Getting around · Banff · Canada
Getting around Banff
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kimpayant, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Banff town is walkable, and Roam Transit buses connect it with the gondola, hot springs, Tunnel Mountain, Canmore, Lake Minnewanka and Lake Louise. Parks Canada shuttles serve Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in summer, and ski resorts run winter shuttles from town hotels. A car gives the most freedom for the Icefields Parkway and Yoho. Not essential: Roam buses, Parks Canada shuttles and tours reach the main sights.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- YYC
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Parks Canada Discovery Pass
Ways to get around
Bus
Roam Transit runs local routes around Banff and regional routes to Canmore and Lake Louise, plus seasonal routes to Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka.
Buy fares on the Roam app; some seasonal routes need advance reservations.
Walking
Downtown, the Bow River trail, Bow Falls and the Cave and Basin are all within walking distance of Banff Avenue.
Car
A car is the easiest way to explore the Bow Valley Parkway, Icefields Parkway and Yoho. A Parks Canada pass is needed for every vehicle stopping in the park.
Paid parking applies in central Banff; use the free train-station lot and walk or take Roam into town.
Cycling
Bike rentals in town give access to the Legacy Trail to Canmore, Vermilion Lakes Drive and the Sundance trail; e-bikes are popular for the Moraine Lake road.
Taxi
Local taxis operate in Banff and Canmore; there is no widespread ride-hailing coverage in the park.
Tickets and passes
Parks Canada Discovery Pass
An annual pass covering admission to national parks and historic sites across Canada; better value than daily passes for stays of about a week or more.
Parks Canada daily admission
A per-person or per-vehicle day pass, required when stopping anywhere in Banff National Park.
From the airport
The nearest major airport is Calgary International (YYC), about 145 km east; the drive takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Scheduled shuttle coaches run from the airport to Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise several times a day, and rental cars are available at the terminal.
Do you need a car?
Not essential: Roam buses, Parks Canada shuttles and tours reach the main sights. A car is still the most flexible way to see the Icefields Parkway, Yoho and Kananaskis, especially early in the morning.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield | About 2 hours 30 minutes each way without stops | Car or guided tour (no public transport) |
| Yoho National Park | About 1 hour by car | Car via the Trans-Canada Highway |
| Kootenay National Park and Marble Canyon | About 45 minutes by car | Car via Highway 93 South |
| Canmore | About 20 minutes by car or 25 minutes by Roam bus | Roam route 3 or car |
| Kananaskis Country | About 1 hour by car | Car via the Trans-Canada and Highway 40 |
| Calgary | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car or shuttle | Car or shuttle coach |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Banff?
Not essential: Roam buses, Parks Canada shuttles and tours reach the main sights. A car is still the most flexible way to see the Icefields Parkway, Yoho and Kananaskis, especially early in the morning.
+How do you get from the airport to Banff?
The nearest major airport is Calgary International (YYC), about 145 km east; the drive takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Scheduled shuttle coaches run from the airport to Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise several times a day, and rental cars are available at the terminal.
+What is the best way to get around Banff?
Bus: Roam Transit runs local routes around Banff and regional routes to Canmore and Lake Louise, plus seasonal routes to Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka.