Day trips · Banff · Canada
6 best day trips from Banff
Where to go when you want a day away from Banff, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Odysseus1479, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Banff is Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield (About 2 hours 30 minutes each way without stops). The closest option is Canmore, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Canmore (25 km)
- Most popular
- Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield | 190 km | About 2 hours 30 minutes each way without stops | Car or guided tour (no public transport) | First-timers, Couples, Families |
| Yoho National Park | 85 km | About 1 hour by car | Car via the Trans-Canada Highway | Couples, Families, Quiet stays |
| Kootenay National Park and Marble Canyon | 50 km | About 45 minutes by car | Car via Highway 93 South | Families, Quiet stays |
| Canmore | 25 km | About 20 minutes by car or 25 minutes by Roam bus | Roam route 3 or car | Families, Food lovers, Budget |
| Kananaskis Country | 80 km | About 1 hour by car | Car via the Trans-Canada and Highway 40 | Quiet stays, Couples |
| Calgary | 128 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or shuttle | Car or shuttle coach | Families, Culture |
The day trips
190 km · About 2 hours 30 minutes each way without stops
1.Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield
Highway 93 north of Lake Louise runs past Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Mistaya Canyon and the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, with glacier tours on specialised vehicles in summer. There is no mobile signal for long stretches and few services.
- Getting there
- Car or guided tour (no public transport)
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Families
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85 km · About 1 hour by car
2.Yoho National Park
Just across the Continental Divide in British Columbia, Yoho has Emerald Lake with its canoe rentals and lakeside trail, the natural rock bridge on the Kicking Horse River and Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's highest waterfalls.
- Getting there
- Car via the Trans-Canada Highway
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Quiet stays
50 km · About 45 minutes by car
3.Kootenay National Park and Marble Canyon
A short trail at Marble Canyon crosses footbridges over a narrow limestone gorge of glacial blue water, and the Paint Pots trail leads to ochre-coloured mineral springs. Further south, Radium Hot Springs makes a longer day.
- Getting there
- Car via Highway 93 South
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays
25 km · About 20 minutes by car or 25 minutes by Roam bus
4.Canmore
The mountain town just outside the park has the Grassi Lakes trail, the Canmore Nordic Centre and a relaxed Main Street of cafés, galleries and breweries.
- Getting there
- Roam route 3 or car
- Best for
- Families, Food lovers, Budget
80 km · About 1 hour by car
5.Kananaskis Country
Provincial parks south of Canmore with quieter lakes, hikes and wildlife; the Kananaskis Lakes and Spray Lakes road are highlights. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for vehicles.
- Getting there
- Car via the Trans-Canada and Highway 40
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples
128 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or shuttle
6.Calgary
Alberta's largest city has Studio Bell, the Calgary Tower, Heritage Park and the river pathways, and during July the Calgary Stampede.
- Getting there
- Car or shuttle coach
- Best for
- Families, Culture
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buy fares on the Roam app; some seasonal routes need advance reservations.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Banff?
Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield. Highway 93 north of Lake Louise runs past Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Mistaya Canyon and the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, with glacier tours on specialised vehicles in summer.
+How long does it take to get from Banff to Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield?
About 2 hours 30 minutes each way without stops — Car or guided tour (no public transport), about 190 km.
+How long does it take to get from Banff to Yoho National Park?
About 1 hour by car — Car via the Trans-Canada Highway, about 85 km.