Should we avoid driving Icefields Parkway on a weekend?
 

Does anyone have personal experience driving the Icefields Parkway on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday in July/August? Is it noticeably more busy than a weekday?

In July and August, the parkway will be bustling any day of the week. It's not going to be gridlock (unless there's an accident or construction), but with very few sections of passing lanes, you can get stuck behind slow moving vehicles for quite some time. Patience is very much a virtue.

What can be an issue is parking -- at busier times (not necessarily weekends), you may not always be able to finding parking at a particular site or pullover. For Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, you need to arrive very early, or - for Lake Louise - be prepared to take one of the free shuttles from the overflow lot on the TransCanada. The parking lot at the Icefields Centre can also fill up on very busy days.

You best bet is to head out early & bring a picnic lunch so you can stop for a picnic lunch at a suitable, less busy point. And try to allow yourself two days - once to Jasper and once back. That way you have a second chance if parking is limited or the weather is bad.

Thank-you kgsneds. I am booked for 5 nights in Canmore and 4 nights in Jasper. Where should i head for my final 3 nights?

If you can afford it, I'm thinking Lake Louise would be a good choice.

Agreed. If not Lake Louise, then either Banff or Canmore. At this point, availability will probably dictate where you stay.

So you are suggesting I go from 5 Canmore (where we'll do day trips to Lake Louise, Banff and Yoho) and 4 nights Jasper to then back to Canmore/Jasper instead of another nearby region?