Epic 5 Day Banff Itinerary: How to Spend 5 Days in Banff, Canada

How to Spend 5 Days in Banff, Canada

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This epic 5-day Banff Itinerary is based on my firsthand trip in shoulder season, late May, and staying in Canmore, which sits just 10 minutes outside the Banff park entrance. Staying in Canmore was such a good move as it’s a lot cheaper than Banff town, has public transport to Banff trailheads, and even has its own downtown with amazing food and shops. Visiting Banff in the shoulder season is also a huge advantage to beat crowds. I made it all the way from Icefields parkway to Johnston Canyon and 2 other nearby National Parks in just 5 days.

Why Visit Banff?

If you love gorgeous Mountain views, vibrant blue lakes, and unlimited miles of hiking trails, then Banff National Park is your ultimate travel destination. Not only does Banff offer many outdoor activities, but the town of Banff itself is very scenic and relaxing. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy!

Banff National Park is located just an hour and a half northwest of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. You can also find Jasper and Yoho National Parks nearby, which are perfect to add to your itinerary.

Essential Travel Tips for Banff

How to Get to Banff National Park

Getting to Banff National Park is fairly easy. If you’re traveling from the U.S. or Canada, you’ll fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC).

💡Pro-Tip: Download the ArriveCan App prior to entering the country for easier customs if coming from outside of Canada. On your way back into the U.S., download the Mobile Passport Control App. Both are huge time savers.

From Calgary, the best option is to rent a car and drive yourself into Banff or wherever you are staying. The drive is just under 1.5 hours, and the roads are flat and wide, which makes for an easy ride.

There are shuttles that have regular routes from Calgary to Banff, but you may not want to get into a full bus after a plane ride… maybe that’s just me.

If you do decide to shuttle, I recommend this semi-private ride.

When is the Best Time to Visit Banff?

Peak season in Banff National Park is the summer months from June to August. Generally, this is when the weather is best for outdoor activities, but also that’s when there are the most crowds.

The best time to visit Banff, in my opinion, is late spring, around mid to late May. The weather may be a bit cooler than the summer months, but hey, I’d take cooler temps with fewer people any day!

💡 Pro-Tip: You cannot access Moraine Lake until June 1st. If this is high on your bucket list, plan to go opening week to take advantage of smaller spring crowds.

There are definitely pros and cons to visiting Banff in ‘shoulder season’ around May, but I did not feel like I missed out on anything.

Park Passes and Entrance Fees

You will need a National Park Pass for any National Park that you visit in Canada. This includes Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Waterton, Elk Island, Mount Revelstoke, and Glacier, all accessible on the same pass.

There are two different pass types depending on your needs. The Day Pass or the Discovery Pass. For most travelers, the Day Pass will be the cheapest option, around $135 CAD, whereas the Discovery Pass costs $150 CAD and is valid for 12 months.

Passes can be bought in a few different ways:

• Online at Banff & Lake Louise Tourism
• In person at any of the Park Entrances
• In person at the Banff or Lake Louise visitor center

💡Pro-Tip: Once you have a National Park pass, stay in the rightmost lanes when entering the parks to avoid sitting in lines of others who are buying passes.

Getting Around Banff

Banff has amazing public transportation that will take you around the park and to nearby towns for relatively cheap. A day pass for the bus costs $15 CAD and is good for unlimited rides.

The bus system is fairly straightforward and easy to track with the Transit App. I used this app during my entire trip to see live updates, buy passes, and explore more routes.

I highly recommend taking advantage of public transportation, especially in peak season, because parking in town is very limited.

If you do decide to drive, there are a few larger paid parking lots, but be prepared to walk into the town center. If you get to town early or later in the day, you’ll have better chances at securing a spot.

The parking lots for the popular Banff Gondola and Hot Springs were full every day before 10 am, which was in shoulder season. More of a reason to hop on a bus and have someone else maneuver the traffic!

Packing Suggestions

If there’s something to know about Banff Canada travel, is that especially in early summer, you’ll experience all 4 seasons throughout one day!

