks, memorable experiences, and practical ways to control costs.

How We Saved Money on Our Canadian Rockies Road Trip

Save on a Calgary Rental Car

Ann’s biggest single savings came from booking through Costco and picking up an Alamo rental at a downtown Calgary location rather than at the airport. Even after a taxi costing under $40 US, she estimates the savings at nearly $500 US. Her caution: check off-site rental hours because many close early or are not open weekends.

Borrow Bear Spray Instead of Buying It

Their first hotel in Canmore loaned them bear spray for the duration of the trip, held against the damage deposit. They returned it when passing through Canmore on the way back to Calgary.

Choose Which Canadian Rockies Attractions Are Worth the Splurge

Rather than paying for every gondola, chairlift or cruise, Ann researched the options and chose one sky-viewing experience at Mount Norquay and one boat cruise at Maligne Lake. They also deliberately spent on a four-hour horseback ride from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes Tea House and Little Beehive.

Canmore, Kootenay, Golden & Revelstoke — Days 1–3

Day 1 — Calgary to Canmore

Arriving around noon in Calgary, they picked up the rental car and continued to Canmore. They stayed at Canmore Inn & Suites, which was walkable to downtown, and had dinner at the Grizzly Paw.

Day 2 — Canmore, Kootenay National Park & Golden

After breakfast near Canmore and a quick Banff Visitor Centre stop, they hiked Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, continued through Radium Springs, and spent the night in Golden. We also visited Marble Canyon on our own Banff trip and included more photos and details in our Day 4 story.

Day 3 — Glacier & Revelstoke National Parks

The day included Glacier and Revelstoke National Parks, easy boardwalks at Hemlock Grove and Giant Cedars, the Revelstoke railway museum, and a scenic drive on Mount Revelstoke before continuing to Kamloops.

Wells Gray, Mount Robson & Jasper — Days 4–5

Day 4 — Wells Gray Provincial Park

They visited accessible waterfalls including Spahats Creek Falls, Dawson Falls and Helmcken Falls, then continued toward Valemount and Tete Jaune Lodge on the Fraser River.

Day 5 — Mount Robson, Jasper & Maligne Lake

After Mount Robson Provincial Park, Moose Lake, and Yellowhead Lake, they entered Jasper National Park. Lunch at Maligne Lake Chalet preceded their Maligne Lake cruise, followed by Miette Hot Springs and an overnight in Jasper.

Click any photo to view a larger image.

Jasper & Icefields Parkway — Day 6

After Pyramid Lake and shopping in Jasper, they drove south on the Icefields Parkway with stops at Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Discovery Centre, Peyto Lake and roadside viewpoints. They skipped the Skywalk and the glacier excursion. Ann noted that she did not find the Icefields Parkway scary to drive. We traveled the Parkway in the opposite direction on our own trip, and our Day 5 story includes more details on the stops between Banff and Athabasca Falls.

The Icefields Parkway is much more than a route between destinations. The 232-kilometre scenic highway connects Jasper with Lake Louise and travels through the heart of Jasper and Banff national parks. Parks Canada describes the Icefields Parkway as one of the world’s most spectacular drives, with glaciers, waterfalls, turquoise lakes and dramatic mountain scenery throughout the journey.

It is a drive worth allowing plenty of time for rather than simply treating it as the road from Jasper to Lake Louise. Ann’s stops at Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Columbia Icefield area and Peyto Lake gave them several opportunities to get out of the car and experience the scenery along the way.

Lake Louise & Emerald Lake — Day 7

Their four-hour horseback ride from Lake Louise remained a highlight despite low clouds, cooler temperatures, and some snow. After lunch they continued to Emerald Lake Lodge, deciding Emerald Lake more than made up for the complexity of trying to visit Moraine Lake.

Yoho, Mount Norquay & Banff — Day 8

They stopped at the Yoho Visitor Centre and made the easy walk to Takakkaw Falls before driving to Mount Norquay for their chosen chairlift experience. In Banff they stayed downtown and walked to the Cascade of Time Garden and Bow Falls viewpoint.

Ann had researched sightseeing lifts throughout the Canadian Rockies before deciding that Mount Norquay was the one they wanted to experience. The open-air Mt. Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift climbs to more than 2,000 metres above sea level, opening up expansive views over Banff and the surrounding mountains. From above, visitors can look toward Mount Rundle and Tunnel Mountain and see Vermilion Lakes and the Bow River winding through the valley.

Ann also enjoyed the easy drive to Mount Norquay, the lack of parking hassles, and a mid-afternoon stop at the Cliffhouse Bistro at the top. Travelers interested in adding the experience to their own Canadian Rockies itinerary can view details and book the Mt. Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift here. Advance reservations are recommended to guarantee a ride.

Exploring Banff — Day 9

With part of the day intentionally left flexible, they visited Cave and Basin National Historic Site, drove around Vermilion Lakes and Lake Minnewanka, stopped at the Hoodoos viewpoint, and finished with drinks at the Fairmont Banff Springs before returning toward Calgary.

Calgary & the Trip Home — Day 10

After breakfast near Calgary Airport, they returned the car. Ann recommends taking a free luggage cart from the rental return area because the walk to international departures can be long.

Canadian Rockies Travel Tips from Ann

• Look for Canada’s red Adirondack chairs at scenic locations—they became a fun photo challenge throughout the trip.
• Learn about Ammolite before shopping; the colorful gemstone is native to Alberta.
• Carry hand sanitizer. Parks Canada facilities were frequent and clean, but many were pit toilets without running water.
• Allow extra time at popular locations such as Maligne Lake, where parking can be busy and involve a substantial walk.
• QR-code parking in Banff and Jasper made it convenient to choose and pay for parking time by phone.

Cash vs. Points for a Canadian Rockies Vacation

This was primarily a cash trip. Ann pays attention to Marriott and Hilton points and United and Southwest miles but chose to preserve points when cash pricing made more sense. She had initially considered using points for a DoubleTree reservation in Kamloops, then booked the Thompson Hotel at a lower cash price. She is saving her United miles for a hoped-for trip to New Zealand.