The hotel is situated on the corner of Connaught Drive and Miette Drive in the heart of the townsite action.

The Jasper National Park Information Centre is next door.  Across the street is the train station.  The Whistler’s Inn hotel is surrounded by restaurants and gift shops.

And in the morning, when you need good coffee, take a short walk west on Connaught Drive to a great independent bakery/cafe/coffee shop called The Other Paw Bakery.

Whistler's Inn Jasper hotel

While it lacks a pool, the 2 hot tubs on the top floor of Whistler’s Inn and the little wildlife museum in the basement make up for it.

The word on the street from Whistler’s Inn Jasper reviews is that the rooms at Whistler’s Inn Jasper are what you’d expect.  Clean and comfortable.

If you are a light sleeper, you might want to call ahead and ask about the availability of a quieter room.   What you’ll want to avoid is being above the 1st floor pub if noise bothers you.  I wouldn’t worry too much though.  You’ll probably be so tired after a day of Jasper National Park recreation that nothing is going to keep you awake anyways!  Or you could turn on the AC or the fan to drown out any noise.  Personally, I always pack ear plugs whenever I travel just in case.

The only downside of this Jasper National Park hotel is parking.  There’s a small lot in back lacking enough  spaces to accommodate all guests.  You’ll have to park on the street – which can be a pain in the peak summer months.   The parking lot across the street next to the train station is a good place to park.

Whistler’s Inn Jasper prices are in the average range for standard rooms. Booking early for vacations in the peak months of July and August is recommended as there are more visitors to Jasper during this time than there are rooms available.

Can it be done?

Yes!

First off, traditional hotels in Jasper National Park during the peak summer months are pretty much impossible to get below $100 a night.  It is a supply and demand thing.  The hotels tend to start at $150 a night and there’s a wider range to chose from in the $200 range.

If you want to save some money and stretch your travel budget, here are some ways to stay in Jasper for far less than the price of a hotel.

1. Hostels in Jasper National Park

Jasper hostels are rugged and a true back to nature type of experience.  A night in a Jasper National Park hostel typically involves sleeping on a bunk bed with strangers.  Bathrooms – yes.  Showers – maybe.

But the price is right.  A couple could stay at a hostel for well under $100 a night.

A fun adventure if you’re up to it.

2. Tent Site Car-Camping in Jasper National Park

Bring a ten and camp at one of the Jasper National Park campgrounds.  Renting a campsite is in the $10 to $40 a night range.

Sure, the guy in a nearby tent may be snoring loudly.  But you also are really close to nature.  Many a happy camper has seen some sort of wildlife within the campgrounds, such as the experience of elk walking through your campsite.

3. Backcountry camping in Jasper National Park

If you’re into backcountry camping, Jasper National Park should be on your list.

The reward for those bold enough to camp in the wilds of the Canadian Rockies are spectacular sites that most of the visitors to the park miss out on.  The risk factor is the potential for rainy weather.

Backcountry camping permits are dirt cheap…around$10.

While it may not be the most comfortable night’s rest, the solitude and splendor may be worth it – so long as the bears stay away!

4. Jasper Private Home Accommodations

If you require a good bed to sleep in, consider Jasper Private Home Accommodations.

As part of legislation to prevent over development of the park, residents of Jasper townsite must work within the park – no vacation homes. So, a lot of homeowners make rooms available for a little side income.

Jasper townsite in the center of Jasper National Park is the residential area where residents rent out rooms in their homes.

The price ranges vary depending on the amenities but it is possible to get a room for under $100 a night.  A place with a shared bathroom is less than a private bathroom.  The same goes for a shared entrance versus a private entrance and small bed versus big bed.

5. Stay next door in a hotel in Hinton, Alberta

I recently wrote about staying in nearby Hinton, Alberta for a few nights to save some money.  While it is not truly within Jasper National Park, it is a short drive to the eastern entrance to the park.

Hotels for $100 a night can be had if you look hard enough in Hinton.  While Hinton adds to the amount of daily driving, it may make sense. Get the details: Jasper National Park Hotel Alternative: 3 Hinton Hotels for $100 a night or less in summer.

