Where To Stay To Hike Banff?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Fairmont Banff Springs (Luxury)
  • Rimrock Resort Hotel (Luxury)
  • Canalta Lodge (Mid-Range)
  • Moose Hotel Banff (Mid-Range)
  • Peaks Hotel and Suites (Mid-Range)
  • Banff High Country Inn (Budget)
  • Mountain View Bed and Breakfast.
  • Beaujolais Boutique B&B at Thea’s House.

Is it better to stay in Banff or Canmore?


For a short stay and particularly for a first time visit it might be better to stay in Banff

so that you have easy and central access to everything. A longer term stay is where Canmore might be a better option as a base. Having a spacious condo with all the luxuries of home can make your stay more comfortable.

Where should I stay when visiting Banff and Jasper?

  • Jasper: Fairmont Jasper park lodge (luxury hotel), Jasper Inn & Suites ( comfortable hotel), Hi Jasper hostel ( basic hotel), Bear’s Den ( vacation home).
  • Banff: Fairmont Banff Springs ( luxury hotel), Fox hotel and suites ( comfortable hotel), Blue Mountain lodge B&B.

Is it worth staying in Lake Louise or Banff?

Advantages of Staying in Lake Louise Over Banff


Lake Louise is much quieter than the town of Banff

, though, during the day in the summer, Lake Louise (the lake itself) is actually very busy. But at night, it’s going to be extremely mellow. What is this? Lake Louise is much further into Banff National Park.

How many days do you need in Banff?

Time required to visit

It is good, if you can allocate,

at least two days

to spend in Banff & Lake Louise. You need to spend 5 days, to SEE & DO the real Banff : like hiking and canoeing in summer & Skiing and Snowboarding in winter.

Can you stay inside Banff National Park?


Accommodation options abound in the park, from luxury lodges to backcountry cabins

. Here are a handful of our favorite hotels in Banff National Park.

Is Canmore cheaper than Banff?

Whilst still not cheap,

Canmore is cheaper than Banff

. If cost is your primary factor then Canmore is going to be the best option for you. Canmore is a ‘normal’ town not a tourist town. It’s where most Canadians choose to stay when visiting the area and it has much more of a local’s vibe.

What is Canmore known for?

Known for

scenery, outdoor activities, and wildlife

, Canmore has been a primary vacation destination for the past thirty years. Its location to Calgary-and the international airport-has been an asset. Visitors can easily experience both the hustle of the city and the serenity of the mountains.

Does Canmore have a Walmart?


Canmore does not have large stores like Walmart

but does have a smaller Canadian Tire that provides a variety of camping, houseware, and lots of tools and car servicing items to name a few.

Is Banff or Jasper better?


Banff, without a doubt, has the better location in terms of ease and access to the mountains

. Jasper is much more of a haul to get to, and if coming from Calgary, you’ll have to pass through Banff and drive the Icefields Parkway to reach Jasper. Banff’s location means you have more day trips to make from Banff.

Is one week in Banff enough?

If you’re planning to visit Banff for one, two, three days, or longer than a week,

you’re still going to need to have a general plan so you can see as much as you would like in your time here

.

How can I spend 5 days in Banff?

  1. Day 1: Lake Louise, Grizzly Bear Watching & Peyto Lake.
  2. Day 2: Moraine Lake, an epic hike and Vermillion Lakes.
  3. Day 3: Waterfalls, glacier hikes and Emerald Lake.
  4. Day 4: Lake Minnewanka, Fairmont Banff and a mountain top sunset.
  5. Day 5: Hot springs, helicopters and canyons.

Do you need an SUV in Banff?


If you are visiting Banff or any mountains in Canada, a 4×4 vehicle should be considered

. Four-wheel drive vehicles cost more, but they can be necessary for road trips in the mountains. If you don’t want to rent a 4×4, at the very least, get a car with snow tires in the winter.

Can you swim in Lake Louise?

What is this?

Technically yes, you can swim at Lake Louise, but it probably won’t be for long

. The water temperature rarely gets above 4°C, meaning you only have about 15 minutes or so until you start to become hypothermic.

How much is a taxi from Banff to Lake Louise?

The quickest way to get from Banff to Lake Louise is to taxi which costs

$140 – $180

and takes 44 min.

What is the best month to go to Banff?

The best times to visit Banff are

June to August and December to March

. Nature lovers will want to get to the park when the weather is warm and welcoming (and while the hotel rates in town are at a reasonable level). The skiers, however, will want to vacation in the height of winter.

Is Whistler or Banff better?

Both will be busy, but

Whistler will be way busier than Banff

. As far as vertical, both mountians have some really steep stuff, then again, lots of stuff for intermediate skiers like you. For village feel, Banff is more “mountain” than Whistler, with Whistler being more of an international destination than Banff.

Do you need a car in Banff?


You don’t need a car in Banff

.

How do I get from Banff to Lake Louise?

The most economical way to get from Banff to Lake Louise is by

route 8X on Roam Transit

. The trip takes 48 minutes on an eco-friendly hybrid bus. Catch the bus at the Banff High School Transit Hub. Drop-off is at Lake Louise Village or within walking distance of spectacular Lake Louise (the final stop).

How far is Banff from Jasper?

Taking the AB-93 North, the total distance from Banff to Jasper is

288km

. Breaking that up – the distance from Banff to Lake Louise (a MUST stop along the way) is 57km and the distance from Lake Louise to Jasper is 233km. Overall, the trip should take close to 4 hours if driving with minimal stops.

How do you get to Banff National Park?

Get there: Banff National Park is located 80 miles west of Calgary. Calgary’s international airport is serviced by major national and international carriers with multiple flights arriving daily.

From the airport, rent a car and take Trans-Canada 1 west from Calgary straight into the park, through Banff and Lake Louise

.

How far is the bike ride from Canmore to Banff?

It is a scenic three metre wide,

26 kilometre

long, commuter trail connecting the small mountain town communities of Canmore and Banff. The route runs parallel to the highway and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. This is a great trail for families and cyclists of all abilities to enjoy.

Is Calgary or Edmonton closer to Banff?

Most visitors coming from outside of Canada fly into either Calgary or Edmonton International airport in the province of Alberta.

Calgary is the closest to the mountains

, the town site of Banff is less than a 2 hour drive away. From the Edmonton airport it’s a 4 hour drive to Jasper or 4.5 hours to Banff.

Do you need a car in Canmore?

So, do you need a car in Banff? If you plan on spending most of your time around the Town of Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore and the most popular sites within Banff National Park, then

you can visit Banff without a car

.

Is Canmore bigger than Banff?

What is this? Canmore sits just outside the gates to Banff National Park and is surrounded by the National Park to the West and Provincial Park to the Southeast.

It’s a larger town than Banff around

with 14,000 people that call it home, including ourselves.

How old is Canmore?

Our mountains are high, our roots are deep

Visitors can find 1,000 year old pictographs left by First Nations in nearby Grotto Canyon. The town of Canmore itself was

established in 1884

as a hard-working coal mining town servicing Canadian Pacific Railway trains.

Is Canmore a town or city?

Canmore is

a town

in Alberta, Canada, located approximately 81 kilometres (50 mi) west of Calgary near the southeast boundary of Banff National Park. It is located in the Bow Valley within Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.