Getting to Banff

Town of Banff in Banff National Park

Banff is located in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It's one of five national parks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is located along the TransCanada Highway, a well maintained road open year-round. The closest international airport is Calgary (130 km/87 miles away).

Roam Public Transit provide multiple bus routes throughout the Banff and Lake Louise area to popular locations including Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Banff Gondola, Banff Springs Hotel, Lake Minnewanka and more.

Roam Transit's core routes operate year round and additional seasonal routes are added in the summer months to accommodate popular summer locations.

Visit the Roam Public Transit website for a full list of services, fares, route schedules and operating months.

Multiple shuttle routes are available in the summer and winter months to provide easy access to popular locations in Banff National Park.

Parks Canada Summer Shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Parks Canada shuttles operate daily from May to to early October. This service originates at the Parks Canada Park & Ride and runs to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle can be used as a link between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Book your shuttle tickets in advance to guarantee your spot and avoid any disappointment. If your desired timeslot is sold out, please note that additional seats will be released in a rolling window, at 8am MDT two days prior to departure day.

Other Shuttles & Tours to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Private companies operate shuttles multiple times daily from June to October with various pick-up points available in Lake Louise. These include Moraine Lake Shuttle and Hop on Banff. You can also enjoy a guided tour to Lake Louise & Moraine Lake. These includes sunrise  options or full day tours with stops in Yoho National Park.

Free Banff Gondola Shuttle
Running daily in the summer, with convenient pickup points in Banff town and regular departures, the free shuttle makes getting to the Banff Gondola easy in the summer months! Pre-purchased Gondola ticket is required to ride the shuttle.

Free Mt. Norquay Shuttle
Running daily in the summer with multiple pickup points in Banff town and regular departures, the free shuttle makes accessing the Mt. Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift and the Via Ferrata a breeze! You can also use the shuttle to access popular hiking trails in the area like Stoney Lookout and Cascade Amphitheatre. Check out the schedule here.

Free Sunshine Meadows Shuttle
Running daily in the summer, with convenient pickup points in Banff town and regular departures, the free shuttle makes getting to Sunshine Meadows for your hiking and sightseeing adventures simple!

Ski Shuttles
Ski shuttles run multiple times daily during ski season and pick up from convenient locations throughout Banff and select locations in Lake Louise. The shuttles run to all three ski resorts; Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mt. Norquay Ski Resort and Sunshine Village Ski Resort. Ski shuttles are free to use for anyone with a valid lift ticket. Lift tickets can be purchased directly through the ski resorts or a tri-lift ticket can be purchased through SkiBig3

Parking in Banff National Park is limited at many popular locations. We recommend parking for the day at a designated long-term parking lot and using transit and shuttles to get around.

Parking in Banff
The Town of Banff is only 4-square-kilometres in area, making walking and cycling the best way to get around. Parking is limited in the downtown core, park in the Train Station Public Parking Lot for up to 9 hours. It’s free and less than a 10-minute walk to downtown Banff. Additionally Roam Public Transit serves the entire town and connects with all major attractions in Banff National Park, with stops near major parking areas.

Find a Banff parking map (including RVs) and current capacity of Banff parking lots on the Town of Banff’s parking page.

Paid parking is in effect in downtown Banff, and is best for short-term parking. Visit the Town of Banff website for further details.

There's no better way to explore the true natural beauty of Banff and Lake Louise than by getting out of your car and taking to the world class trails and biking routes of the region.

Hiking & Walking
Banff National Park is vast, with many hikes and walks to explore, but you don’t need to go far to discover the beauty the park has to offer. There's an abundance of easy, scenic walks and hikes accessible right from the Banff town or Lake Louise Village. Leave your car at your hotel or park for the day and enjoy your Banff and Lake Louise adventure on foot.

In the town of Banff, take a scenic walk on the Fenland Loop or Marsh Loop and if you're looking for something longer the Spray River trail is the perfect half day hike. Accessible from Lake Louise Village, choose from the Bow River Loop or Louise Creek for an easy walk with breathtaking views around every corner.

Biking
Ditch the car and enjoy the freedom of exploring on two wheels. Banff National Park features some of Canada’s most scenic roads and trails with many options, both on-road and off-road, for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Explore biking routes in Banff and Lake Louise.

Bike rentals are available in Banff town from our store located at 211 Bear Street.

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