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Explore Banff National Park Using Transit

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Jun 20, 2023|
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Sustainable Travel
A Roam Transit bus drives down Banff Ave in the summer towards Cascade Mountain.

Your summer mountain adventures are waiting for you in Banff National Park, and exploring with public transport is the best way to see more. Spend more of your day paddling, exploring hiking trails, or trying something new, rather than hunting for parking. Wander beyond the townships of Banff or Lake Louise and enjoy the ride to your next adventure and hotspot.

For a breakdown of each location in Banff and Lake Louise, have a look at our dedicated page for transport options.

Ready to discover more of Banff and Lake Louise? Here are your options:

A Parks Canada shuttle drives down Moraine Lake Road, surrounded by evergreen trees with a view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks behind it near Lake Louise in Banff National Park.A Parks Canada shuttle drives down Moraine Lake Road, surrounded by evergreen trees with a view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks behind it near Lake Louise in Banff National Park.A Parks Canada shuttle drives down Moraine Lake Road, surrounded by evergreen trees with a view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks behind it near Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

Getting around Lake Louise with Parks Canada

Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake

Get to either lake easily with daily shuttle services between the Lake Louise Park and Ride located at the Lake Louise Ski Area and the Upper Lake Louise parking lot or Moraine Lake.

Shuttles run daily to Lake Louise from mid-May to mid-October. Reservations are required to guarantee a seat on the shuttle.

Shuttles run daily to Moraine Lake from early June mid-October.

Parks Canada shuttle reservations for 2024 for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake will start on April 18, 2024.

You can use the first-come-first-serve Lake Connector bus to hop between the two lakes with your reservation. You do not need a reservation to return to the park and ride.

Find our most up-to-date info for Moraine Lake HERE and Lake Louise HERE

Reservations

Starting in early May, reservations for Parks Canada shuttles will be available. Additional seats are released 48 hours before departure. Reservations are required to guarantee a seat to Lake Louise or Moraine Lake.

For reservation open dates, fares and scheduling information visit Parks Canada.

A Roam Transit bus drives on the Lake Minnewanka Loop in Banff National Park with Cascade Mountain in the background and the bus's reflection in a puddle in the grass.A Roam Transit bus drives on the Lake Minnewanka Loop in Banff National Park with Cascade Mountain in the background and the bus's reflection in a puddle in the grass.A Roam Transit bus drives on the Lake Minnewanka Loop in Banff National Park with Cascade Mountain in the background and the bus's reflection in a puddle in the grass.

Roam Transit

Banff’s official municipal transport is Roam Transit, a fleet of eco-friendly hybrid buses that run on electrical power for their in-town circuits. It’s hard to miss these buses: they come wrapped in beautiful images of local wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, and bighorn sheep. And thanks to a GPS real-time information system that keeps you up-to-date on wait times, you’ll never be left guessing when the next bus will arrive.

For passengers travelling with gear in tow, Roam Transit buses are outfitted to transport your equipment, too! Bikes, skis, snowboards, and strollers can all be brought on board or secured to the bus's exterior. Passengers requiring wheelchair access will find these buses equipped with a fold-out ramp and low floor.

Starting at just $2 for an adult one-way fare, you’ll want to roam everywhere. For contactless boarding of Roam, ensure you download Token Transit and pre-purchase your tickets.

In the Banff Townsite

The Roam Transit Banff Local Routes have the town well-covered, so you can access all the sought-after locations, including the Banff Gondola, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site (seasonal).

Local's Tip: As a registered camper, catch the LOCAL Roam transit for free FROM the Tunnel Mountain Campground to the town of Banff.

Lake Minnewanka

Starting after the May long weekend, Roam Transit will run buses to Lake Minnewanka. Leaving from the stop outside the Banff Community High School, these buses will run daily and stop at campgrounds and popular day-use areas on the Minnewanka Loop.

Local's Tip: If you're camping at one of the Two Jack campgrounds, you receive complimentary travel from your campground to the Lake or to Banff (Fares apply for return trips to the campgrounds.)

Lake Louise & Johnston Canyon

Choose between direct or scenic routes to Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon this summer. Take the 8X up the Trans-Canada Highway for an express option. If you want to visit both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, opt for a Roam Super Pass, which allows you to access the Parks Canada Lake Connector route between the two lakes.

If a visit to Johnston Canyon the journey up the Bow Valley Parkway on the 9 is spectacular.

Moraine Lake

Roam Transit will offer services from Banff to Moraine Lake from September – October. This is the perfect option for those wanting to ensure a visit to this popular destination. Reservations are required for the popular service.

Canmore

The Roam Banff-Canmore Regional Route goes to nearby Canmore, where you can access additional amenities, restaurants, and outdoor activities. Don’t forget you can bring your bike! That means you can ride the bus to Canmore and ride your bike back to Banff on the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail, a scenic 22 km (13.7 mi.) paved route adjacent to the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1). Be prepared; there is a limit on bike spaces, and you may have to peddle both ways!

If you're looking for specific dates for any location in Banff and Lake Louise, have a look at our regularly updated page about Shuttles and Buses around the Park

Banff & Lake Louise Tourism

Banff & Lake Louise Tourism

Real Banff is an inside look at the events and activities around the park, brought to you by Banff & Lake Louise Tourism. Our mission is to have a post on pretty much everything that is available for you to do in Banff, Lake Louise and beyond.