Hope that helps in your quest to find a way to have an affordable Canadian Rockies vacation!

The central location makes it easy to do day trips to attractions and activities like hiking in Jasper National Park and the surrounding area.

The hotel’s heated indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi’s provide a place to spend a relaxing evening after a day of hiking.

Other than that, it is a typical hotel – a decent place to spend the night but nothing glamorous.

While the peak season summertime price tag of about $200 a night after taxes for a room with 2 double beds is modestly priced by Jasper hotel standards, there are fancier rooms available.  The hotel has 107 rooms to chose from.

While there are many other hotels in Jasper National Park to choose from depending on your needs, Marmot Lodge Jasper is worth a look.

This is a picture taken by a traveler in front of Marmot Lodge Jasper looking across the road to the surrounding Canadian Rockies. Not much to complain about with a view like that. Then again, views like this abound in Jasper National Park.

One thing to keep in mind:  Marmot Lodge Jasper is pet-friendly for a fee.  Good if you have pets.  Potentially not so good if you have dog allergies.

Related posts:

1. Whistler’s Inn Jasper – Hotels in Jasper National Park

While the Jasper Park Lodge gets props for being around since the early 1900s, the lodge benefits from the beauty of Lac Beauvert and the surrounding Canadian Rockies.

Lac Beauvert is a small lake at only 0.4km².  Even for Jasper visitors not staying at Jasper Park Lodge, a trip to the lodge for the scenery is worth it.  The lodge also has several dining options and the lake has a nice path along its edge. So, a dinner and a walk could make for a relaxing way to spend on evening after a day of Jasper National Park activities.

Lac Beauvert and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge are a short drive from Jasper townsite and it shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes from the townsite to the lodge’s parking lot.

Then the beauty of the lake awaits.

The aptly named Glacier View Inn is rare in its ability to offer a view of a glacier from a hotel room.

Its location at the Columbia Icefield Centre on the Icefield Parkway on the southern border of Jasper National Park makes it a desirable hotel in Jasper for spending the night on the way to or from neighboring Banff National Park.

And the Glacier View Inn’s view of the Athabasca Glacier makes for one of the most unique hotels in Canadian Rockies or the world, for that matter.

Other than that, the Glacier View Inn is a typical hotel.  The hotel has 32 rooms – all on the 3rd floor of the Icefield Centre.  Some rooms have a glacier view.  Other slightly cheaper rooms have only a mountain view.  Either way, the price is on the high side for the facility.

The price (about $275 a night during peak season) seems like a lot (I’m a cheapskate when it comes to accommodations).  But a location like this can ask that kind of money and still be filled to capacity during the peaks summer months.  You’re paying for the view and location versus luxury.

Also, be aware that facilities are limited in this area of the park.  The only dining is in the Columbia Icefield Centre on the 2nd floor which has a restaurant open for breakfast and dinner.  It also has a cafeteria open during icefield tour operating hours during the day.

Then again, doing the Columbia Icefield Snocoach tour is really convenient – just walk downstairs to the bus first thing in the morning.

So the location has its pluses (location, location, location) and minuses (amenities, services, price).  As a one-nighter, it may make a good choice for some Canadian Rockies travel itineraries.  Otherwise, there are plenty of convenient hotels in the centrally located Jasper townsite area or in Banff from which day trips to the Columbia Icefield may end up being an experience more fitting of your needs and tastes.

Conveniently located Bear Hill Lodge in Jasper National Park falls into the category of mid-priced hotels in Jasper National Park with the hotel’s price per night in the $200 range during the peak months and a little more reasonable before mid-June and after mid-September.

The family-owned hotel is located at 100 Bonhomme Street in Jasper and a nice walk to the downtown area where the Jasper Information Centre and restaurants are.

A review of Bear Hill Lodge’s features reveals a lot of nice add-ons not found at other Jasper hotels.  The lodge offers several quality cottage cabin accommodations, some with kitchenettes, some with multiple beds, and some rooms even have a wood or gas fireplace.  To me, the fireplace would be fun in the winter or on a cool rainy day when you just want to rest and read a book.

