Calgary Airport to Banff and Lake Louise
This guide covers the trip from Calgary International Airport to Banff and Lake Louise in Banff National Park: the drive, the Parks Canada pass, scheduled shuttles, car rental at the airport and hotels near the airport for the night before or after.
Driving from YYC to Banff and Lake Louise
Banff & Lake Louise Tourism puts Banff National Park about 130 km from the airport, a drive of about 90 minutes west on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). The town of Banff is on that highway. Lake Louise is about 56 km further west, about 45 minutes from Banff. Inside the park, Parks Canada sets a maximum of 90 km/h on major routes and 60 km/h on secondary roads unless otherwise posted, and warns that wildlife may be on or near any park road, especially at dusk and dawn.
The Parks Canada pass
Parks Canada requires a pass for anyone spending time in a national park, including stops in towns and villages, at viewpoints and at picnic sites. Travelling through on the Trans-Canada Highway without stopping needs no pass. Passes are sold online, at the Banff East Park Gate on the Trans-Canada Highway, at the visitor centres in Banff and Lake Louise, at staffed campgrounds and at some retailers. Parks Canada’s 2026 daily admission to Banff National Park is C$12.25 per adult (18 to 64), C$10.75 per senior and C$24.50 for a family or group of up to seven people; visitors 17 and under enter free. The annual Discovery Pass costs C$83.50 per adult or C$167.50 per family or group and covers more than 80 Parks Canada places.
Winter driving
For road conditions, Parks Canada refers drivers to 511 Alberta (dial 511 in Alberta, or 1-855-391-9743) and, west of the provincial border, to DriveBC. Snow tires or chains are required by law on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) and the Banff-Windermere Highway (Highway 93 South) from November 1 to March 31, or at any other time the highways are covered with snow or ice. In Yoho and Kootenay national parks, the requirement runs from October 1 to April 30.
Airport shuttles to Banff and Lake Louise
yyc.com lists several operators that carry passengers from the airport to Banff. Two of them publish a scheduled service from the terminal:
| Operator | At YYC | Journey time | Departures from YYC | Adult fare (operator’s site) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewster Express | Brewster Express ticket desk; door not published | Banff about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours; Lake Louise about 3 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes | 9:30 am to 8:00 pm (summer 2026 and winter 2026 to 2027 schedules) | From C$66.75 one way on a pre-booked round trip |
| Banff Airporter | Arrivals level, between exit doors 5 and 6 | Canmore about 1 hour 20 minutes; Banff about 2 hours | 10:00 am to 10:30 pm | C$88.90 one way, C$177.80 return, plus GST; fuel surcharges may apply |
Brewster Express takes bookings online or on 1-877-625-4372 and allows cancellation up to 90 minutes before departure. Banff Airporter takes bookings online or on 1-888-449-2901; it does not run a scheduled service to Lake Louise and runs private charters there instead. A flight landing after the last departure means a night near the airport and a bus the next morning.
Renting a car at YYC
yyc.com places the Rental Car Centre on the Departures level, across the roadway from the domestic terminal, reached through the elevator lobby across from the Arrivals entrance. Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Alamo have counters there. Zoom Rent A Car, Routes Car Rental and U-Save Car & Truck Rental are off the airport and run courtesy shuttles from Bus Bay 22 on the Arrivals roadway.
Staying near the airport before or after
After a late landing, the Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel and Delta Hotels Calgary Airport In-Terminal are reached on foot from arrivals; both charge C$36 per day for self-parking. For drivers, eight hotels near the airport have free parking: The Westin Calgary Airport (1.6 km), Hotel 11 by Sonesta Calgary Airport (about 1.6 km), Hampton Inn by Hilton Calgary Airport North (2 km), Hyatt Place Calgary Airport (about 3 km), Holiday Inn Express Airport Calgary (8 km), Courtyard by Marriott Calgary Airport (9.5 km), Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport (10 minutes south) and Sandman Signature Calgary Airport Hotel (free overnight parking). For a morning shuttle bus without a car, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Sandman Signature run free shuttles to the terminal 24 hours a day. Parking for a longer trip is compared in our park, sleep and fly guide; city transfers are in the downtown transfer guide, and hotels for an early return flight are in the early flights guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Calgary Airport to Banff?
Banff & Lake Louise Tourism gives about 130 km and about 90 minutes from Calgary International Airport to Banff National Park, on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). Lake Louise is about 56 km and about 45 minutes beyond Banff on the same highway.
Do I need a park pass to drive from Calgary Airport to Banff?
Parks Canada requires a pass for anyone who stops in Banff National Park, including stops in Banff and Lake Louise, at viewpoints and at picnic sites. Driving through on the Trans-Canada Highway without stopping needs no pass. Passes are sold online, at the Banff East Park Gate on Highway 1 and at the visitor centres in Banff and Lake Louise.
Is there a shuttle from Calgary Airport to Lake Louise?
Brewster Express lists departures from Calgary International Airport to Banff and Lake Louise, and gives about 3 hours to 3 hours 15 minutes to Lake Louise. Banff Airporter runs scheduled shuttles to Canmore and Banff only and runs private charters to Lake Louise.
Information last verified: October 2, 2026