💡Pro-Tip: LAYERS are going to be your best friend. Not gonna lie, I felt kinda crazy packing tank tops along with fleece and long sleeves, but it proved to be extremely helpful.

This is roughly what I packed for 5 days in Banff, primarily focused on the outdoors and hiking. The weather forecast showed a low of around 50 degrees and a high of 70 most every day.

Clothes

• 1 down puffer jacket
• 1 athletic zip-up
• 2 athletic tank tops
• 2 athletic short-sleeves
• 2 athletic long sleeves
• 1 pair of leggings
  • Depending on preference, you may want more long pants. I prefer to hike in shorts
• 5 pairs of shorts
• 1 pair of jeans
• 2 casual tops
• 2 pairs of pajamas

Shoes

• 1 pair of hiking boots
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 1 pair of sandals/flip flops
  • For the pool, hot tub, or hot springs!

In addition to clothes, I also used my Osprey Hydration Backpack every day for hiking. This was a great backpack to de-shed layers, and also carry snacks and lunch.

5-Day Banff Itinerary Overview

And now for the Banff Itinerary you’ve been waiting for. I felt like 5 days was a perfect amount of time to see what I wanted to see without feeling rushed.

✍🏼 Important note: I stayed in Canmore, a town about 10 minutes outside of the entrance to Banff. It’s a great cheaper alternative to staying in the National Park and a very cute and lively town itself. Check out affordable, convenient, and cute apartments/condos here!

Day 1 – Explore Canmore and Banff

Your first day in Canmore and Banff is well spent exploring the towns and getting your bearings. The best part is the bus runs round-trip from Banff and Canmore all day, so grab your bus pass and get exploring! You don’t have to go far to find the best things to do in Banff.

🍽️ Grab Breakfast at Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. on Main Street in Canmore

• Grab a dozen freshly made bagels to bring on your hikes for the week!

👣 Take a walk around Main Street and explore the different shops

• Check out Trend Fashions to thrift some great clothes
• Stonewaters is a cute boutique spot with something for everyone

🚍 Catch the Red 3 Line, Roam Bus from Railway Ave in downtown Canmore

• Download the Transit App and buy your day pass for $15 CAD. The app will be your ticket for the day

🚍 Depart the bus at Banff High School

• There are a few stops in Banff where you can get off the bus. I recommend getting off at Banff High School because this is where you can connect to the other bus line that takes you up to the Gondola

👣 Spend some time walking around Banff Avenue. There are tons of souvenir shops, outdoorsy stores, and restaurants to explore.

🚍 Connect to the Green 1 Bus line at Banff High School for the 10 minute ride up to the Banff Gondola

• The Green 1 line also connects to Banff Upper Hot Springs. I didn’t spend any time at the hot springs this time around, but it is a popular destination with great views. If you have time and your swimsuit, definitely head over while you’re in the area.

🚠 Take the Banff Gondola up to the highest point in Banff, Sulfur Mountain

• Plan to spend about 1-2 hours at the top of the gondola
• There is a short walk from the visitors center at the top to the peak of Sulfur Mountain. If you’re walking leisurely and stopping to take pics (obviously), the round-trip walk should take about 1 hour

🌲Walk around the Cascades of Time Gardens

🏰 Explore the Fairmont Hotel

• Having tea at the Fairmont is one of the most popular activities in Banff town

🍽️ Have ramen for dinner at Dingsway Ramen back in Canmore. Fuel up for the action-packed days ahead!

Day 2 – Icefields Parkway Road Trip

There’s nothing like a road trip through the Canadian Rockies! Today, you’ll hit 3 total National Parks and see some amazing blue lakes, glaciers, and wildlife.

You’ll start your day driving about 3 hours out to the furthest point at Athabasca Glacier and work your way back to Canmore with plenty of sights along the way.

Make sure to have a full tank of gas before you leave, as there are fill stations few and far between on the Icefields Parkway.

