Banff National Park is Canada’s not-so-secret gem. It’s stunning mountain scenery and plethora of outdoor activities attract adventurers from all over the globe! But, between Banff’s gorgeous blue alpine lakes, massive mountain views and growing popularity, the area has become one of the most visited little mountain towns in the world, which makes visiting Banff on a budget a difficult task…
As with every vacation, cost is one of the first things to come to mind when planning a trip. As you begin your research, you will quickly find out that Banff National Park is not the cheapest destination to visit. BUT, it is possible to enjoy Banff on a budget! Below I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to plan your perfect (affordable) mountain escape!
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When to Visit Banff National Park
This is my favorite question to answer because the answer is so simple… ANYTIME is the perfect time to visit the Canadian Rockies. Banff National Park is a year-round destination. Whether you are looking for some summer time hiking, or the perfect winter skiing, Banff has it all!
June-August
Coined “peak season”, summer brings ALL the crowds. With an array of options for outdoor activities, the summer months are the best time for hiking, paddling, mountain biking, and climbing. The weather is warm and welcoming during the day, and cool and crispy at night, making the perfect camping weather! BUT BEWARE, these are the months when all of the prices are jacked up, which makes visiting Banff on a budget much more difficult.
September-October, May-June
Visiting Banff National Park during shoulder season is always a gamble, but with a little luck from the weather gods, it is truly the BEST time to visit! The crowds will have died down, the foliage will be turning all the colors of the rainbow, and the wildlife will be very ACTIVE during this time. I would suggest bringing your snowshoes in case you feel like hitting the trail, as most of them will be covered in snow!
November-May
Banff offers the longest ski season in North America! The park has 3 downhill ski resorts, that bring in visitors from around the world. If skiing if your thing, winter is the time to visit!
How to Get to Banff National Park
The closest airport is Calgary International Airport. It is a 90-mile (145 km) drive to the town of Banff. The best way to get from Calgary to Banff National Park is by renting a car; plus the park is pretty spread out, and having your own transportation is going to be important.
Banff on a Budget Tip: Car rentals at the airport are EXPENSIVE. We always rent our car from the center of town in Calgary and pay way less. It’s an easy uber ride and you save some money, no brainer.
What to Pack for Banff National Park
Shoes: We LOVE these Salomon’s in women’s and men’s!
Pack: A good day pack makes ALL the difference! We both use this 30L Ortovox pack. It’s the perfect size for day hiking and we love that it unzips all of the way down the front!
Sun protection: a brimmer hat and sun hoodie (women’s and men’s) are essentials in the sun!
Cooler: Keep a few snacks and drinks cool in the car with this affordable soft sided cooler! It’s a game changer on a hot day!
Water: Be sure to bring a water bladder for your daypack. Plus this packable water cube and a reusable water bottle are great to keep in the car!
Snacks: Make sure to pack some trail snacks too! We love these meal replacement bars (although we use them as a snack not a meal!)
First aid kit: Just this standard first aid kit should suffice if anything were to happen on the trail!
Light: A headlamp and extra batteries are important to carry in case you are out hiking later than you suspect.
Where to Stay when Visiting Banff on a Budget
This is where you’re either going to save the bank or break the bank. The #1 way to save money when visiting Banff is to CAMP (see camping section below). If you are dead set on not camping, then there are options; but they get pricey quick.
The first non-camping option is to stay in the town of Banff itself. Honestly, if you have the money, then DO IT! It is an adorable little mountain town with good vibes, good food, and good people! If we could afford it, we would love to do it. But if you’re going to stay in the town of Banff you have to BOOK YOUR STAY WAY IN ADVANCE! The accommodations in town fill up very quickly during the summer and winter months, which means you’ll need to be getting serious about booking your place almost a year in advance.
The second option is to stay in the town of Canmore. Canmore is a mere 17 miles from Banff and will cost CONSIDERABLY less! It is more of a residential area, but with plenty of air bnb options. If you opt to stay here, you will definitely want to rent a car to get around, as you’re still 25 minutes from the park.
Camping in Banff National Park
Camping in Banff National Park is the way to go! Sleeping on the ground in the park will give you a better connection to the beautiful land that you’re exploring. Plus, it’s pretty dang fun! There are 14 campgrounds in Banff, each offering a little something different. Prices range anywhere from $11.50 per night up to $40.75 per night depending on the amenities it provides.
