When traveling to Lake Louise, Alberta, here are your gateway airport cities serving the Canadian Rockies.
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary – Canada
If you’re arriving from another country, your journey to the Canadian Rockies will likely begin with a flight. Depending on your trip itinerary you may want to book your flight to Calgary, Edmonton, or Vancouver International Airport, because commercial flights do not serve Lake Louise, Jasper, or Banff directly. Choosing the best airport to fly into will help you make the most of your time in the Canadian Rockies.
Calgary International Airport (YCC)
Located in southern Alberta, Calgary is a great place to start your trip if you plan to visit Kananaskis, Canmore, or Waterton Lakes National Park. Additionally, The Calgary Airport is a short 128 kilometres from Banff. To get to the Banff town site you simply follow highway one west through the majestic foothills of Kananaskis. This drive between Calgary and Banff is a great introduction to the splender of the Canadian Rockies.
Distances: 128 km to Banff; 413 km to Jasper; 1095 km to Whistler
Major Airlines: Air Canada, Air Transat, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Edelweiss, Horizon Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Mexicana, Thomas Cook, U.S. Airways, United Airlines, West Jest
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
If you want to start your visit to the Rockies in Jasper National Park you’ll want to choose Edmonton International Airport as your destination. Located just south of Edmonton the airport is a 361 km drive from Jasper. While YEG is not as spiffy as Calgary’s Airport arriving in Edmonton is the quickest way to get to the northern Rockies.
Distances: 361 km to Jasper; 423 km to Banff; 1275 km to Whistler;
Major Airlines: Air Canada, Air Transat, Continental, Delta Airlines, Horizon Air, Sunwing Airlines Swanburg Air, United Airlines, US Airways, West Jet
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
By flying into Vancouver you’ll get the chance to check out Whistler and British Columbia’s Coastal Mountains. YVR is also served by more international airlines. With nonstop flights from places like Beijing, Auckland and Taipei Vancouver International Airport is a great option if you’re arriving from the east. However, flying into Vancouver does mean you’ll have a longer trip to get to the Rocky Mountains. If taking the car or bus from Vancouver is going to eat up to much of your vacation, consider booking a connecting flight to Kelowna International Airport. Once in Kelowna you’ll have a much shorter 474 km drive to Banff.
Distances: 847 km to Banff; 794 km to Jasper, 123 km to Whistler
Major Airlines: Air Berlin, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM, Korea Air, Lufthansa, Thomas Cook Airlines, United Airlines, West Jet