Banff on a Budget - Money saving tips from a local!
Banff National Park is one of the most breathtaking destinations in the world! With towering mountains, vibrant blue lakes and incredible ski resorts; Banff has it all if you're seeking outdoor adventure on your next holiday.
Coming to the Canadian Rockies is a once in a lifetime experience for many people and something that a lot of us are saving for. While travel in the National Park can be expensive, you don't have to break the bank to experience all the adventure and beauty this place has to offer.
If you are looking for a budget friendly approach to your Banff trip, here are my tips on saving money as someone who has lived in this very location for the last few years…
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Accommodation
When visiting Banff, accommodation is going to be your biggest expense and therefore your biggest opportunity to cut down on cost. While we have many beautiful hotels within the National Park, if you are travelling on a budget, they may not be the right place for you. Luckily, we also have a great range of budget friendly hostels and campgrounds in the area!
Camping is generally going to be your cheapest option! Right in the town of Banff, we have Tunnel Mountain Campground which is the perfect place to set up a tent, save some money and connect with nature. As with all campgrounds in the National Park, there is a fee to camp there and advanced bookings are required. In 2023, the pricing for a site at Tunnel Mountain ranged from $29 a night to $40 a night depending on the facilities you require. One perk of this campground is that there is a bus that takes you right into the heart of downtown if you don’t feel like walking!
Slightly further out of town is Two Jack Campground. This location is right by Two Jack Lake which is a beautiful spot to set up! You are more disconnected from downtown out here but there are still buses running in summer if needed! Pricing in 2023 varied from $23 a night to $75 a night depending on facilities.
If you want to camp but are visiting internationally, local companies such as Backtrax rent camping equipment packages for a very reasonable price!
Camping is such a great way to save money while also enjoying the natural landscape and connecting with nature while you are in Banff National Park. Just make sure you book ahead if this is your accommodation choice!
If camping is not an option for you, hostels are going to be the next cheapest choice of accommodation. There are three hostels in the town of Banff. The Samesun, the HI Banff Alpine Centre and the Banff International Hostel.
Hostels are a great way to save money and also meet other travellers. Typically hostels offer the most affordable accommodation when travelling and room options range from shared dorms to private rooms.
If you are travelling solo or with friends, I would recommend dorm accommodation. This is going to be the cheapest option and the most social! If you are coming with a partner, family or just don’t want to share, private rooms in hostels are a great choice as well.
With the accommodation demand in Banff continually rising, you’ll find that the price of a hostel is still going to cost you. The hostel pricing in Banff is some of the highest I have seen across all my travels so preparing early and coming in off season to get lower rates is going to be your best option.
Food
Banff has an amazing hospitality scene and some of the best restaurants I have found across ski towns in Canada! There is such a range of cuisines and approaches to dining here and it can be tempting to want to see it all. As a self proclaimed foodie, and lover of our restaurant scene, it hurts me to say this but eating out every day is going to break your bank.
If you are on a tight budget, getting groceries and cooking your own meals is going to be your best option by far! Stocking up on groceries in Calgary or Canmore may also be more affordable than Banff if you are already coming through those areas. If you are not, I wouldn't bother driving out to them as it is not a big enough difference!
When travelling on a budget, eating breakfast at your accommodation/campsite then packing a lunch to take with you for your day is such a great way to save for 2 out of 3 of your meals. You can then cook dinner when you get back to your accommodation or, if you have room in your budget, eat out.
If you have some flexibility in your budget to eat out and this is a priority for you, I would recommend doing so for dinner. I find the dinner menus and ambiance in town at night have much more to offer than breakfast or lunch. When planning where to eat, check out the website ‘Banff Advisor’.
Finally, Banff is known to be a bit of a party town and if you are looking to go out for a few drinks while you are here… avoid Fridays and Saturdays. Every other day of the week there are specials and drinks will be much cheaper. Sundays are one of the biggest and cheapest nights of the week with 1 oz highballs (vodka soda etc) starting at $4 in most places. Going out for drinks is an easy way to rack up a big bill quickly, so planning your nights out around what's cheapest will benefit you big time!