*** If you are planning on having a campfire, you will have to buy a fire permit at $9.25 per day.
*** the campgrounds will book out QUICKLY, be aware of the campground launch dates and set an alarm!
Reservable Campgrounds
Tunnel Mountain Village Campground
Right in the middle of town, Tunnel Mountain is the PERFECT basecamp to explore the park! If you are wanting a good mix of town life, and park life, this is where you should be!
Two Jack Main Campground
Two Jack Main is a great spot if you’re looking for more of a “camping in the woods” authentic vibe. It’s a mere 15 minutes from town, giving you the best of both worlds.
Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Two Jack Lakeside is right up the road from main. It is a much smaller campground but is situated RIGHT on Two Jack Lake. This is one of our favorites!
Johnston Canyon Campground
Further up the Trans Canada Hwy, is Johnston Canyon Campground. This is a good central option between the town and Lake Louise and is right beside the beautiful Johnston Canyon.
Lake Louise Campground
The campground is WALKABLE to Lake Louise, a short drive to Lake Moraine AND a short drive to the icefield’s parkway! You absolutely cannot beat rolling out of the tent, walking over to Lake Louise, and watching the sun rise over the Lake.
Rampart Creek Campground
One of the two small campgrounds along the icefield’s parkway. Great location if you are road tripping towards Jasper National Park!
Silverhorn Creek Campground
The second of the two campgrounds along the icefield’s parkway. This camp is minutes from the famous Peyto Lake!
To reserve visit Parks Canada
First-Come/First-Served Campgrounds
Protection Mountain
The closest FC/FS to Lake Louise! We tried a few different times to get a spot here, and finally got lucky on our third try. It is very popular, and I would suggest getting there very early in the hopes that someone is leaving!
Mosquito Creek Campground
FC/FS on the icefield’s parkway. Very small (38 spots) and tough to secure a spot!
Waterfowl Lakes Campground
Right beside Silverhorn Campground, another FC/FS. This one is a bit larger than Mosquito Creek, having 110 spots.
MUST DO Hikes in Banff National Park
Hiking is the BREAD AND BUTTER of Banff National Park! Choosing which trails to hike on your first trip to Banff can be extremely overwhelming though, as there are thousands of GREAT trails to choose from. You could read 10 different blogs about the “best hikes in Banff” and each of them would say something different. For that reason, I am going to highlight my favorite hikes and what I consider to be the Banff staples!
Banff’s hiking can be broken up into a few different areas of the park- Banff Town, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Icefield’s Parkway. I would suggest only focusing on one area per day so you aren’t spending too much of your time driving!
Banff Town Area
Vermillion Lakes
0 miles
0 ft elevation gain
Just 1.5 miles outside of the town, Vermillion Lakes is the perfect spot to experience your first Banff sunrise or sunset! The lush marshland invites all sorts of wildlife to the area. Enjoy the gorgeous views of Mt. Rundle and Sulpher Mountain or take a short hike on the Fenland loop trail.
Two Jake Lake
2.0 mi out and back
600 ft elevation gain
The trail will take you along the shore of Two Jack Lake. This is another leisurely hike that everyone in the family can do! This is a popular lake, so I would suggest grabbing a kayak or SUP or even a float and head out into the water. It is a cool way to enjoy the sweeping views of Mt Rundle!
Tunnel Mountain Trail
2.5 miles out and back
900 ft elevation gain
Tunnel Mountain trail is relatively easy, offering well-graded switchbacks on your ascent. At the top you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the valley and the town!
Cory Pass
8.0 mile loop
3,730 ft elevation gain
This is our favorite hike TO DATE! The views are unlike any other we’ve seen in Banff National Park and every corner you turn brings new epic landscapes and dramatic mountains! The hike begins winding you through a lush forest until you eventually poke out at Cory Pass. Once you go over the pass, you will descend into Gargoyle Valley, one of the most epic valley landscape’s I have ever seen! The entire valley is flanked by massive mountain peaks, giving you panoramic views on your entire descent! (trekking poles highly recommended).
After leaving the canyon, you will finish out the loop on the other side of the lush green gorgeous forest that you started in.
FAIR WARNING– This is a long and tough day hike close to the center of Banff. The hike up to the pass is steep and rocky, offering little relief in the grade.
