Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Jasper National Park?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Jasper National Park?

Most visitors spend two to five days in Jasper National Park when visiting. The adventure-filled national park offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the hiking and the beautiful scenery.

Jasper National Park is a stunning national park in the Canadian Rockies. It covers a large area and is filled with breathtaking landscapes, mountains, lakes, glaciers, and wildlife. The park has several campgrounds and backcountry camping areas. There are miles of hiking trails and several lodges and restaurants nearby as well.

Do you have one or two days to visit Jasper National Park? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Jasper National Park?

With one day, you'll probably feel rushed to experience the outdoors to its fullest extent. You really need more time to appreciate the gorgeous scenery that this national park has to offer. Many visitors stay for two to five days to see everything such as Icefields Parkway and the hiking and the beautiful scenery. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're visiting.

How to spend a day in Jasper National Park

When visiting Jasper National Park, you absolutely can't miss Icefields Parkway as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.

Jasper National Park is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The Canadian Rockies create a stunning backdrop for this beautiful and vast national park.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Jasper National Park?

A weekend is generally not enough time to experience everything in Jasper National Park. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to discover the nearby hiking trails and admire the wonderful scenery. To genuinely appreciate the highlights, a more lengthy visit is recommended. Many travelers opt for two to five days to experience the outdoors here. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

Jasper National Park Jasper National Park

How to spend 2 days in Jasper National Park

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Jasper National Park, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the national park has to offer.

Known for it's hiking, Jasper National Park sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. Hiking is a truly world class experience in this large park. There are miles of trails, both backcountry and more accessible, that allow access to the park's stunning beauty. Whether you're looking for a shorter family-friendly hike, or planning a multi-week backcountry adventure, this park has it all.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Full Day Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks ($153)
  • Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks ($98)
  • Tread Lightly Glacier Hikes ($135)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Jasper National Park, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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