Getting to Banff, Canada — TFA World Guide

Getting There and Away

Written by Alexander Kopp, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans

01/08/2025

Captivating view of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, showcasing turquoise waters and majestic mountains.

Nicole Seidl, Pexels

Calgary International Airport (YYC) serves as the primary gateway to Banff, located approximately 144 kilometers (90 miles) east of the town.

Shuttle Buses:

Several companies provide direct shuttle services between Calgary International Airport (YYC) or Downtown Calgary and Banff.

Banff Airporter offers year-round service, taking about 1 hour 45 minutes from YYC to Banff, with one-way adult fares around CAD 67.99 plus 5% GST.
Brewster Express provides direct transfers from YYC or downtown Calgary to Banff.
FlixBus has daily departures from Downtown Calgary to Banff, with travel times ranging from 1.5 to 2 hours and fares starting at $15.
Mountain Park Transport and Discover Banff Tours also operate shuttles from YYC to Banff, with prices starting around $63-$78 per person.
Vivo Green offers daily shuttles from YYC and Crowfoot LRT Station to Banff, with early summer departures priced from $12.99. The journey from Calgary downtown is approximately 2 hours.
On-It Regional Transit operates a public bus service on weekends and holidays from May to September, connecting Downtown Calgary or Crowfoot LRT station to Banff for around CAD 10 one-way, including same-day public transit in Banff. Travel time is typically 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

Car Rental:

Rental cars are available at Calgary International Airport (YYC). The drive to Banff via the Trans-Canada Highway is about 1.5 hours and is toll-free. Daily rental rates in Banff can start from approximately $32. Visitors driving into Banff National Park are required to pay an admission fee.

Train:

There is no operational public train service from Calgary directly to Banff. While there are discussions and studies about reinstating passenger rail service from Calgary to Banff, it is not currently available. The Rocky Mountaineer offers luxury train journeys between Vancouver and Banff/Lake Louise from April to October, with transfers available to Calgary.

Local Transport within Banff:

Roam Public Transit provides extensive bus services within the town of Banff and to popular attractions like Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, and Lake Minnewanka. Parks Canada also operates essential shuttles for accessing areas such as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, requiring advance reservations.

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