Johnston Canyon Area
Johnston canyon is one of the most popular attractions of the park. The gorgeous cascading waterfalls through steep limestone canyon walls create a good enough reason to bring in so many visitors. BUT The trail is also a human made staircase with guardrails, making it very accessible for all! The combination of these two things makes for a chaotic amount of visitors each day. I would highly suggest getting there EARLY to avoids the crowds!
***You shouldn’t skip going to visit Johnston Canyon!! It is well worth it, even if it is crowded.
Johnston Canyon Upper and Lower Falls
3.2 miles out and back
860 ft elevation gain
The trail to lower falls is a little over half a mile. There is a short little tunnel you can go through to get a close-up viewpoint of the falls!
To continue to Upper Falls will be about a mile more. The upper falls gives you a nice vantage point of the falls spilling into a pool below.
Johnston canyon ink pots
7.3 miles out and back
2,000 ft elevation gain
If you are wanting a bit more out of your hike, then you can continue from upper falls to the ink pots! They are a little less than 2 miles past the falls. Most people do not continue on to do the ink pots, so the trail will be much less crowded.
Lake Louise Area
Lake Louise if one of Banff National Park’s two famous turquiose blue lakes! It is a short walk from the parking lot to the lake itself, one that anyone can do!
If you’re up for a hike, then you can’t go wrong picking one of these-
Lake Agnes Tea House
4.5 miles out and back
1300 ft elevation gain
The Lake Agnes tea house hike is AMAZING! It’s a steep hike that brings you to a little tea house parallel to Lake Agnes. The tea house offers hot tea and coffee as well as small bites to purchase. The staff members hike up fresh food each day from the bottom of the lake. It’s a really cool experience and the food is yummy!
Little Beehive
5.6 miles out and back (from Lake Louise)
1755 ft elevation gain
After you enjoy a break at the teahouse, you can continue onward for about half a mile to the little beehive lookout!
Big Beehive
6.8 miles (from Lake Louise)
2545 ft elevation gain
To get to Big Beehive, you’re going to have to put in a little more work! Big Beehive continues past the tea house and circles around the backside of Lake Agnes before climbing a series of switchbacks to get to the top! The views are astounding and worth the effort!
Devil's Thumb via Lake Agnes
8.0 miles out and back
2,670 ft elevation gain
Devil’s Thumb is another hike that can be done as a continuation of the Lake Agnes Tea House! After the Tea House the hike carries on to the back side of Lake Agnes, climbs the same switchbacks as the Big Beehive and then veers to the right climbing to the top of devil’s thumb summit. It has EPIC vies of both Lake Agnes and Lake Louise and the contrast of the two beside each other is mesmerizing!
Plain of Six Glaciers
9.0 miles out and back
1930 ft elevation gain
Another Tea House hike! This one is a bit longer, but if you’re a fan of glaciers you won’t want to miss this one!
Lake Moraine Area
Moraine Lake Viewpoint
0.5 mile out and back
30 ft elevation gain
This is easily Banff’s most popular area AND FOR GOOD REASON! Moraine Lake is the face of the Canadian Rockies. The wild jagged mountain peaks framing the perfect turquoise lake is just as incredible as everyone says it is. The key to visiting Moraine Lake is to get there before the sun rises! By the time the sun crests the horizon, the parking lot will be completely full, and you will be out of luck. Plus… sunrise at Moraine… you CAN’T beat it!
2024 UPDATE: The Moraine Lake parking area is permanently CLOSED to private vehicles!!! You have to park in the off-site parking and then shuttle to the lake via the Parks Canada Shuttle or a private shuttle.
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley
7.0 miles out and back
2600 ft elevation gain
THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE HIKE! Starting at Moraine Lake, you will hike up through the Larch Valley towards Sentinel Pass. The entire hike you are surrounded by the towering peaks of Moraine Lake. Once you get to the pass, you will have an incredible panoramic view of the mountains. If you are capable (fitness wise), make sure to do this hike!
Icefields Parkway Area
Herbert Lake
0 miles
0 ft elevation gain
Right off the Icefield’s Parkway, you could spend as little or as much time at Herbert as you please. It is known for its reflective magic; reflecting the surrounding trees and mountains in the still water.
Peyto Lake (Bow summit lookout)
4.1 miles out and back
900 ft elevation gain
This gorgeous glacier fed lake is often put on the backburner because of its close proximity to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. I’d say this wolf shaped lake easily competes with them though and might even be my favorite lake in Banff National Park! It has some of the richest turquoise water I have ever seen! Pro tip: go PAST the viewpoint (where most people will stop), the trail will continue upwards towards a large clearing with spectacular views of the lake!