Activities
Banff has something for everyone and every budget! You can see a lot in the National Park completely free, or you can join guided tours which may come with a significant cost. Some of the best things to do in Banff don't require a ticket, tour or advanced registration so let's talk about those…
Banff is known for its incredible hiking trails, and guess what? They're absolutely free! Lace up your boots and set out on an adventure through the stunning landscapes, lakes, and mountains. You'll never run out of amazing sights to see. AllTrails is the best place to look at hikes in the area. Right in the town of Banff is Tunnel Mountain. This short hike will take you above the town of Banff and give you stunning views for relatively minimal effort. It usually takes me about 40 m to get to the top of this one and it can get windy so be prepared! Other popular hikes include Johnston Canyon, Fairview Lookout, Lake Agnes Tea House and Big Beehive. I would recommend looking into some lesser known hikes as well to really make the most of your time in the area and get to explore without the crowds, there's no shortage of amazing trails, I promise! Boom Lake, Arnica Lake, Surrail Ridge and Tent Ridge are some of my favourites.
Another budget-friendly activity is wildlife spotting. Banff is home to an abundance of wildlife, including elk, deer, and even bears. While you can join a guided tour for this, taking a scenic drive by yourself is completely achievable and a very easy way to save! Head out at dusk or dawn for the best opportunities to spot wildlife and keep your eyes peeled. If you don't have a car you may even be lucky to see animals around town. Just make sure you keep a significant distance, carry bear spray and never feed wildlife.
If the Banff Gondola is on your bucket list, but not within your budget, you can still get the same amazing view and experience without the price tag. Strap on your hiking boots and hike up Sulphur mountain instead. The Sulphur Mountain Trail is very popular and well trafficked. At 10.8 km total and 755 m elevation gain, it will take approximately 2 hours to reach the top. The trail does involve a lot of switchbacks and climbs under the gondola line but once you reach the top, you will have the exact same view and access to amenities as everyone who took the gondola! I have even heard of people riding the gondola down for free after their hike. This is not always the case but it's worth asking!
Alternatively, if you do want to ride up a chair lift or gondola on your visit, I would recommend the Mount Norquay chairlift as the cheapest option. Operating during the summer months, this sightseeing chairlift takes you up over the ski resort and to an elevation of over 7000 ft. Once you reach the top, you have stunning views of the town of Banff and access to an excellent restaurant at the top. There is less to do at the top when comparing it to the Banff Gondola, but if you're going for the views and don't want to hike, it is the cheaper option!
Bundle Deals
If there are specific paid experiences or tours you want to do while you are in Banff, it's worth exploring bundle deals to save money. Pursuit are the company that operate many of the experiences in Banff and Jasper National Park so if there are things on your itinerary that are all operated by them (e.g. Lake Minnewanka Cruise, Maligne Lake Cruise, Banff Gondola, Athabasca Glacier etc) then see if you can bundle and save!
Maligne Lake Cruise - Pursuit
Transportation
Transportation is another cost that adds up when travelling, especially if you are visiting solo! Luckily we have a great public transport system in Banff. The Roam transit system offers convenient and affordable bus services that will take you to most of the must-see spots in Banff. The Roam buses run year round, however there are additional services that run in the summer months. In winter the schedule is restricted and does not operate for some routes. The Token Transit app is the easiest way to purchase tickets for the bus during your stay, otherwise there are machines at the main stops such as the High School Transit Hub.
If you are coming in winter, there are free shuttles to all the ski resorts that leave right from the town of Banff! You can easily make it to Mt Norquay, Sunshine Village or Lake Louise thanks to their regular shuttles. The timetables for these can be found on their respective websites.
If you are staying in hostels, keep an eye out for rideshare sign up sheets. These are a great way to catch rides with people who may already be going to the location you want to go to. Alternatively, Poparide is a rideshare app which is also an option.
For more information about getting around Banff without a car, check this video out:
Time of Travel
Finally, pricing in Banff fluctuates significantly based on the season! For the cheapest accommodation, coming in shoulder season is going to be your best choice. July-September are extremely busy months with the majority of travellers wanting to visit in peak summer. If summer is also your goal, consider coming in May/June or late September/early October, this way you will still get some summer weather but you will beat the crowds (and hopefully get discounts!)
Exploring Banff on a budget is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding! From affordable accommodations to stunning hikes and wildlife encounters, this destination has it all. Hopefully you have found some helpful tips and tricks today. So, pack your bags and get ready to set off on the adventure of a lifetime (without emptying your wallet).
Happy exploring!
