Know before you go
Travelling to Banff National Park and Canada for the first time? Here is some basic travel information to help with your planning process.
Banff and Lake Louise at a glance:
- Location: Alberta, Canada
- Time zone: Mountain Standard Time (UTC -7)
- Closest Airport: Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Local transit service: Roam Transit
- Parks Canada: All visitors require a Park Pass
- Access to Moraine Lake: Shuttles / tours need to be pre-booked (Summer only)
What's on in Banff?
The entire winter season is full of fun events and festivities in Banff and Lake Louise, including Ice Magic and Snow Days. Check out the full event calendar here. We look forward to sharing our home with you.
SnowDays Schedule |
The 17-day festival returns next week and is packed with activities and events designed to encourage overnight stays and extended weekends in Banff and Lake Louise. See the action-packed schedule:
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Banff is located in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It's one of five national parks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is located along the TransCanada Highway, a well maintained road open year-round. The closest international airport is Calgary (130 km/87 miles away). You can get here by car, shuttle service or RV. To know more about getting around Banff, visit here.
Banff National Park sees mild summers and cold, snowy winters. It’s been said that the most reliable characteristic of Banff and Lake Louise’s weather is its unpredictability. Be prepared! Make the most of your visit to Banff and Lake Louise by packing for all weather possibilities and checking the forecast and conditions before your trip. Check out the season information here
Check out the weather today and for the next few days in Banff & Lake Louise with our webcams. Keep in mind that temperatures will vary depending on what time of day it is and what elevation you're at. These webcams might help also help to assess traffic conditions.
Before deciding how to spend the day exploring Moraine Lake, it's essential to work out how you'll get there first. You can't drive personal vehicles up Moraine Lake Road at any time of day. This means you must hike, bike, take a shuttle or transit, or go on a tour. To help with your planning, we have created a handy list of all of the options, check it out here. Moraine Lake Road is only open to visitors in Summer.
Get your Winter Park Pass
Don't forget to buy your Park Pass. Everyone visiting Banff or Lake Louise needs to purchase a Park Pass for entry into the National Park. Buy yours online and save time and hassle when arriving at the park entrance.