Visiting Banff in May: Pros and Cons

While visiting Banff in May may sound like the perfect kickoff to summer, there are a few things to know before booking. Banff National Park sprawls over 2,500 square miles and varies in elevation throughout. The weather in one spot could be completely different just a few miles down the road. Visiting Banff in May is not a bad idea, but there are considerations to keep in mind. Here’s an ultimate pros and cons list to visiting Banff in May.

Read More: 6 Ways to Save Money in Banff

Pro: Very Few Crowds

Banff National Park is the most visited national park in Canada. Which means, the crowds come in the masses during the summer months! May is early summer, and is considered “shoulder season”. Therefore, you can really take advantage of beating the crowds and having space to breathe. While I was warned about very limited parking and long lines at many attractions, I was thankful to never have a problem. In fact, when I rode the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, I was able to have an entire car to myself on the ride up and down. You definitely won’t see that in the peak summer months!

Con: Frozen Lakes

If you’re heading to Banff with the objective of seeing the bright blue milky lakes, you may be disappointed. I visited the last week of May and found that some were still frozen, or just beginning to thaw. Lake Louise and Peyto Lake were just thawing at the shoreline. Don’t get me wrong, the views of the mountains and the calm, flat ice are still spectacular, but it’s not the iconic Banff image that you may have seen. Lakes at lower elevations like Lake Minnewanka or Emerald Lake (technically across the border in Yoho National Park, British Columbia) were thawed and gorgeous. Prior to my trip, I watched the live cam of Lake Louise here. This tool was very helpful in managing my expectations!

Pro: Snow-Capped Mountains

Let’s face it: snow-capped mountains are a thousand times prettier than summer mountains. I said what I said. Visiting Banff in May will give you the opportunities to take in the majestic snow-capped mountains from the significantly warmer base. It’s the best of both worlds!

Con: Road Closures

A major consideration to visiting Banff in May is the fact that many roads will remain closed, thus making several attractions unavailable to visit. I knew this going into it, but I tried to remain (cautiously) optimistic that they’d open early for the season. Sure enough, they were not and I had to knock a few items off my Banff bucket list. The road out to Moraine Lake typically opens in early-June, but cuts through an avalanche run so is completely weather dependent. Even if the road is open in May, expect the lake to still be frozen. The road to Takakkaw Falls (the 2nd tallest waterfall in Canada) was also closed, which was a bit of a bummer. It’s important to manage your expectations!

Pro: Cheap Accommodations

Since this is the shoulder season, you can take advantage of cheap accommodations! Looking back, I didn’t pay more than $100 USD a night for my stays, which is a huge bargain! The Lake Louise Inn, where I spent 2 nights, was $109 CAD per night. At the time, it converted to about $85 USD- talk about a bargain! It was only a few minute drive from the lake, central to the Trans-Canadian Highway, and close to everything. Even if you wanted to have a luxurious stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or Fairmont Banff Springs, the rates (while still expensive) will be significantly less than peak summer. A great time to take advantage of five star accommodations for a fraction of the price!

Pro: Perfect Weather

“Perfect weather” is of course different for everyone, but perfect for me is exactly what I found visiting Banff in May! Leggings and a sweatshirt were completely sufficient, and I never felt cold. If you’re out in direct sunlight, a t-shirt and shorts could even be doable. I was never too warm or too cold, which in my book is perfect weather!

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