Hello Dara,

If you arrive in Calgary at 3 pm, you definitely can get to Banff the same day. It takes about an hour to get through immigration and customs at the airport. Even suppose you use some extra time to withdraw Canadian cash from an ATM and to pick up your rental car, I can't imagine you spending more than 1-1/2 hours at the airport. It'll take you 2 hours maximum to get from Calgary Airport to Banff. So you'll be there by 6.30 pm at the latest. I have used conservative time estimates, so you may reach Banff sooner.

Lake Louise is about another 50 minutes beyond Banff.

You don't need to stay in Banff AND Lake Louise. They are close enough that one can be used as a base for exploring the other. I am one of those people who prefers LL. However, the extra 50 minutes to LL may feel like a bit much for you on the afternoon / evening of your arrival. However, if you'll be staying in LL from the first night onwards, you could consider breaking up the drive from Calgary to LL by stopping in Banff for dinner.

Given the amount of time you have, I think you should spend a minimum of 4 nights in LL and a minimum of 3 nights in Jasper.

What you do beyond that is up to you. You could spend extra time in LL and Jasper so as to explore those areas more thoroughly.

Alternatively, you could venture into areas that are adjacent to the four contiguous mountain national parks. There are more mountain ranges than those in Banff, Kootenay, Yoho and Jasper National parks. Here are some examples.

* You could go westwards towards Golden and Revelstoke in British Columbia.

* You could go SW through Radium, Fairmont and Cranbrook, perhaps as far as Nelson, BC.

* You could go south to Waterton Lakes National Park, on Alberta's southern boundary. A popular combination is Jasper-Banff and Waterton-Glacier. However, I've heard that most of the accommodations in Montana's Glacier National Park shut down in September. Also, if you wanted to take a rental car from Canada into the U.S., you'd need to inform the rental car company and get their authorization to do that.

* You could go west from Jasper to Mount Robson Provincial Park and Wells Gray Provincial Park.

* You could explore Kananaskis Country to the east of Banff National Park.

* You could include a visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, to the east of Calgary, to see the AMAZING dinosaur skeletons.

I think if it was my vacation, I would do a clockwise circuit. I would start in Calgary, go to Drumheller (1 night), then head south to Waterton (2 nights), cross into BC and go as far west as Kimberley / Cranbrook (2 nights), head north to Golden and east to Lake Louise (3 nights). From Lake Louise I would go north to Jasper (3 nights). Then I would return from Jasper through LL to Banff (1 night). Finally I would spend a night in Calgary prior to flying home. If you have a noon flight out of Calgary, you need not spend a night in Calgary, but could spend a 2nd night in Banff. If you have a morning flight out of Calgary, you need to spend the previous night in Calgary.

Hope that helps.

juniper35@gmail.com

I would also like to add that at that time of year, it won't be getting dark until about 8:00pm, so I guarantee you can be in Banff before dark.

I think Judy's recommendations about the split and time at Lake Louise and Jasper are just right for a first visit.

You might feel a recommendation of driving north up to Jasper and then doing the reverse trip a few days later is strange - but it's not. That part of the journey is worth doing twice and it gives a different perspective on the reverse trip. Enjoy - you will do - it's brilliant.

You are arriving in the middle of a long weekend (September 5 is Labour day), so it would be a good idea to book your first night in advance. After that, things should be much quieter. If you go to Waterton, a stop at Head-smashed-in buffalo jump on the way there or back could be worthwhile. If I was to do Judy's route at that time of year, I'd probably do it in reverse, (Drumheller can go at the beginning or end) to catch a bit of the fall colour that should start to be appearing in the foothills by mid-september. The highway 22 to 541 to 40 to 1 route is a scenic drive, and should have some extra colour at that time.

At the risk of causing thread drift, may I compliment you on the lovely photo in your signature, jerm. Did you take it at Waterton by any chance?

