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How To Get From Calgary to Banff

4 ways to get from Alberta’s largest city to the Rocky Mountains Option 1: Intercity Bus Option 2: Shuttle Bus Option 3: Charter Bus Option 4: Drive

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4 ways to get from Alberta’s largest city to the Rocky Mountains

Option 1: Intercity Bus

  • Travel time: ~1.5-2 hours
  • Intercity carriers like Flixbus, On-it, Rider Express all offer frequent, direct, daily service
  • from Downtown Calgary to Banff. Unfortunately, Calgary does not have a central bus terminal. Board and depart the intercity buses from the following locations:
  • Flixbus 
    • Calgary – Downtown – 11 Ave SE (between Centre St S & 1st St SE), in parking lot
    • Banff, 135 Beaver St
  • On–it 
    • Calgary – Downtown – 606 5 Ave SW
    • Banff – Elk Street Transit Hub (corner of Elk Street & Banff Ave)
  • Rider Express
    • Banff – 100 Gopher St (Brewster Transportation Centre)
  • Fares: Starting at $19.00 CDN 
  • Pros: Budget friendly; frequent, multiple daily service options
  • Cons: Less frequent
  • The gist: A great budget friendly option but be wary of departure times.

Option 2: Shuttle Bus

  • Travel time: ~1.5-2 hours
  • For a more personalised bus service, consider shuttle bus operators. There are two:
  • Brewster Express offers custom pick up and drop off starting from Calgary International Airport (YYC), and several hotels within downtown Calgary. In Banff, Brewster stops at all hotels and the Brewster Transportation Centre.
  • Banff Airporter offers direct service from YYC (no downtown Calgary option) and stops at all hotels and home addresses in Banff.
  • Banff Explorer**** offers direct service from YYC (no downtown Calgary option) and stops at all hotels and home addresses in Banff.
  • Fares: Starting at $80.00 CDN
  • Pros: Door-to-door service, direct service, request specific stops like hotels
  • Cons: More expensive than intercity bus
  • The gist: A great, direct option but most expensive given the custom pick-up and drop-off options.

Option 3: Charter Bus

  • Travel time: ~1.5-2 hours
  • Travelling in a large group from Calgary to Banff?Banff Airport Shuttle andSun Dog Tours offer charter bus services for larger groups.
  • Fares: Starting at $350 for a group of four.
  • Pros: Good for groups
  • Cons: Very expensive
  • The gist: Good for large groups who don’t want to rent a car.

Option 4: Drive

  • Travel time: ~1.5-2 hours
  • Depart from the airport (YYC) by taking the Airport Trail and heading on Highway 2 (Deerfoot Trail). Shortly after, head west on Highway 201 (Stoney Trail). Continue on this ring road in a counter clockwise direction until the interchange with Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway). This route avoids the traffic of downtown Calgary. 
  • Depart from downtown via Bow Trail westbound. Turn right at Sarcee Trail. At the interchange, head westbound on Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway).
  • Continue on Highway 1 westbound driving through rolling plains and enjoy the dramatic change in scenery as the plains give way to the Rockies. Purchase Parks Canada pass at the park gate if needed (right on the highway). Take Exit 69 (Banff Avenue) and continue into downtown Banff. Parking can be a challenge and usually fills up by 10 a.m. Consider parking just outside of downtown by the train station or across the Bow River.
  • Pros: Fastest, direct
  • Cons: Traffic and parking in Banff can be very challenging especially at peak season.
  • The gist: Fast & convenient but traffic in Banff and parking can become a pain.