Photo Credit: Travel Alberta
Contents
About * Directions * Hours * Admission* Accommodation * Places to See & Things to do * Events * Guided Tours
About Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Spread over 6,641 sq. km along the magnificent Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is located in Alberta, a prairie province of Canada. Banff National Park with its snow-capped mountains, ethereally coloured glacial lakes and abundant wildlife is a must visit place, recommended by all travel gurus.
Banff was established as a National Park in 1885, and is Canada’s oldest national park.
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How to get to Banff National Park?
Location : Alberta, Canada
Nearest Big City: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Nearest Airport : Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Calgary is the nearest, main city and the easiest way to get to Banff is to drive from Calgary (if you are flying in), which takes about 1.5 hrs. See driving directions here.
By Bus: On-it Regional Transit gets you to Banff (Elk Street, Banff Train Station) and Canmore from Calgary (Somerset / Bridlewood LRT/ Downtown, Crowfoot LRT)from late June to September end, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Once in Banff / Canmore your On-It ticket gets you free transfers to the Roam Bus Banff Local routes.
There are various private airport transfers (shared and private ~$75 & up) available through tour operators like Brewster Canada and Banff Airporter. See here all options.
By Train: The only way you can get directly to Banff by train is to travel on Rocky Mountaineer (Luxury trip). Via Rail gets you to Jasper and then you will have to drive to Banff. Train travel is a good option if you are coming from Vancouver.
Click the below links for driving directions to Banff on Google Maps.
1. From Vancouver ~ 900 km
2. From Whistler ~ 800 km
3. From Edmonton ~ 420 km
4. From Regina ~ 900 km
5. From Seattle ~ 600 miles
6. From Great Falls, MT ~ 400 miles
Banff National Park attractions are spread over three main areas,
in and around Banff Town,
around Lake Louise
and along Icefields Parkway.
Banff National Park can be accessed by car through
1. Main entry gate (East Gate) at the mainline westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway.
2. Highway 93 (Banff – Windmere Parkway-Bow Valley Parkway ( 1A) )
3. TransCanada Highway – Bow Valley Parkway / Lake Louise Dr near Lake Louise town.
Getting around in Banff National Park.
You can visit all places without a car using a combination of Roam Transit, and Parks Canada Lake Shuttle. During high season, parking will be difficult, but in low season, it is best to have a car, if you want to visit all the places whenever you like.
Parking may pose some difficulties at few of the downtown Banff attractions and famous locales during the height of the tourist season. See this website for parking in and around Banff town.
Public transit – Roam will get you to many of the most famous Banff Town attractions, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Valley Parkway and to the town of Lake Louise.
IMPORTANT: As the number of visitors are increasing, most probably you will not find parking at Lake Louise. You will not be able to drive to Moraine Lake as Parks Canada has prohibited private vehicles from accessing Moraine Lake Road in the summer of 2023.
Park your car at the overflow parking lot and take the Parks Canada shuttle to these locations. Reservations are required for the shuttle from the Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Area, to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. A limited number of paid parking is also available at Lake Louise. You can use various options like Parks Canada shuttle, and tour operators to visit Moraine Lake.
If you are planning to go on scheduled/ticketed activities, the organizers may provide complimentary transport. If you are in Banff for winter and visiting all three ski resorts, complimentary transport is provided from many locations.
Tour operators like Brewster, and Sun Dog tours also provide transit packages that include many Banff attractions.
Hop on Hop Off Banff Bus which will take you to sites in Banff Town, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise Gondola, Lake Louise, and Lake Moraine from ~June to October.
Another option is Open Touring, a 90-minute tour around Banff by Pursuit in their custom-made tour coaches.
Select roads are closed during various seasons to allow for wildlife protection and for various other reasons. See current information here.
Here are all the options for travelling to various attractions if you do not have a car: Car Free Sightseeing Guide – How to Visit the Best Attractions in Banff and Lake Louise
When to visit & time required to visit Banff National Park?
Peak tourist season is, of course, the summer months of July & August. Fall season paints Banff National Park with a Golden hue and the hikes to see the Larch trees in Fall is another experience altogether. Banff is a paradise for winter enthusiasts and you are guaranteed to have a White Christmas here.
Time required to visit
How much time to allocate for your Banff trip, may very well depend on your budget and interests. It is good, if you can allocate, at least two days to spend in Banff & Lake Louise. You need to spend 5 days, to SEE & DO the real Banff : like hiking and canoeing in summer & Skiing and Snowboarding in winter.
How much does it cost to enter Banff National Park?
Banff National Park Entry Fees – 2023
One day Pass – Valid until 4:00 PM the next day.
Adult: $10.50
Senior: $9.00
Youth: free
Family/Group: $21.00
Commercial Group, per person: $9.00
If you have two vehicles – you need 2 passes, one for each vehicle.
There are other fees like camping fees, fishing license etc if you are planning to do these activities inside the park. Few attractions like museums & Hot Springs charge additional admission fees. See the attractions page (links below) for details. The day pass provides entry to Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton Lakes and Elk Island national parks.
