Where to stay in Banff

TravelResources

Jun 25

This guide will go over where to stay in Banff National Park. There are so many options like luxury hotels, motels, hostels, campgrounds, and cabins! The purpose of this guide is to help you narrow down what area to stay in, what type of accommodation you’d like to book, and my personal suggestions. Let’s dive in!

WHERE TO STAY IN BANFF - AREAS

Town of Banff

Located right in the national park, the Town of Banff is a fantastic choice! During the busy seasons, this town is full of life and action. If you love food, drinks, music, and shopping then the Town of Banff is a great place to stay. There’s so much charm in this town that makes it one of my favourite places to escape to.

Pros

Lots of hotel choices
Great restaurant, pub, and café choices
Shopping
Life of the party
Nearby trails

Cons

Difficult to find parking during the busy season
Expensive
Busy

Check out my guide on the best pubs in Banff here.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is a small hamlet in the middle of Banff National Park. It’s located north of the Town of Banff. Although Lake Louise has many options for accommodations and dining, it’s a bit quieter than Banff. It feels more like a resort village than an actual town. This is perfect for the couple who wants to feel right in the middle of the mountains and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Pros

Lots of hotel choices
Camping options
Right next to Lake Louise
Great dining
Quiet
Nearby trails

Cons

~57km drive away from the Town of Banff
Expensive

Canmore

Canmore is a town that’s located outside of Banff National Park and in Kananaskis Country. In the past many have chosen to stay in Canmore while touring Banff for it’s cheaper accommodation and quietness. However, in the recent past Canmore has blown up in popularity with locals and even international tourists. Canmore is still one of my favourite areas to stay in because of great dining and town charm. Canmore used to be the quieter of the villages in the area, but it’s just as lively as the Town of Banff now!

Pros

Many hotel choices
Better Airbnb options
Great restaurant, pub, and cafe choices
Local breweries in town
More locals
Nearby trails

Cons

Getting busier and more expensive
~25km drive away from the Town of Banff
Not located directly in Banff National Park

TYPE OF BANFF ACCOMMODATION

Luxury Hotels

There is no lack of luxury hotels in Banff. If I’m being honest, you have to stay at a luxury hotel in Banff at least once! It’s a full experience rather than just a place to sleep and store your luggage. Here are some luxury hotels:

Fairmont Banff Springs - my favourite!
Rimrock Resort
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Peaks Hotel and Suites - opened 2021 making it the newest luxury hotel in the area

Mid-range Hotels

There are many mid-range hotels to choose from in Banff. Here are a few located right in the Town of Banff:

Budget

Even budget hotels in the national park are expensive during the busy season. Yet, they are more affordable than the luxury and mid-range hotels. What makes these hotels more budget friendly is that they’re further away from the Town of Banff’s downtown. But a 5 to 10 minute walk in the mountains isn’t something I hear too many complain about!

Here are just a few to consider:

Camping

Camping is a fantastic alternative to staying in a hotel! However, most national park campsites fill up within the first day that scheduling is available. There are some private campgrounds that may have more availability, as well as some campgrounds that run by first come first serve rules. If you’re thinking about camping, do your research and book as soon as possible.

Here are a few campsites to check out:

Lake Louise Campground
Tunnel Mountain Campground

Find more information on booking a national park camping site here.

Glamping

So you want to camp but you also want a bit more comfort and convenience. There are glamping options for you that will provide a unique experience.

Check these out:

oTENTik

Find more glamping options here.

Cabins

Nothing screams the ultimate Rocky Mountain experience than staying in a cabin! There are many available throughout the national park. Here are a few worth checking out:

Airbnb

I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to Airbnb. I prefer having an entire place to myself and updated furniture for a price lower than hotels. This is rarely the case in Banff. Most Airbnb’s in Banff will cost the same, if not more than hotels. But if you’re looking for a place to lie your head at night and don’t care what it looks like, there are many great options on Airbnb!

Here are a few options to consider right in the Town of Banff:

My tip for you is to check out Canmore! Their Airbnb options are more of what you’d expect to find.

Hostels

There are hostels available at Lake Louise, the Town of Banff, and Canmore. A hostel is for you if you want to save money on accommodation.

Check out these three:

PERSONAL SUGGESTIONS

I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to my accommodation. I don’t need luxury, but I appreciate updated furniture and clean spaces. Here are my favourite places to stay:

Now that you know where to stay in Banff, where are you booking?