Abev

Our family is thinking of 5 night trip to Calgary - Banff-Lake Louise-Jasper- Edmonton.
Could you please let me know if this itinerary looks doable?

My family and I (with kids) plan to fly in to Calgary on a Tuesday afternoon next month, i.e., July, 2nd or 3rd week. Stay in the afternoon and night in Calgary. Drive in a rental car to Banff Wednesday early morning and stay the night there. Thursday, Friday and Saturday between Lake Louise and Jasper. Drive Saturday night to Edmonton and fly out of there the next day or so.

We just want to enjoy the majestic mountains, sights and take pictures, and are not into hiking or camping. Hope to stay in some good hotels.

Is this all doable in such a short time frame? Is there a better schedule than mentioned above. Our only criteria is to fly in to Calgary and need to be in Edmonton Sunday early morning, and we will have a rental car.

Our very first time to the Canadian Rockies and any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Abe

sludick

This will depend on where and if you can get any reservations at this point - things are really booked up right now.

But, if you can, go straight to Banff and do not stay in Calgary. It's about an hour. Stay wherever you can get accommodations (include Canmore in your search. Banff and Lake Louise are close enough that any of those 3 places will work.

Stay Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday nights there, then take Friday to drive the Icefields Parkway ending up in Jasper. Stay Friday night in Jasper. In the afternoon, drive to Edmonton. Allow extra drive time for that, I believe, as there may be construction going on.

But you may not be able to get anything in Jasper, you may just have to forgo Jasper and take the drive Calgary to Edmonton if you really have to be there.

Abev

Thank you for your kind and informative reply. I just realized that the week were considering includes the Calgary stampede, so we are now thinking of the first/second week of August 2016, still starting on a Tuesday in Calgary and ending up in Edmonton on a Sunday. Will this be any better for hotels?

Good advice, we will head from Calgary airport to Banff/nearby area directly.

Assuming we can manage hotels in these places, how much time do we need in Jasper?

Thanks again for finding time to help and advise.

sludick

You are most welcome.

My thoughts were that you would get to Banff in the afternoon and have time to look around the townsite a bit, relax, and have a nice dinner.

Then on Wednesday, you could explore some of the sights, maybe do some walks/short hikes.

On Thursday, you could go up to Lake Louise and/or Moraine Lake. Have not done a boat rental at Lake Louise, but it looks nice. Or walk around the lake. Either way, you have a day each.

(As an alternative, you could head out for Jasper on Thursday. But it is smaller and your interests might or might not need as much time.)

Friday - take the entire day to drive the Icefields Parkway. You could even stop and take a snowcoach tour on the glacier. The scenery is beyond words, and you'll want to get out here and there for pictures and oogling. And some walks on the various views.

Saturday spend in Jasper. Maybe Maligne Lake, or you have plenty of vistas. Head out mid-late afternoon and be prepared for several hours or so to Edmonton.

Just one itinerary.

Abev

Thanks again. This is great advice.
We have now moved the travel dates to late August, to get hotels.
Rimrock Hotel in Banff and Sawridge Jasper Hotels were available, and so now booked.

We are following your suggestion to start in Banff Tuesday night driving in from Calgary. Banff, Lake Louise etc, till Friday morning, and then drive the icefiled parkway all day Friday. Saturday in Jasper.

As our first trip to this area, we are excited. Now need to go research on the different tourist spots within each of these locations.

Thanks again, appreciate your help so much.
God Bless.

signmeup

Abev how was staying at these places? We may go for a week in October. With our family.