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Alberta–Montana–Wyoming National Parks Road Trip 🚗🏞️

A complete loop from Star, Idaho — north to Glacier, up into the Canadian Rockies, then south through Yellowstone and Grand Teton back home. Plan for at least 3 weeks.

Table of Contents

  1. Overview & Route Map
  2. Leg 1: Star, ID → Glacier National Park
  3. Glacier National Park (Montana)
  4. Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta)
  5. Calgary, AB — City Stop
  6. Banff National Park
  7. Yoho National Park
  8. Icefields Parkway
  9. Jasper National Park
  10. Leg 2: Jasper → Yellowstone via Montana
  11. Yellowstone National Park
  12. Grand Teton National Park
  13. Leg 3: Grand Teton → Star, ID (Home)
  14. 18ft RV Tips
  15. Trip Planning Checklist

1. Overview & Route Map

This is a full loop from Star, Idaho — roughly 1,800 miles of driving not counting in-park miles. You'll cross into Canada and back once each way, linking the best national parks in western Canada with Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton.

The Loop at a Glance

LegDriveApprox Time
Star → Glacier NP (west entrance)~330 mi via Missoula5.5 hrs
Glacier NP → Waterton Lakes (border)~70 mi via Chief Mountain1.5 hrs
Waterton → Calgary~165 mi north on AB-22.5 hrs
Calgary → Banff → Yoho → Icefields → Jasper~280 mi (all-day stops)2–3 days driving
Jasper → Calgary (return south)~230 mi via AB-93/AB-24 hrs
Calgary → US Border (Coutts/Sweetgrass)~200 mi south on AB-23 hrs
Sweetgrass → Yellowstone (North Gate)~290 mi via Bozeman4.5 hrs
Yellowstone → Grand Teton~60 mi south1 hr
Grand Teton → Star, ID~230 mi via Alpine/Swan Valley3.5 hrs

Route Order (Counter-clockwise loop)

  1. Star, ID → north through Idaho/Montana → Missoula → Glacier NP
  2. Glacier NP → east side → Chief Mountain border → Waterton Lakes
  3. Waterton → north to Calgary (supply stop)
  4. Calgary → west to Banff → Yoho → Icefields Parkway → Jasper
  5. Jasper → south back through Alberta → cross US border at Sweetgrass/Coutts
  6. Great Falls → Bozeman → Livingston → Yellowstone North Entrance
  7. Yellowstone → Grand Teton → Jackson, WY → Swan Valley → Star, ID

Key Facts

2. 🚗 Leg 1: Star, ID → Glacier National Park (~5.5 hrs)

Head north out of Star on ID-16 to I-84, then pick up US-95 north through McCall or take I-84 east to I-15 north. The most scenic route goes through McCall and Salmon River country before connecting to US-93 through the Bitterroot Valley into Missoula, then north on US-93 to Glacier's west entrance.

Recommended Route (West Entrance)

Star → Boise → US-95 north → New Meadows → Grangeville → US-12 west → Lolo → Missoula → US-93 north → Kalispell → Glacier West Entrance (Apgar)

Alternative Route (East Entrance — adds the Going-to-the-Sun Road from east)

Star → I-84 → I-86 → I-15 north → Great Falls → US-89 north → Browning → Glacier East Entrance (St. Mary)

3. 📍 Glacier National Park, Montana

Glacier is often in the shadow of Yellowstone but it's every bit as spectacular — possibly more dramatic scenery. This is one of the most beautiful places in the United States.

Highlights

RV Notes

4. 📍 Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

From Glacier, head to the northeast side of the park and cross into Canada at the Chief Mountain International Highway border crossing (seasonal — open mid-May to late September). Waterton is literally right across the border — the two parks form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

Border Crossing: Chief Mountain

Highlights

RV Notes

5. 📍 Calgary, AB — City Stop (~2.5 hrs north of Waterton)

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta — the last real city stop before heading into the Rockies. After Waterton, drive north on AB-2 to Calgary. This is your best chance to restock everything before the Canada leg of the trip.

