Calgary to Banff
130 km from the prairie city to the mountain town — the most popular drive in western Canada
Route Overview
This short section is one of the most driven stretches of highway in Canada. The Trans-Canada from Calgary to Banff is a divided four-lane highway that climbs from the prairies (elevation 1,045 m) through the foothills into the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains. On a clear day, the mountains are visible from Calgary and grow steadily larger as you approach. It is the drive that makes people fall in love with western Canada.
The highway is busy year-round. Summer weekends see heavy traffic, and ski season fills the road with Calgary-to-mountain commuters. On a Friday afternoon, the drive can take 2+ hours. Early morning or midweek is significantly faster.
Leaving Calgary
The Trans-Canada leaves Calgary heading west on 16th Avenue NW, which transitions into Highway 1. The first 30 km is suburban, passing through the Bow River valley. Past the city limits, the road opens up and the foothills appear.
This is your last chance for city-priced fuel and supplies. Fill up in Calgary. Canmore fuel is $0.05-0.10/L more, and Banff fuel is even higher. If you need camping gear, MEC (Mountain Equipment Company) and Atmosphere are both in Calgary.
Cochrane
A growing bedroom community 30 km west of Calgary. The Mackay's Ice Cream shop on the main drag has been a highway stop tradition since 1948 — the line can stretch out the door on summer weekends. Cochrane gives you your first clear view of the mountain front on the western horizon.
Canmore
Population 14,000. A former coal mining town that hosted events during the 1988 Calgary Olympics and has since become an upscale mountain community. Canmore is cheaper for accommodation and food than Banff and many locals recommend staying here instead. The main street has excellent restaurants and coffee shops. Ha Ling Peak and Grassi Lakes are popular short hikes. Full services.
Entering Banff National Park
The park gate is about 10 km west of Canmore. You will need a Parks Canada pass to stop anywhere in the park. Day passes cost $10.50 per person (2024 pricing). The Discovery Pass ($72.25 per person) covers all national parks for a year and pays for itself in about a week of visiting parks.
Banff
The town of Banff sits in a valley surrounded by mountains at 1,383 m elevation. Population 8,000 permanent residents, but millions of visitors annually. Banff Avenue is the main commercial strip with restaurants, shops, and hotels. The Banff Springs Hotel is the landmark. The Upper Hot Springs are a popular soak after a day of hiking. Accommodation is expensive and books out months in advance for peak summer.
Wildlife Overpasses
The Trans-Canada through Banff National Park has wildlife fencing along both sides and a series of wildlife overpasses and underpasses. These grassy bridges over the highway allow elk, deer, bears, wolves, and cougars to cross safely. They are visible from the highway and are one of the most successful wildlife corridor systems in the world. Research has documented over 150,000 individual animal crossings since the overpasses were built.
Continuing West
From Banff, the Trans-Canada continues 55 km to Lake Louise and then climbs over Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia. See the Banff to Kamloops route for the mountain pass section, and the BC corridor guide for the full provincial overview.
Quick Facts
- Highway: 1
- From: Calgary, AB
- To: Banff, AB
- Distance: 130 km
- Drive Time: ~1.5 hours
- Fuel: Calgary, Canmore, Banff
- Cell: Good throughout
- Park Pass: Required in Banff NP