Car hire Jasper

Introduction

The Municipality of Jasper in Canada is, just like Banff, the gateway to a national park of the same name in the Rocky Mountains. Banff is a busy, somewhat cosmopolitan tourist town, while Jasper is much quieter and a better fit with the serenity of the surrounding mountains.

Population

Jasper has approximately 4500 permanent inhabitants.

Location

Jasper is located in the valley of the Athabasca River, where it merges with the Miette River. The town is surrounded by the peaks of the Rocky Mountains including the Victoria Cross Ranges, the Pyramid Mountain, the Maligne Range and the Indian Ridge. There are also several large and smaller lakes in the vicinity. Banff, at almost 300 kilometers south of Jasper, can be reached via the Icefield Parkway.

Economy

It's all about tourism in Jasper. The town draws visitors all year round: in summer months to hike through Jasper National Park; in winter months for winter sports.

Airports

The nearest international airport is Edmonton International Airport. This airport lies almost 400 kilometer east of Jasper and is easily reachable by rental car via the Yellowhead Highway (also called Highway 16). Travel time between Jasper and the airport amounts to over four hours.

Public Transport

Jasper has no public transport, except for taxis. There are travel agents who organize bus trips to several attractions, including the Maligne Lake, the Columbia Icefields and the Miette Hotsprings. There are also long-distance buses and trains to Edmonton, Banff and Vancouver.

Traffic and Parking

Jasper is a small town and you'll have no trouble finding your way around or finding a parking place. A rental car is ideal for trips to places of interest in the vicinity. Bear in mind that you pay a car surcharge of 7 Canadian dollars per adult per night (maximum rate per car for two adults is 14 Canadian dollars) if you want to spend the night in Jasper National Park.

Hotels

Jasper offers a good choice of accommodations, but both in summer and in winter months, hotels book up quickly. We advise booking well in advance those months. If you dispose of a rental car, you can also book a hotel room in Hinton, just northeast of Jasper.

External Sources

For more information about Jasper, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Jasper
• Official website Jasper
• Tourist Information Jasper