Getting Here
Waterton Lakes National Park is located in southwest Alberta, 271 km south of Calgary and 132 km southwest of Lethbridge.
By Vehicle
Distance from Waterton Lakes National Park to:
Location and Directions © Parks Canada
Cardston 55 km
Pincher Creek 56 km
Lethbridge 132 km
Calgary 271 km
Medicine Hat 296 km
Banff 398 km
Edmonton 562 km
Jasper 684 km
Vancouver 1,230 km
Toronto 3,206 km
Whitehorse 2,552 km
Billings, MT 675 km
Yellowstone National Park, MT 713 km
San Francisco, CA 2,162 km
Directions:
From Calgary take Highway 2 south to Fort Macleod, then west on Highway 3 to Pincher Creek, then south again on Highway 6 (approximately 3 hours drive). From Banff National Park, a scenic 380 km route starts along Highway 1 east. Turn south at Highway 40 and take this scenic route over the Highwood Pass to Highway 22; or, travel further east and turn directly onto Highway 22 south.
You will pass the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site just south of Longview. Highway 22 connects with Highway 3. Continue east on Highway 3 to Pincher Creek and then south on Highway 6 to the park.
From Lethbridge, drive south to Cardston on Highway 2, then west to the park via Highway 5 (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes).
From British Columbia, travel by way of the Crowsnest Pass on Highway 3 to Pincher Creek and then south on Highway 6. From Fernie, BC, it is 204 km to the park (approximately 2 hours drive).
From Glacier National Park, Montana, take the Chief Mountain International Highway in summer or go north through Cardston on Montana Highway 89 to Alberta Highway 2 then west on Highway 5 any time of year. From St. Mary, Montana it is about 80 km to the park (approximately a 1 hour drive).
International Ports of Entry:
Chief Mountain (seasonal) - open May 15 to September 30 Canada Border Services Agency - Chief Mountain
Carway/Peigan (south of Cardston) - open year round, 7:00am to 11:00pm Canada Border Services Agency - Carway
Please Note: International travellers (NOT including U.S. and Canadian citizens) must have a current I94 form to cross into the United States. If you don't have this form, it is available at the Port of Entry, but you will be charged US$6. This can be paid only in U.S. currency or travellers cheques (no credit cards).
By Air
Airports are located at Calgary (distance from Waterton, 282 km) and Lethbridge (123 km), Alberta. Nearest U.S. airports are Kalispell (195 km) and Great Falls (323 km), Montana.
Maps