Best places to stay in Jasper National Park, Alberta
Of all the beautiful places to visit in Canada, Jasper National Park is surely high on most people’s lists. It sure was high on mine when we moved to Canada.
Jasper National Park is often paired together with Banff National Park with visitors driving up (or down) the Icefields Parkway: one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
When planning your trip to Banff and Jasper National Park, you should definitely make time for a staying a few days as some of the best places to stay in Jasper.
When it comes to what to do in Jasper, there are so many awesome things to do in Jasper National Park.
From hiking the Whistler Summit trail for incredible views of Jasper to exploring Maligne Lake and the Maligne Canyon waterfalls, you won’t be able to fit everything into one day.
When it comes to places to stay in Jasper you have a few options.
You could go camping at one of the campsites in Jasper, stay in a hotel in downtown Jasper, or find some luxury Jasper accommodations just outside of the town.
Top recommendations for places to stay in Jasper
There’s more information about the top places to stay in Jasper below, but here are my top picks depending on what you’re looking for.
- Best budget accommodation in Jasper: HI Hostel Downtown Jasper
- Best hotel in Jasper: Whistler’s Inn
- Best luxury accommodations in Jasper National Park: Pyramid Lake Resort
- Best place for camping in Jasper: Snaring Campground, Jasper
- Best cabins in Jasper: Miette Mountain Cabin
Top tips for booking places so stay in Jasper
Accommodation in Jasper National Park gets booked up very early and quickly. If you’re planning a trip to Jasper, make sure to book your Jasper National Park accommodation as soon as you’ve chosen your dates!
In the summer, accommodation in Jasper, AB is very often completely booked up and you may not be able to find anything.
Sometimes this is because they actually are booked up, and sometimes they just haven’t listed their rooms on sites like Booking.com or Hotels.com as they just don’t need to. They can make more money if you book direct with them.
In these cases, you might want to try looking further afield to Valemount in BC, or Hinton in Alberta (options for places to stay there are below).
Keep checking back to see what’s available.
Also, be sure to check what holidays are happening in Canada. There is generally one long weekend every month, towards the beginning of the month, and at these times the prices are likely to be higher.
July 1st is Canada Day, the beginning of August sees Alberta and BC day long weekend, there’s Labour Day at the beginning of September, and Thanksgiving in early October.
Where to stay in downtown Jasper
Jasper and Banff are two of the most popular places to visit in Canada and for good reason.
However, since Banff is closer to Calgary (and even doable as a day trip from Calgary), and other more populated areas, it’s often far busier than Jasper.
Jasper National Park has more of a wild feel to it, the town is super cute and the views? The views all around Jasper are incredible!
There are some super cute cafes, and great shops and you can find everything you could need during your stay in downtown Jasper.
Best downtown Jasper hotels
These hotels are all in downtown Jasper, just a few hundred meters’ walk from the amenities of downtown.
Best of Jasper National Park hotels – Whistler’s Inn
Whistler’s Inn in downtown Jasper is just across the road from the railway station (though you won’t be kept awake).
One of the main reasons I recommend this hotel is not just because of its location, but because it’s got a rooftop hot tub. While you can go and enjoy the hot springs in Jasper, there’s nothing quite like being able to enjoy a hot tub with a view like this!
Mount Robson Inn
The Mount Robson Inn in Jasper boasts mountain views from every room. Imagine waking up, opening the curtains and getting views of the Rocky Mountains! That’d be a great way to start your holiday in Canada.
You’re about a 15-minute walk from the main downtown centre of Jasper here so close enough to benefit from its amenities, but far enough that it’s a little quieter.
You’re also close to highway 93 which means less time to travel to get to some of the best hikes in Jasper and top attractions!
This is one of the hotels in Jasper National Park that has outdoor hot tubs. They’re perfect for relaxing after some hiking, skiing in Jasper or just exploring.
Crimson Hotel
The Crimson Hotel is one of the newer places to stay in Jasper and the price is a little higher.