The Lodge also offers hotels rooms above its main lodge building.  These rooms are nicely appointed as well with a kitchenette, gas fireplace and a balcony.

Cabins at Bear Hill Lodge, Jasper National Park

Bear Hill Lodge entrance

The Bear Hill Lodge offers a continental breakfast in its breakfast room.  Price is included with some rooms, but $10.00 for other rooms.  Fill up and then head off for your Jasper National Park adventure.

At the end of the day (or anytime between 8:30 AM and 10 PM), soak at Bear Hill Lodge’s spa.  It has a hot tub and sauna.

Some other things to note:

The nightly room rental rates are for 2 people only and Bear Hill Lodge currently has a fee of $20.00 per night for each additional person over age 15.

View Larger Map

For more information, see the hotel’s website.

Related posts:

1. Whistler’s Inn Jasper – Hotels in Jasper National Park

Since its early days in the 1920s, the lodge has catered to an upper-class demographic.

So it goes.

A page from a 1948 Jasper National Park brochure (which I’ve referred to previously here) has a page showing the rates for Jasper Park Lodge back in the day.

Jasper Park Lodge single and double rooms for $10, $20 and under $30 a day. Imagine that.

Canadian National's Jasper National Park 1948 brochure cover

Take a look at this interactive picture of the prices for Jasper Park Lodge in 1948.  You can zoom up and move around.  You’ll notice the rooms included the “American Plan” back then (meaning that the meals were included, full board).

Even back in 1948, some of the fancier cabins seemed quite exclusively priced. Various sources say that back in 1948, the average new car cost between $1,000 and $1,500, and gasoline was 20 cents per gallon range.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice facility once you add-in the location, the lake (Lac Beauvert), the heated swimming pool, next-door golf course and such.  But it is out of most people’s price range.

For us mortals, there are plenty of hotels in Jasper National Park to chose from.  For those who prefer a real outdoor experience, Jasper has lots of camping and RVing options too.

And if you cannot stay at Jasper Park Lodge, at least think about having a meal there.  The lodge has several dining options, from quick and easy to fancy and sophisticated.

Starting with 8 cabins in 1922, the resort’s expansion over the years means it can today claim 446 rooms, an award winning world-class golf course, and a whole lot of activities and amenities on the grounds.  I think the location (on Lac Beauvert) and facilities are why the prices are so high.  If you click the link above to see the reviews, a lot of people like the Lodge, but some complain it is overpriced.

During the summer, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the park’s most expensive hotel.  During winter ski season, you can enjoy Jasper’s most exclusive hotel at much lower rates – and take a free shuttle to Marmot Basin Ski Area to boot.

If Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge doesn’t fit into your travel budget (as it doesn’t mine), there are plenty of other Jasper National Park hotels to chose from.  Nearby Hinton, Alberta, a short drive from the eastern border of Jasper also has several hotels at reasonable prices.

Besides the location, Astoria Hotel offers the convenience and delight of Papa George’s restaurant and the fun of the uncommonly named De’d Dog Bar and Grill on the premises.

While Astoria Hotel gets mixed reviews, I think it has to do with expectations. I think it is mostly because of the cost and the small size of the rooms.

If you are looking to spend all day in your hotel room, this is not the best place to do it.  If you just want a basic place to stay after a day of Jasper National Park adventures, Astoria Hotel is plenty suitable – and a lot more comfortable than camping.

With the limited number of hotels within Jasper, the prices creep up. During the peak summer months, Astoria Hotel is a lot of money for what it is, but less than many other Jasper hotels. You’re paying for convenience.

If you’ve ever stayed in New York City, you know that supply and demand do a lot to hotel prices and that old buildings often mean small rooms. That’s what is going on in Jasper and at this and other hotels in the park. It is what it is. Personally, I don’t want to see any more hotels in the park because it would mean too many people would visit and make it crowded.

View Larger Map

After a long day of hiking and sightseeing, you’ll surely be thankful to have a cozy bed to sleep in. I’ve stayed in plenty of charming hotels and I find them refreshing compared to the big hotel chains, but that’s just me.