Thanks Judy. Since I'm limited to a very small picture, I'll forgive you for guessing incorrectly. :)

It's actually Lake Minnewanka from Alymer Lookout. It was a long (23km return), hot hike there, but a great view and a beautiful day. You can almost see both ends of the lake from up there!

Davka,

It really depends on the type of vacation you are looking for. Will you be travelling with Children (that always makes a differance).

I would not do all the driving that Judy suggested. I find that once I get to the mountains I can spend days just exploring whatever area I am in. All the national/provincial parks have numerous things to do.

I agree that you do not need to stay in both LL and Banff, but I find Banff the better place to see. Usually a day trip to LL is enough for me. It is a completely beautiful setting, but very quiet.

Banff has tons of restaurants, and quite a few shops. It is getting more commerical every season, but has some spectacular sites. You can easily spend the better part of a day walking the townsite, and poking into shops.

I never stay at the BAnff Springs, too expensive for my taste, but usually head up and go for a walk around the grounds and public areas of the hotel. One of the most beautiful buildings I know.

Unless there is something specific you are looking to do in Calgary I would head out of town directly from the Airport for Banff or LL.

When you leave Banff or LL plan on spending the day driving between Banff and Japser. If you drive straight thru with no stops it is about a 4 hr drive, but can easily take the entire day if you stop at some of the turnouts, take a short hike, and take in the columbia icefields. Pack a picnic lunch that day. There are only a couple of places to stop for food, and it is overpriced and not that good. You can easily stock up for the day in either LL or BAnff before leaving.

In Jasper there is lots to keep you occupied. Athabasca Falls are good, and you can take an easy hike there. Keep heading up the mountain and you will get to Angel Glacier. Here you can do an easy 2-3 mile walk to the base of the Glacier, and then if you are interested a longer hike up to some Alpine Meadows.

Malign Lake and Canyon are both intesting and can easily take the better part of a day to see. It takes approx 40 mins to get to the canyon from Jasper and the lake is another 20 mins up the mountain. Both are will worth the drive. I have often seen both mountain goats and sheep on the road up to the lake.

You can take a trip to Mt Robinson from Jasper if you like.

The townsite of Jasper is smaller and quieter than Banff, you wil not find many bars or clubs in the area. The scenery however is unmatched.

I would probably split the time roughly in 1/2. Leave from Calgary directly for Banff or LL. Spend 5-7 days there. Leave for Jasper spend 5-7 days there.

To get home there are a couple of options. You can either go calgary-banff-jasper-edmonton-calgary. or Calgary-banff-japser-banff-calgary.

If your flights are not booked consider an open jaw land in calgary and leave from Edmonton. That will maximize your mountain time. If already booked, you can maximize your mountain time by taking the icefields parkway back from Jasper - Banff - Calgary. You will see things differently going the other direction so don't worry about backtracking.

The last is to do the loop. Calgary - Banff - Jasper - Edmonton - Calgary.

If you choose this you can hit 'The Mall' in Edmonton if that interests you. Personally I would probably stay in the mountains and give Edmonton a pass unless you can fly open jaw. Drive from Jasper to Edmonton is about 4 hrs and not that interesting. Drive from Edmonton to Calgary is about 3.5 hrs and once again not that interesting.

Let us know if you have any further quesitons.

I wouldn't bother with an open-jaw ticket. From Jasper, it only takes 1 hour longer to drive to Calgary than Edmonton (and it is a nicer drive). I don't think it would be worth the hassle and drop-off charges in this case.

My only concern about using Lake Louise as a base is the lack of things to do there in the event of bad weather. Banff, despite its touristy nature does have the museums etc to keep you occupied. It also has a much larger range of restaurants.

Another possibility is to stay in Canmore, about 30 minutes Calgary side of Banff. There are some really nice, easy walks in and around the area.

Thanks so much to everone!! I've been away from my computer for a while and could not answer sooner. This gives me some great feedback to help me plan my trip!!