At the Crismon Hotel in Jasper, you’ll get access to a hot tub and pool and you can also choose to book a studio that has a small kitchenette.
So it’s a great choice if you’re looking for Jasper accommodations with kitchens.
As you know, my favorite way to save money while travelling is to cook as many meals as possible ourselves.
Having a kitchenette is a winner if you’re trying to save money and can make back some of the money from booking slightly more expensive accommodation.
Marmot Lodge Jasper
The Marmot Lodge in Jasper’s downtown area is on the main street and surrounded by the beautiful evergreens you’ll see throughout the national park.
There’s an indoor pool and the rooms are pretty spacious at this Jasper lodging option
Maligne Lodge Hotel Jasper
Though there’s no Maligne Lake Lodge right by the lake like there is at Moraine Lake near Lake Louise, there is a Maligne Lodge which is in Jasper itself.
Maligne Lodge offers lots of great facilities including an indoor pool, sauna, gym and outdoor hot tub.
Some rooms come with kitchen facilities so you can keep your costs lower while visiting Jasper too.
Best Airbnb in Jasper – The Bear’s Den
This 2-bed private accommodation will be like having your own house in Jasper. It’s the perfect place to stay in Jasper if you’re planning a ski trip or an extended hiking holiday.
The suite is nicely decorated, and bright and has a great mountain view. There’s a log decor theme which makes it feel super cosy.
Best budget accommodation in Jasper – Jasper hostels
Budget accommodation in Jasper isn’t strictly budget by most people’s definition. It just means ‘cheap for Jasper.’ You’re still looking at C$150+ a night for a room in most cases.
The cheapest place to stay in Jasper is definitely the campsite (see below), but then you’ll have to factor in the cost of bringing your camping gear with you or renting it. Plus, camping isn’t for everyone, I know.
Below I’ve picked out the cheapest accommodation in Jasper National Park that still gets high ratings.
HI Hostel Jasper National Park
This hostel is not like the hostels you may have experienced while backpacking. It’s beautifully designed inside and out and has plenty of fun and clean amenities.
You’ll find a garden, kitchen, a lounge with pool tables and communal BBQ facilities too.
You can stay in dorm rooms as well as private rooms with an en-suite bathroom so there are plenty of options depending on your budget.
HI Maligne Canyon – Hostel
This hostel is a bit outside of downtown Jasper, but it is fairly close to Maligne Canyon which is one of the top things to see in Jasper.
If you’re renting a car then you’ll have no issues getting to and from downtown Jasper from the HI Maligne Canyon hostel.
At the hostel, you can book a single bed in a mixed dorm. It’s very basic accommodation and basically like camping.
It’s a wilderness hostel with no running water, no showers or washing area, and no flush toilets. There is purified water for cooking, a refrigerator, propane stoves and electricity for the lights. It’ll do for a few nights and you can use the showers at the hot springs.
Jasper Downtown Hostel
The Jasper downtown Hostel is one of the best budget places to stay in Jasper National Park.
With both dorm rooms and private family rooms and queen rooms with shared or ensuite bathrooms, you have plenty of choices to suit your travel style.
You’re close to downtown Jasper here and have access to a shared kitchen, lounge and laundry.
Where to stay in Jasper National Park – luxury hotels in Jasper Alberta
If you’re planning to treat yourselves during your stay in Jasper, check out these luxury accommodation options.
Pyramid Lake Resort, Jasper
Right next to Pyramid Lake, one of the prettiest places in Jasper, yet not too far from downtown, is Pyramid Lake Resort.
The resort offers beautiful accommodations in even prettier surroundings. You can go canoeing, hiking, fishing and more right from the hotel’s door. There’s a private beach, on-site dining and a gym and hot tub.
If you’re staying in Jasper for several nights, this place to stay has everything you could need! It’s truly one of the best options for lodging in Jasper National Park.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
The Fairmont brand is known for its luxury accommodation and some of its best hotels are in and around Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise.
