Banff National Park at a glance
Banff National Park lies in Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. It dates from 1885 and was the first national park in Canada. The story began at the hot springs, which were protected first. The area was widened to Rocky Mountains Park in 1887, and the present name dates from a law of 1930.
The park is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, entered on the UNESCO list in 1984. That site also takes in Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho, so the title does not belong to Banff alone. Calgary is 128 km to the east, and Calgary airport is about 144 km away.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by Parks Canada, a tourism board or a tour company. Prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD) as published for 2026, and they change.
What this guide covers
Most visitors need the same few answers. Do I need a pass, and which one? How do I reach Lake Louise? Is the road to Moraine Lake open? What can I do in Banff town when the weather turns? The pages on this site answer these questions one topic at a time.
You will find the park pass fees, a comparison of tours and the rules for Lake Louise. There are pages on the Banff Gondola, the Icefields Parkway and Johnston Canyon. Further pages cover wildlife and bear safety, hikes, skiing, the trip from Calgary and where to stay. Moraine Lake gets a short mention here, because the shuttle rules for it matter when you plan Lake Louise.
Key prices in 2026
Adult prices in CAD. Taxes and booking fees can be extra.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Park day pass, adult | CAD 12.25 | Family or group in one vehicle, up to 7 people: CAD 24.50 |
| Discovery Pass, adult | CAD 83.50 | Annual pass; family or group CAD 167.50 |
| Lake Louise shuttle | CAD 12.75 | Plus a booking fee of CAD 3.50 online; the season ended on 12 October 2026 |
| Parking at Lake Louise lakeshore | CAD 42 | Per vehicle and day, from 15 May to 12 October 2026 |
| Banff Upper Hot Springs | CAD 19.75 | Closed for maintenance from 13 October to early November 2026 |
| Roam local bus in Banff | CAD 2 | Day ticket CAD 5; exact cash on the bus |
The park pass is not a shuttle ticket, a parking permit or a hot springs ticket. Details are on the park pass page.
Our picks: Banff tours
A lakes day tour with the park pass, the Banff Gondola and an Icefields Parkway day trip.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Banff Gondola admission ticket
The ride up and down, the 360-degree viewing deck, the interpretive centre and the summit trails are included. Food and the Banff National Park day pass are not.
Check availability →
Full-day tour to the lakes of Banff National Park
Pickup and return, a local guide, the national park pass and access to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Emerald Lake are included. Meals and tips are not.
Check availability →
Banff and Jasper day trip with a glacier stop
Pickup, return transport, a guide, water and the national park pass are included. Admission to the Columbia Icefield Adventure and the Skywalk is not.
Check availability →Banff tours and day trips
Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, wildlife and more, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with the pass and the big sights, then pick the pages you need.
Banff park pass
Day pass, Discovery Pass, who pays and where the pass is checked.
Tours compared
Icefields trips, glacier tours and what to check before you book.
Lake Louise
Shuttle, parking, canoes and the walk to Lake Agnes.
Banff Gondola
An 8-minute ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
Icefields Parkway
232 km from Lake Louise to Jasper, with stops and winter rules.
Johnston Canyon
Falls, distances and the closure of autumn 2026.
Things to do in Banff
Twelve ideas in and around the town.
Upper Hot Springs
Hours, prices and the maintenance closure.
Wildlife and bear safety
Distances, bear spray and the rules for viewing animals.
Hikes
Easy walks to day hikes, with closures and group rules.
Skiing
Sunshine, Lake Louise and Norquay compared.
Calgary to Banff
Drive, airport shuttle and bus options.
Best time to visit
Monthly temperatures and what each season means.
Where to stay
Banff town, Lake Louise or Canmore, plus camping prices.
Good to know in autumn 2026
A few things to know before you plan.
The free summer entry has ended
Entry to the national parks was free from 19 June to 7 September 2026. Regular fees have applied since 8 September.
Park pass fees →Pass, shuttle and parking are separate
The shuttle costs CAD 12.75 for adults, and parking at the Lake Louise lakeshore costs CAD 42 per vehicle and day. The park pass covers neither. The 2026 shuttle season ran until 12 October.
Lake Louise →Lake Louise by car, Moraine Lake not
Private cars can still reach Lake Louise, but a parking space is not guaranteed. The road to Moraine Lake has been closed to normal private vehicles since 2023. Shuttles, licensed commercial operators and registered lodge guests are the exceptions.
Shuttle rules →Johnston Canyon is closed
The trail, the day-use area, the toilets and the first parking lot are closed from 13 October to 11 December 2026 for safety work.
Johnston Canyon →Upper Hot Springs are in maintenance
The pools are closed from 13 October to early November 2026. A firm reopening day has not been announced.
Hot springs →No On-It bus from Calgary in 2026
The On-It service between Calgary, Canmore and Banff does not run in summer 2026. Look at the airport shuttles and the Brewster Express instead.
Calgary to Banff →Banff National Park: frequently asked questions
Do I need a pass for Banff National Park?
Yes, if you stop in the park. That includes viewpoints, picnics and a visit to the town. A pure drive-through on a normal through road without stopping is the exception, but the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) and Highway 1A are not part of that exception. Children up to 17 do not need a paid pass. See the park pass page.
How far is Banff from Calgary?
The town is 128 km west of the city, and Calgary airport is about 144 km away. Plan roughly 1.5 to 2 hours for the trip, depending on traffic and stops. The getting there page compares the options.
Can I drive to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake?
You can drive to Lake Louise, but parking is not guaranteed and costs CAD 42 per vehicle and day at the lakeshore in the 2026 season. The Moraine Lake road is closed to normal private cars. Read the Lake Louise page before you go.
Is the entry still free?
No. The free summer entry ended on 7 September 2026. The adult day pass costs CAD 12.25, and the Discovery Pass costs CAD 83.50.
When is the best time to visit?
It depends on what you want. The Lake Louise shuttle ran from mid-May to 12 October in 2026, and the ski areas plan to open in early November 2026. Lakes thaw by roughly the end of June. The best time page has the monthly temperatures.
Is banff-national-park.org an official site?
No. This is an independent guide with no connection to Parks Canada, the Town of Banff, a tourism board, a tour operator or a hotel.