If you are planning to stay on for a few days (7+), consider buying Discovery Pass ($145.25 for up to 7 people arriving in a single-vehicle) – This pass is good for a year and gets you into nearly 100 National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites in Canada.
Where to buy the Parks Canada – Banff National Park Entry Pass?
Available at entry gates, Parks Canada Visitor Information centres, and Online. Discovery passes can be bought online and will be mailed out internationally.
Discovery Passes can be bought from AMA locations and members save $10.
You can also buy Discovery Pass, via Trip Advisor (Viator).
One Day Pass – Online
Where to stay in Banff National Park?
Where to stay depends on how long you plan to spend in Banff and where you plan to concentrate your activities. Remember that distance between Lake Louise / Moraine Lake to Banff Gondola / Lake Minnewanka / Banff Town is approximately ~ 60 km . Peyto Lake (Best visited en route to Jasper National Park) in Icefields Parkway is another ~ 44 km North of Lake Louise.
Like to stay put throughout your vacation? – Choose accommodation in either Banff Town or near Lake Louise. Choose Banff Town, if you plan to go on day trips into Yoho & Kootenay National Park.
Just a day and not venturing into Jasper National Park – Calgary. Banff is just a couple of hours away.
Two days and more – In Banff town or Lake Louise town – depending on where you are planning your activities.
The town of Canmore, a destination on its own, provides cheaper accommodations if one is willing to drive half an hour (Banff Town) to one hour (Lake Louise) every day to enjoy National Park attractions. One may also use public transport from Canmore to travel to Banff Town.
Banff National Park offers its visitors a rustic camping experience and has plenty of campgrounds spread across the Park. Otentik Camps are available at Two Jack Lake Campgrounds.
See here for B&B, hotels, Lodges and other options in Banff National Park.
Booking.com
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS CONSUMPTION IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Rules might change from what is stated below and you should be aware of current bylaws by Parks Canada/Govt. of Canada/Alberta/Town of Banff .
Public Cannabis consumption is legal in Canada. Public use is allowed in Banff National Park at
— Registered Parks Canada campsites
— Backcountry, Trails
— Allowed in public areas within the Lake Louise town boundary
NOT ALLOWED
— No smoking or vaping within 5 metres of buildings
— Not allowed in Campground common areas ( such as playgrounds, kitchen shelters, washrooms, trails, or roads.)
— No smoking or vaping within 5 metres of playgrounds
— Not allowed in public areas within the Banff town boundary.
What to do at Banff National Park?
An entry in all published lists of Top Places to Visit in the World, Banff National Park offers its guests activities galore and a feast for one’s senses. Scuba dive, Snowshoe, Canoe, watch wildlife, or just revel in nature’s beauty!
You can also join for guided float tours to see hoodoos, rent canoes and more!
Listed below are the attractions, events, festivals and places to visit in Banff.
Click on each attraction listed below to get a comprehensive guide for the Banff attraction/place of interest, which has all the answers for What, When, Where, and How to do things in Banff, including hikes, and other activities, admission, hours, directions, amenities & accessibility.
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1 2 Next »For me, Banff is not only one of Canada's but also one of the world's most beautiful natural areas. That's why I recommend everyone to visit this natural paradise.
I love Banff National Park! It's such a magical place that makes you feel like you're living in a fairy tale. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, with snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and endless forests. I especially love hiking in the park and discovering hidden waterfalls and wildlife. It's the perfect place to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature. I highly recommend visiting Banff National Park to anyone who loves adventure and wants to experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
Is it worth going to visit lake Louise andBanff in mid November ?
Weather and road conditions? Considering the weather conditions.
Great info to plan a trip
Hi Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm planning to visit Banff around end July for a week or 2. Would anyone be kind enough to suggest any neighboring towns/cities that I should visit after Banff??? Any idea would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you.
For those of you asking, yes, some things have changed. For example, Johnston Canyon is not open. Masks must be worn everywhere. Lake Louise is just as busy as ever.
Any updates for 2020? A lot of things seem different now. No shuttles by parks canada. Any advices for parkings?
Please be advised that Greyhound does not serve Western Canada any longer and that the Rocky Mountaineer train trips now end at Banff. At any rate, they would not carry passenger locally between Calgary and Banff.
Calgary passengers going to Vancouver are transported to Banff by a Rocky Mountaineer shuttle arranged specifically for those passengers to catch their train. The Rocky Mountaineer train has various classes, with price to match and it is in the strong 3-4 figures between Calgary and Vancouver or vice-versa, every trip involves an overnight stay in Kamloops.
This blog is so comprehensive and helpful! Thank you for putting it together! It saves me heaps of time!
Amazing post...trying to spend 1 night in jasper and 1 night in banaff..and tips on MUST DO -we want to see peyto lake now that we know it’s best to go on the way to jasper (thanks to you) ....what else should we know ....please and thank