Scenic Drive Stops along Icefields Parkway

🥾 Hike Toe of the Glacier Athabasca

• Moderate hike about 1 mile round trip, plan for 1 hour here
• There is a small parking lot at the start of the trail, but there is plenty of parking across the street where the guided tours leave from

🧊 Athabasca Glacier or guided tour option

📸 Waterfowl Lakes

🥾 Peyto Lake Panorama View

• You can access the main viewpoint of Peyto Lake just a short paved walk from the parking lot. This hike will give you the best birds-eye view of the Canadian Rockies and is well worth the additional trek
• NOTE: This hike was snowed out in Late May. Be prepared to walk through deep snow or only go a short way up

📸 Bow Lake

📸 Emerald Lake

• One of the most underrated photo spots in Yoho National Park
• Arrive before 4 pm for a chance to Canoe on the lake!

🍦Ice Cream at Lovely Ice Cream & Treats to end the day

Day 3 – Hikes and Rafting

🍽️ Breakfast and Coffee at Wagashi Tea House

• Hidden gem in Canmore located within a local garden center! Don’t forget to say hi to the resident dog

🛶 White Water Rafting with Canadian Rockies Rafting

• Class 2/3 rapids (fairly tame) are perfect for all adventure levels.
• The guides were very fun and knowledgeable, a large portion of the river is slow and wide, which made for easy rafting and history lessons about the area

🥾 Hike Tunnel Mountain in Banff

• Head back to town and get great views of the entire town and surroundings! I did this hike in the pouring rain and still saw amazing views; you can’t go wrong!

🍽️ Dinner at Hello Sunshine Sushi & Karaoke

• Casual meal with great vibes and happy hour

Day 4 – Lake Louise Itinerary

Experiencing the vibrant blue water of Lake Louise is likely top of your list to see, but make sure to plan it correctly to avoid any hiccups!

Parking at Lake Louise is extremely difficult, and it’s recommended that you take the shuttle bus from the park and ride. Book your shuttle tickets in advance HERE.

I recommend booking at least 2 months in advance for peak season. If tickets are already sold out, the park releases more tickets at 9 am CST 48 hours in advance. This is how I got my tickets, and it was crucial to log on right when they opened the window to get the earliest morning shuttle time.

Here’s your ideal Lake Louise Itinerary

🚙 Drive ~1hr to the Lake Louise park and ride to catch the shuttle

📸 View Lake Louise, just a short paved walk from the shuttle stop. Take lots of pics! But note that the vibrant blue color shows up better around midday.

🥾 Hike Lake Agnes Trail

• Best views of Lake Louise! You’ll also pass the Tea House on Lake Agnes, which serves tea (duh) and light snacks. NOTE: The tea house doesn’t open until the first week of June, so plan accordingly!

🛶 Canoe or Boat on Lake Minnewanka

• Rentals on the dock are first-come, first-served. There was no wait around 3 pm. Note that weather conditions like high winds may affect rentals.

📸 Photo op at the Banff Town Sign

🍽️ Dinner at the Rose and Crown in Canmore

• The best summer patio vibes! Check their events schedule for trivia and karaoke

🍦 Ice Cream at the Scoopin’ Moose

Day 5 – Johnston Canyon

By day 5 in Banff, you’re likely to be exhausted, which is why Johnston Canyon gets its own day. Depending on how far into the canyon you hike, you may not need as long, but the end of the trail is WELL worth it.

🥾 Hike Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots

• Johnston Canyon has many viewpoints to make the hike as long as you’d like. Ink Pots is the farthest you can go on the trail, about 7 miles round trip.
• Parking was very limited in the free lot after 10 am, so get there early! There is another lot nearby, but it costs $20 for the day.

☀️ Enjoy your last sunset

• Take advantage of the long days and soak up the last bit of sun before heading home. If you haven’t already visited Banff Upper Hot Springs, now would be a great time to go!

Summary

All in all, Banff is an incredible part of the world worth discovering. Every day presented it’s own unique adventure, but Emerald Lake on Day 2 took the cake. If I were to do these 5 days for the first time again, I would not change a thing.

If you loved this day-by-day itinerary, be sure to check out Big Island, Hawaii 4-Day Itinerary: Volcanoes, Waterfalls & Hidden Gems for your next trip to Hawaii!

Happy travels!