Upper Waterfowl Lake
1.0 miles out and back
111 ft elevation gain
Might be bit impartial but we experienced one of the best sunsets over Waterfowl Lake. It’s a quiet, tranquil area with an easy hike to see the upper lake.
Mistaya Canyon
1.1 miles out and back
260 ft elevation gain
A quick and easy walk to visit this curvy slot canyon waterfall! Worth a stop when driving the icefield’s parkway!
Big hill/Big Bend
0 Miles
0 ft elevation gain
A pull-off area right on the drive. You will know when you’ve arrived because you will see this sweeping view of the valley and river below.
Athabasca Glacier/Columbia Icefield
1.0 Miles
200 ft elevation gain
The Columbia Icefield is largest icefield in the Rockies. It is right off the Icefield’s parkway and an easy walk to see the glacier up close. As you walk closer to the glacier, there are signs indicating where the glacier USED to expand to, showing the impact that climate has had on the glacier receding.
Athabasca Falls
0.6 miles out and back
80 ft elevation gain
It is so cool to be able to access such monstrous falls right off of the road! Take advantage of the half mile walk to see Athabasca Falls. The falls has thunderous water flowing with a beautiful mountain backdrop. It’s incredible!
Beauty Creek to Stanley Falls
2.4 miles out and back
500 ft elevation gain
A nice hike hugging a curvy creek leading you to a powerful waterfall plunging down the canyon!
Fun Experiences in Banff National Park
Banff Brewing Company
We’re huge fans of trying out local brews and Banff Brewing Company did not disappoint! Great views, great vibes, and GREAT beer! It’s located right in the center of town; the perfect spot after a long day of hiking.
Banff on a budget tip: on Thursdays Banff Brewing Company offers $9 steins (32 oz beer) until midnight!
Canoeing on Lake Louise/Moraine Lake
OKAY this is one of those pricey touristy things that is worth doing once. It’s very serene floating in the middle of the perfect turquoise lake.
Banff on a budget tip: BYOB- Bring your own boat! The rental kayak’s and SUP’s are super expensive, but you can paddle the lake for FREE if you bring your own!
Banff Via Ferrata
If you’re looking for an adrenaline-filled day, check out the Banff Via Ferrata! It isn’t really “budget friendly”, but we had to include it just in case you want to splurge on something super fun.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
A man-made hot spring `but with INCREDIBLE views! I would go towards the end of your trip, to enjoy a good hot soak!
Explore Downtown/Saturday Market
On Saturdays, Banff town has a little farmer’s market near the downtown park. If you’re looking for souvenirs or local foods, this is the perfect place to get them! We picked up a gorgeous canvas print of a bear from a local photographer.
Ride the Banff Gondola
Looking for a bird’s eye view of the Canadian Rockies, requiring minimal effort? The Banff gondola is calling your name!
Banff on a budget tip: The Tunnel Mountain Trail is a hike that follows the gondola line. You get the same epic views at the top without having to pay for the pricey gondola!
Rafting Down Horse River
A great adventure day for the whole family! Get out on the river and experience wet and wild Banff!
Check out Wild Water to book your trip!
Banff on a Budget Travel Tips
- Rent the car: a cost that is well worth it to be able to explore the park on your own time!
- Guide along: We recommend this for every single national park! Guide along is a location-based audio tour that gives you tips and stories about the location your driving along. The tour operates totally offline and hands free! Check it out here!
- Bear spray: carry bear spray and KNOW HOW TO USE IT. There are grizzly and black bears in Banff National Park. Know what to do if you encounter a bear because it’s very likely that you will.
- Go see the touristy sights: they are touristy for a reason! It may be crowded, but if it’s your first time to Banff you’ve got to do it.
- SUNRISE will be your crowd beater: The earlier you arrive, the less people you will be sharing the view with. Pick your poison: sleep and crowds or no sleep and less people
- Get groceries in Calgary: Before you head into the park, grab a Styrofoam cooler and some groceries in Calgary! It’s good to stock up on some basics because prices rise significantly once you get into Banff
- Showering: Not all of the campgrounds in Banff National Park offer showers. If you’re looking for a shower, then head over to the Sally Bordon Fitness and Recreation Center– For a small fee you can get access to the locker rooms and showers.
Happy Hiking!
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