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is one of the best hotels in Jasper, Canada and is hidden away in the woods.
All the rooms are like cabins and you’ll get all the cosiness of a log cabin with all the luxuries you’d expect from the Fairmont.
Some rooms even have views overlooking the water of Beauvert Lake and you can get similar views from the outdoor hot tub and pool on-site.
Best cabins in Jasper National Park
If this is your first trip to Canada, chances are you’re looking for that Canadian-log-cabin vibe. I understand you!
Luckily, there are some places to stay near Jasper National Park that’ll give you just that!
Miette Mountain Cabins
These beautiful log cabin hotels near Jasper Alberta are about 30 minutes outside of the town and they’re a beautiful place to stay.
Enjoying coffee on the decks outside your cabin would be the perfect way to start the day during your trip to Jasper!
The Miette Mountain Cabins are quite reasonably priced and there’s an onsite pool that’s open in the summer months.
Some cabins look to have been recently updated too and now they’re super cute inside and out!
Jasper House Bungalows
These bungalows are really more like cabins in Jasper. They’re a 5-minute drive away from central Jasper and there are plenty of walking trails right from your door.
With mountain views, and and on-site nature guide to talk you through the natural surroundings and scenes of the Athabasca River nearby, what more could you ask for?
Jasper East Cabins
The Jasper East Cabins are just outside of the national park gates and about half an hour outside of downtown Jasper.
They’re in a remote location which means there’s virtually no light pollution so you can enjoy beautiful night skies. Sometimes, you can even see the Northern Lights from outside these cabins!
You’re also within walking distance of Folding Mountain Brewery which is ideal for a relaxing drink with your travel partner after exploring Jasper National Park!
Jasper cheap hotels – Where to stay near Jasper National Park
If you’re trying to keep costs down further, but don’t want to camp, you can stay outside of Jasper in neighboring towns.
There’s Valemount in BC which is about 1 hour and 20 minutes drive away, or Hinton in Alberta, about 45 minutes away.
Sometimes this can be your only option if you’ve left it late to book somewhere.
And while it is further out of Jasper, you’ll save money and the drive is beautiful so you’ll still get to enjoy that beautiful Rockies scenery.
I’ve stayed at the Valemount Vacation Inn in Valemount before doing the Berg Lake trail and it’s a perfectly good option. If in Valemount, make sure to get pastries from the Valemount Swiss Bakery!
In Hinton, the BCMInns is a good choice and has an indoor pool, gym and hot tub too.
Camping in Jasper National Park
There are a few campsites in Jasper that you can reserve. Three of them are close to Jasper town: Whistlers, Wabasso and Wapiti.
You can also reserve Pocahontas to the east of the park near the Miette Hot Springs and the Sulphur Skyline trail. Both of which are some of the top places to visit in Jasper.
Reservations to book a campground spot in summer open in January and you can book here.
Frontcountry camping is where you can drive up to your camping spot and unload everything there. Backcountry camping is where you hike into your camping spot.
Camping reservations in Jasper get booked up very quickly. Make sure you’ve got a Parks Canada account set up before they go live, and get on the website as soon as places are opened up for your dates.
Whistlers campground
There are over 780 campsites at Whistlers and they also have evening shows which makes it great for families.
If you want to go glamping, check out the oTENTiks which are fully set-up tents with beds, seating, heaters and a wooden floor. They’re good for 4 adults and 2 kids.
- Open: Beginning of May to October.
Wapiti campground
Wapiti campground in Jasper is on the banks of the Athabasca River. The campground has 362 sites in summer and is one of the few campsites in Jasper that stays open in winter with 93 camping spots.
- Open: all year round.
Wabasso
Wabasso has some brilliant views of Jasper National Park. It’s a bit of a wilder camping experience as there are no showers. There are 231 sites.
- Open: Mid-May to mid-September
Pocahontas
Pocahontas is similar to Wabasso in terms of facilities. It’s slightly more secluded than the above three so it’s ideal if you’re looking to get away from it all. There are 140 sites here.
