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How to Book a Trip to Banff National Park

How to · Travel

How to Book a Trip to Banff National Park

See glacier lakes and autumn larch trees in Banff without blowing your whole savings account at once.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $2,500 before anything else
Across the 0% window $138.89/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $2,500 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

Banff is the kind of place that ruins other mountains for you. You get towering limestone peaks, bright turquoise lakes like Moraine and Louise, and air that actually smells clean. If you want the classic blue water and long hiking days, book early in spring for the summer peak. If you want the yellow larch needles turning the valleys gold, aim for late September.

A typical trip runs about $2500 for flights, a decent place to stay, and a rental car to get you out on the Icefields Parkway. Since dropping that much cash in one hit hurts, we need a plan to spread it out over time without paying a dime in interest.

That 0% window is a deadline, not free money, so make sure your $2500 balance is fully paid off before the 18 months are up or you will get hit with interest on what is left.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your window

    Decide if you want summer crowds and long daylight or quieter fall trails with the larch trees turning gold. Lock in your dates early because hotels in Banff book up months ahead of time.

  2. 02

    Book your flights

    Fly into Calgary and rent a car for the hour and a half drive west into the park. Search for flights a few months out to catch any price drops before summer hits.

  3. 03

    Secure your stay

    Look for a spot in Banff town or Canmore so you have easy access to grocery stores and trailheads. Places inside the park proper cost more, but staying just outside saves you some cash.

  4. 04

    Spread out the cost

    If you want to stretch out the $2500 price tag, the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card gives you 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. Spreading that total across the intro window means paying $138.89 per month.

  5. 05

    Grab your park pass

    Buy a Parks Canada Discovery Pass online before you arrive so you can skip the line at the park gates. You will need it displayed in your rental car every day you are parked at the trailheads.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Do I really need a rental car in Banff?

Yes, unless you want to rely entirely on pricey shuttles to get to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Having a car lets you drive the Icefields Parkway at your own pace and hit trailheads early before the lots fill up.

When is the best time to see Moraine Lake?

Moraine Lake road is closed to personal vehicles, so you have to take the Parks Canada shuttle or a commercial bus. June through September are the main months when the lake is fully thawed and that famous blue color is at its peak.

How does the monthly payment work with the card?

If you put the $2500 trip on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, you get 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. Dividing that total by 18 gives you $138.89 a month to clear it out before the rate expires.

Do I need a reservation for Banff National Park?

You need a Parks Canada pass just to enter and park in the national park. Certain high-traffic spots like the shuttle to Lake Louise also require advance booking months ahead of time.