Edmonton 
All aboard for a prairie safari!
Credit: Parks Canada
Parkbus and Parks Canada are bringing back the free shuttle to Elk Island National Park from Edmonton starting June 27th.
First introduced in 2019 in partnership with TD Bank, the TD Elk Island Express will take visitors to the national park, located approximately 50 km from downtown Edmonton, during the summer.
The free shuttle will pick up participants from MEC Edmonton Downtown and the Royal Alberta Museum at 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., respectively. The trip will take about an hour.
On selected days, guests on the bus will receive a guided tour of the Elk Island National Park Visitor Information Centre, where they can learn about the park’s history, speak with Parks Canada staff, and browse local Indigenous artisan crafts and official Parks Canada merchandise.
After this behind-the-scenes tour, the bus will take participants to Astotin Lake Recreation Area, located 20 minutes north.
Once here, they can explore the park on their own, enjoy a picnic on the beach, explore numerous trails, rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, or join an interpretive program.
The bus will depart from the park at 4:30 p.m.
This summer, Parks Canada is making it easier to visit without a car or an admission fee. Through the Canada Strong Pass, all Parks Canada sites are free from June 19 to September 7, 2026, with no ticket or pass needed.
New for 2026, trip dates are open for registration two weeks in advance, giving more people a fair chance to book.
A school bus is used as the shuttle. Hence, visitors can not bring bikes. There is minimal space for folding strollers.
Parkbus TD Elk Island Express
What: Free shuttle to Elk Island National Park from Edmonton.
When:
Saturdays, June 27 to August 29, and September 19, 26, 2026
Behind the scenes special Backstage Bison tour: June 27, July 9, 18, 25, August 6, 15, 22 and September 19, 2026
Pickup:
8:30 AM at MEC Edmonton Downtown, 11904 104 Ave NW, Edmonton
8:45 AM at Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103a Ave NW, Edmonton
Park Departure at 4:30 PM
How much: free.
I took Parkbus ride on July 8th, so far never got refund from $15. Any explanation?
July 9 is a Sunday. Is it actually on July 8th?
Yes, sorry! Corrected..
It’s a great idea and I was really excited about the headline. I was all set to forward it to my son who is on aish. But it’s not really free. You have to pay a deposit online which can be tricky for people on very limited incomes who don’t have credit. And then because there’s a fee to get into the park, you only get part of it back. So while you don’t pay a fee to get on the bus the trip isn’t really free.
My family and i are of Indigenous descent and treaty status so we would get in for free. Would we get the full $15 refunded back? And how many per family allowed at a time? Like 4plus?
Parks Canada Discovery Pass members gets their deposit refunded provided they show the pass. For clarification regarding Treaty status, please call or email — Email: info@parkbus.ca or call 1-800-928-7101 for correct information.
There is no limit on booking as far as we know.
What an excellent idea! Elk Island is a favourite for me, but tricky to get to if you don’t have a car. Your itinerary includes all the places I most like to see/ experience while I’m there. Well done