Why Stop in Calgary

Things to Do (if spending a day)

Canadian National Park Pass

You need this to enter Banff and Jasper. Buy online at reservation.pc.gc.ca. Note: Admission is FREE June 19 – September 7, 2026 — major money saver if your trip overlaps those dates.

6. 📍 Banff National Park, Alberta (~1.5 hrs west of Calgary)

Canada's first national park. The turquoise glacial lakes here are unlike anything else in North America — they have to be seen to be believed.

Highlights

RV Notes

7. 📍 Yoho National Park, BC (~1 hr west of Banff)

Most people skip Yoho to focus on Banff and Jasper — don't be that person. It's a small park but has some of the most beautiful scenery on the trip. Emerald Lake alone is worth the detour.

Highlights

RV Notes

8. 📍 Icefields Parkway (Highway 93)

National Geographic called this the "drive of a lifetime." 144 miles of Highway 93 connecting Banff to Jasper — glaciers, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, wildlife, and mountains in every direction. Budget a full day; you'll stop constantly. Technically it starts at the Lake Louise junction.

Must-Stop Points (south to north)

RV Notes

9. 📍 Jasper National Park, Alberta

The largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Best wildlife spotting of the whole trip — bears, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep are commonly seen right from the road. Also the world's second largest dark sky preserve. Stargazing here is exceptional.

Highlights

RV Notes

10. 🚗 Leg 2: Jasper → Yellowstone via Montana (~11 hrs total driving, 2–3 days)

From Jasper, head back south through Alberta toward the US border. This is a long transit leg — break it up over 2–3 days with overnight stops in Montana.

Route: Jasper → US Border → Yellowstone

Jasper → AB-93 south → Calgary (~230 mi, 4 hrs) → AB-2 south to Lethbridge → Coutts/Sweetgrass border crossing → I-15 south → Great Falls → US-89 south → White Sulphur Springs → Livingston → US-89 south → Gardiner → Yellowstone North Entrance

Border Crossing: Coutts (AB) / Sweetgrass (MT)

Montana Stops Worth Making

West Entrance Alternative

If you'd rather enter Yellowstone at the West Entrance (West Yellowstone, MT), cut west from Great Falls toward Missoula and down US-93 to I-90, then US-191 south. Along the way, detour to Virginia City and Nevada City — two well-preserved Wild West ghost towns that are genuinely fascinating.

11. 📍 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The world's first national park. The most geologically unique place on Earth. Give this at least 3–4 days — more if you can. You cannot rush Yellowstone.

Upper Loop (from North Entrance)

Lower Loop

RV Notes

12. 📍 Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Drive south from Yellowstone through the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway and you'll enter Grand Teton without leaving pavement. The Tetons are breathtaking — sheer, jagged peaks rising straight from the valley floor with no foothills to soften the view. This is also the last park stop before heading home to Star.

Highlights

RV Notes

13. 🚗 Leg 3: Grand Teton → Star, ID (Home — ~3.5 hrs)

The final drive home from Jackson, WY to Star, ID is a beautiful one — no highway slog. You're following the Snake River valley the whole way.

Route

Grand Teton (Jackson, WY) → US-26/89 west → Alpine, WY → ID-31 west → Victor → Driggs (Teton Valley) → ID-33 west → Rexburg OR ID-31 → Swan Valley → ID-26 west → US-20 → Mountain Home → I-84 west → Star

Alternative Scenic Route (longer — adds ~45 min)

From Driggs, head north on ID-33 to Ashton, then west on US-20 through Idaho Falls and Twin Falls to I-84. More miles but goes through Idaho Falls for food and fuel.

14. 🚐 18ft RV Tips for This Route

Border Crossings

Road Considerations

Booking Strategy

Weather & Timing

15. 📋 Trip Planning Checklist

Source itinerary: beelovedcity.com · Adapted for 18ft RV from Star, Idaho