- Open: Mid-May to early September
First-come first, served campsites in Jasper
There are several campsites in Jasper which operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you want to get a spot at one of these then aim to get there early in the morning and grab a spot as someone is leaving.
Campers from the previous night have to check out at 11 am but most people probably leave earlier than that.
Honestly, I didn’t want to deal with the stress of finding a first come first, served campsite. I’d much rather be out exploring and then sleeping in an overflow campsite than crossing my fingers that I’ll get a spot at one of these.
But, if you want to be sure and don’t want to camp in an overflow then here is where to find FCFS campsites in Jasper.
Snaring campsite
Snaring is a little outside of Jasper town (about 15-20 minutes) but is a great spot.
Some of the camping spots are alongside the river, and you can see the mountain peaks which look beautiful at sunset.
This campsite is a bit smaller with just 63 sites.
This is where we saw our first Jasper bear walking along the river in one of the most beautiful places in Jasper.
- Open: Mid-May to late September
What if everywhere to camp in Jasper is full?
There is one overflow campsite in Jasper. It’s called Snaring Overflow as it’s just across the bridge from the main Snaring campsite.
There are pit toilets and drinking water but no other facilities. When we stayed here there weren’t designated spots to camp in, it was more of a find whatever space you can and camp there situation.
We stayed here for two nights and loved it. PLUS the sky was SO clear when we stayed you could see thousands upon thousands of stars, some satellites and the Milky Way.
Parks Pass/Jasper Entrance Fees
To visit Jasper National Park you will need a Parks Pass. These are available at visitor centres, campground kiosks and entry gates as well as online. Remember to display this on your dashboard/windscreen at all times.
You don’t necessarily need an annual pass (although it’s worth it if you’ll be spending 7 plus days in the parks). However, you do have to pay an entrance fee which can be done at the same places mentioned above.
If you’re camping in Jasper, campsite reservation fees do not include the entrance fee to the parks. They will be added to your bill when booking a campsite.
How to get to Jasper National Park
Jasper is close to the Alberta, British Columbia border and is about 4 hours away from Edmonton; the closest major city.
Edmonton has an international airport so if you’re visiting Jasper this might be where you fly into.
However, many visitors (I’d imagine most) fly into Calgary or Vancouver and then do a road trip to Jasper National Park through Banff, or Mt Robson.
You can also arrive in Jasper via train! The luxurious Rocky Mountaineer stops in Jasper as does ViaRail.
Getting around Jasper National Park
For visiting Jasper National Park, I highly recommend having a car.
Jasper doesn’t have a good public transit system. While there are shuttle buses between some of the top attractions, if you want to go to some of the less popular hikes, spend time looking for moose and bears, or just have a bit more flexibility, you’re really going to value having a car.
Final thoughts on the best places to stay Jasper National Park Canada
If you’re looking at the best places while you’re staying in Jasper National Park this guide has shared some of the best Jasper Albertahotels, and even the best campground Jasper National Park has to offer too.
Whether you’re looking to do some Jasper National Park camping, or want to find the best Jasper accommodations with kitchens, hopefully this has helped.
My top picks of where to stay in Jasper are bullet-pointed below and include a mix of options depending on your budgets and needs.
- Best budget accommodation in Jasper: HI Hostel Downtown Jasper
- Best hotel in Jasper: Whistler’s Inn
- Best luxury accommodations in Jasper National Park: Pyramid Lake Resort
- Best place for camping in Jasper: Snaring Campground, Jasper
- Best cabins in Jasper: Miette Mountain Cabin
As you travel Jasper National Park and the Icefields Parkway to Banff, be sure to check out my other Alberta travel guides. I’ve got guides on what to do in Lake Louise in winter, how to canoe on Lake Louise, this 4 day Banff itinerary, this guide to the best things to do in Canmore, and the best day trips from Calgary.
Last Updated on September 7, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