See prices for Astoria Hotel here. Staying in hotels in Jasper National Park can be pricey during the peak summer season regardless of the hotel. Compare Jasper National Park hotel prices to find the best deal. Then again, there are other ways to get your trips hotel costs down, such as spending a night in a hotel in Hinton, Alberta, past the eastern entrance to Jasper National Park.

Related posts:

1. Whistler’s Inn Jasper – Hotels in Jasper National Park

The 1928 hotel stands proud on Patricia Street, not far from the Jasper Park visitor centre.  Many a weary traveler have spent the night in the Athabasca Hotel over the years.  Let’s look a little more into its past.

An old brochure (from my collection) that appears to date back from the 1940s or 50s will serve as a tool from which to look further into the history of travel in Jasper National Park.  The brochure was put out by Athabasca Motor Tours Ltd (now defunct as far as I can tell) which was based out of the Athabasca Hotel (possibly a service of the hotel).

The brochure offers potential Jasper National Park visitors a wide range of activities with both similarities and differences from today’s travel experience.

The brochure centers around staying at the Athabasca Hotel “a base for the enjoyment of Jasper’s famous scenic attractions”.  Upon opening the brochure, the first spread is all about the Athabasca Hotel.  “Fifty rooms of home-like comforts…Hot and cold running water, electric lighted, steam heated rooms…”  Water, electricity and heat.

The Athabasca Hotel was advertised in the 1940s brochure as “A substantially built and charming modern hotel in the Canadian Rockies.  The Athabasca caters alike to the tourist, the hunter, the fisherman, the Alpine climber, and the man of business.”  What a wild assortment of people one might encounter.

• the tourist
• the hunter
• the fisherman
• the Alpine climber
• the man of business

Back then, rooms ranged from $3.50 to $6.00 a night for rooms without bath and 5.00 to $8.00 for rooms with a bath.  Though the prices have substantially risen to the $70-$150 per night range (suites are higher), the good news is that the prices are reasonable for staying within Jasper National Park (which tends to be on the high side for hotel rooms).

Here’s a zoom in on the picture of the hotel.

Here’s a further zoom in on a doorway and car parked out front.  You’ll also notice basement windows (which have since been sealed up).  When you visit Jasper and pass by (or stay at) the Athabasca Hotel, try to see if you can find where the old basement windows used to be.

My understanding of Jasper National Park from this brochure, from reading “Culturing Wilderness in Jasper National Park“, and other historical materials, is that tourism in the 1940s centered around the train, horse and guided tour.  At this point in Jasper National Park’s history, the roadways were limited and many were gravel.  Many visitors arrived by train or bus.  Upon arrival, travelers then went off on a variety of guided tours.  The self-guided tour in one’s own “family truckster” would have to wait until the late 1950s to be popular.

A map on the inner pages of the brochure, which calls Jasper National Park “A Delightful Vacation Land”, shows a variety of “sightseeing motor drives” offered to the travelers of the era.  A sightseeing motor drive involved being driven by a chauffeur to such sights as Maligne Canyon, Mt Edith Cavell and Miette Hot Springs.  The tours ranged from 2 to 8 hours and gave tourists a chance to see parts of Jasper National Park only accessible by horseback 10 or 20 years prior.  It must have been a splendid experience.

(click for larger image)

Besides the sightseeing tours, Athabasca Motor Tours offered multiple day “all expense tours” where tourists would see the sights, do motor tours and partake in activities like hiking and horseback riding during the day and then return to Athabasca Hotel for meals and spending the night.

While the Athabasca Motor Tours service is no longer, the Athabasca Hotel has maintained its charm even today.   The Athabasca Hotel looks very similar to the hotel of old.

A few details have changed.  For example, you’ll see in the modern pictures below red awnings over the doorways and green/yellow signs for O’Shea’s restaurant – both of which are absent from the 1940s picture of the hotel.   But the overall character seems similar and this is a place many travelers will want to stay.

Added bonus:

Check out this 1969 home movie of Jasper National Park and Yellowstone.  At about 24 seconds into it, a few seconds capture the front of the Athabasca Hotel.

But 1969 in Jasper National Park, well, that is another era, another story, another day…

Related posts:

1. Whistler’s Inn Jasper – Hotels in Jasper National Park