I’ve never met a mountain I didn’t love. But in all reality, I can’t quite express just how alive I feel when immersed in the mountains. Add my hubby in there and a new place to explore!? Say less! I’m so excited to bring you the next installment of my travel series. So without further ado, come wander with me as I take you through our long weekend roadtrip from Glacier National Park to Banff.
If you’re new to the blog (welcome), you probably don’t know that my husband (Ethan) and I are Midwest natives who are now living in Kalispell, Montana. As a Montana elopement and intimate wedding photographer, I spend many of my days exploring Glacier National Park. However, It’s not too often that I have a free weekend during the Fall. So when the opportunity arose, Ethan and I booked our hotel on a Monday night and headed out on our Canadian adventure that Thursday!
Glacier National Park to Banff, AB Roadtrip Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from GNP to Banff
The drive from Kalispell to Banff took us about 5 1/2 hours. Because we headed out after Ethan got off work, we didn’t get to take in the incredible views on the way up. But the little peeks we got (no pun intended) were something special.
If there’s one piece of advice I could give anyone traveling from Glacier to Banff, it would be to go during shoulder season! Historically, Banff is busiest from July through early October. While we missed out on peak Fall colors, we were thankful to experience smaller crowds and a calmer atmosphere for our travels. Banff in late October is also a great time to visit to enjoy more affordable accommodations (even at 5 star hotels). Ethan and I found a great last minute deal on a downtown Banff hotel and it was worth every penny; we were in the heart of all the restaurants, shops, and endless views.
Day 2: Moraine Lake, Alberta
Our first full day in Banff was a breath of fresh air. After spending hours in the car the night before, we decided to rent e-bikes from Bear Street Outfitters. Since we were in the mood for some movement, we biked to Moraine Lake. Biking through the Canadian Rockies was such an incredible, unforgettable experience. Every expectation I had for turquoise waters and snowcapped mountains was met when we arrived at Moraine Lake. But the best part of all was just how secluded the area felt. Ethan and I felt like we had the entire shore to ourselves to truly soak up the views, and we kind of did! We only saw a handful of other people.
After we made our way back to Banff, we shared a flight of craft beer and pizza at Three Bears Brewing. Not to sound too stereotypical “granola”, but heading to local breweries is one of Ethan and my favorite past times. After our bellies were full, we strolled around the downtown shops, marveling at the mountains towering above.
Day 3: Sunrise at Lake Louise + Icefield Parkway
Saturday was a day that I had always dreamt of when I pictured Banff. We woke up bright and early to make the drive to the iconic Lake Louise. While it’s never fun waking up super early, I’m so thankful we did. The parking lot was already pretty full when we arrived, despite arriving before the sun even began its ascent.
If you’ve wandered “with” me before, you know that Ethan and I love any opportunity to be near a lake. We even decided to bring our Packraft along to take it out on Lake Louise! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I’d be the only watercraft out on the famous Lake Louise, but it was magical as you would think. Paddling out on the water, surrounded by the snowy mountains was a surreal experience.
After pulling ourselves away from Lake Louise, we drove the Icefield Parkway. If you’ve never heard of an icefield before, it’s an area covered by multiple glaciers, all piled together. Anyway, as I sit here writing this blog, it literally feels like the entire theme of this trip was “I can’t even explain just how beautiful it was, but…” So in keeping with the theme… 🤣 Even if you’re not a big “scenic drive” kinda person, I highly recommend driving the Icefield Parkway. It is ranked one of the most beautiful drives in the world! The views of the monstrous mountains were insane! It definitely made up for missing views on the way from Glacier to Banff. We took our time on the drive, stopped at Columbia Icefield, and enjoyed making lots of stops for views along the way. When we finally made our way back to downtown Banff, we indulged in fondu before turning in for the night.
Day 4: Banff National Park to Glacier National Park
We spent our last few hours in Banff shopping before Ethan casted a few lines on a little river. We departed Banff around noon, and enjoyed the beautiful drive back to Kalispell. As we made our way back home, we couldn’t stop talking about just how incredible our quick weekend trip was. We barely even scratched the surface of such a small portion of the Banff National Park area.
Tips for Traveling to Banff
- Embrace shoulder season for a calmer, more affordable experience. We loved our stunning alpine-style stay tucked away at Charltons Banff. If you don’t mind missing out on peak Fall foliage, late October is an incredible time to still enjoy the same amenities for a fraction of the price. Our trip was from October 19-22, and we were still able to visit so many shops and restaurants.
- Arrive to popular destinations early, regardless of if you’re visiting during shoulder-season. Expect for destinations like Lake Louise, Lake Moraine, and Columbia Icefields to have limited parking.
- An e-bike is the way to go if you’re looking for some movement! We loved the bike ride from Banff to Lake Moraine. The road is actually limited to bicyclists and hikers (during certain parts of the year), so we only saw roughly 10 people! If you’re staying in downtown Banff, I highly recommend renting bikes from Bear Street Outfitters.
- Follow proper guidelines if bringing a watercraft. You can find guidelines and additional information HERE! Whether you self-certify your watercraft or have it inspected, make sure to do your part.
- Even if you aren’t normally one to go for a leisurely drive, you need to checkout the Icefields Parkway. The experience is almost otherworldly.
And there ya have it, folks! Our spontaneous little itinerary for our roadtrip from Glacier National Park to Banff. I highly recommend including Banff in your Glacier National Park elopement or Northwest Montana trip. I can wholeheartedly say that the area is even more beautiful than you may have pictured.
Banff Elopement Photographer | Sydney Breann Photography
Looking for more itineraries and trip recaps from the Wander with Me series? Check out the Travel section on the blog! And of course, you can get a firsthand look at my latest adventures over on Instagram (@sydneybreannphoto). But until next time, are you ready to wander?
