Getting Around, Banff Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Banff, Alberta - AB, Canada)
The Banff townsite is well connected to Canada by a range of transport options, including a network of surrounding highways and main roads. Most people fly into one of the nearby airports and travel into Banff by either car or bus transport.
In and around Banff, car rental is a particularly popular way to travel and ideal for day trips and excursions. Public buses and Greyhound transport is also available in Banff, together with shuttles, tour buses and taxi cabs.
For those who prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace, bicycle rental is particularly popular in Banff, and many of the main sights, shops and restaurants can often be reached on foot.
Airports / Arriving by Air
Most people who travel to Banff choose to fly into one of the following airports:
All of these airports are within driving distance of the Banff townsite, although the journey from Vancouver Airport to Banff takes at least ten hours. Serving many American, Asian and European services, major airlines at the airports include Air Canada, Delta and Continental. Calgary Airport is generally the preferred travel option for those visiting Banff, due to close proximity to the townsite, and a range of ground transport is on offer here, including inexpensive Brewster Airporter buses.
Car Rental
Car hire travel companies are available at all airports close to Banff and in the town itself, and renting a car is one of the most popular methods of transport in the area. Banff is easy to travel around by car and driving is ideal for getting around the vast National Park and other excursions. With a number of notable main roads and highways nearby, the Trans-Canada Highway 1 connects the nearby town of Canmore. The speed limits for major routes around Banff is 56 mph / 90 kmph, which drops to 37 mph / 60 kmph or lower on secondary roads.
Driving in Banff and throughout Canada is on the right-hand side of the road and seatbelts are always required by law. Parking is available in central Banff, although many areas are limited to just one or two hours. Therefore, visitors often choose to park in the large parking lot on Banff Avenue and then travel into town using bus transport. During the cold winter months, many roads in and around Banff can close and snow tyres or chains may be required.
Buses and Coaches
Tel: +1 403 760 8294
Banff Transit Service bus transport operates daily throughout the year, May to September - 07:00 to midnight and October to April - 12:00 to midnight. Aimed at tourists, these public buses travel throughout the Banff area and stop off at many popular tourist attractions, parking lots and hotels. The main bus routes in the townsite run every 30 minutes and include the:
- Banff Avenue to Banff Spring route - providing travel to and from the Banff Avenue and the Banff Springs Hotels
- Tunnel Mountain to Downtown route - providing travel to and from the Village One at Tunnel Mountain Camping Site and the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum
Greyhound bus transport is based at the main bus terminal at 100 Gopher Street and runs four times each day, providing travel between the Banff townsite and Canmore, and between Banff and
Lake Louise Village. An inexpensive alternative is the Mountain Hostel Connector shuttle bus, which operates daily each year from May to October and travels to International Hostels in Banff, the Lake Louise village and the
Jasper townsite.
Trains
Most passenger trains travel through the town of Banff, and although they do not actually stop, the journey is extremely scenic. Rocky Mountain Rail Tours are available and run on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from April to October and travel from Jasper into Banff, offering spectacular views. Trains also travel into Banff from
Vancouver, during daytime only.
Bicycles
Bicycle hire is plentiful in downtown Banff and a popular way to travel around the center during the warm, summer months. Both standard bicycles and mountain bikes can be hired on an hourly or daily basis, with rental fees being fairly inexpensive.
Taxis
A number of taxi transport companies operate in Banff and are a particularly convenient way to travel around the town. The main taxi cabs in Banff are Taxi Taxi and Tours based at 101 Owl Street, and Mountain Taxi and Tours at 230 Lynx Street.
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