With millions of annual visitors, the Town of Banff has a vehicle congestion problem. By choosing to visit Banff without a car, you’ll be not only be helping the environment and helping the congestion issue, but you’ll also get to avoid the inevitable traffic jams! For those going car-free, we are happy to recommend the best Banff hotels without a car, prioritizing proximity to public transit and top Banff attractions.
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Planning A Trip to Banff Without a Car
Before we get into our recommended places to stay in Banff without a car, let’s take a quick look at the first steps to planning a car-free trip to Banff:
Getting to Banff Without a Car
The Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the closest airport to Banff National Park. Your first step to planning a trip to Banff without a car is to pick one of the convenient car-free ways to get from the Calgary Airport to Banff. You can choose from several Calgary airport shuttle services, public buses and private transportation services.
If you are looking at the cost of renting a car at the Calgary Airport, you’ll be even happier that you are choosing to go car-free to Banff. In fact, going car-free is one of the best ways to visit Banff on a budget.
Find the Best Place to Stay in Banff With No Car
Once you decide how to get to the Town of Banff, your next step is the fun one – finding the best place to stay in Banff with no car. We will help you find the most convenient Banff hotel for getting around town and the national park. We’ve looked at all the ways to get around the Town of Banff and the top attractions within Banff National Park, and have identified the best hotels in Banff for you to stay at.
Getting Around Banff Without a Car
Once you arrive at your chosen car-free hotel in the Town of Banff, you’ll find it easy to get around Banff without a car. Roam Transit is the public transportation operator in Banff. They run approximately 10 different bus routes, which take you all around the Town of Banff, and to other top Banff National Park destinations, including these excellent Banff hikes without a car.
Many of the best Banff hotels without a car offer free Roam Passes. It’s important to note that these Roam passes are generally for local Town of Banff routes only and do not apply to the long-haul Roam routes to Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise or Canmore.
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Top Downtown Banff Hotels (Most Walkable)
The most important location for visitors to the Town of Banff without a car is the Banff High School Transit Hub (GOOGLE MAPS). All the important public transportation options for getting around the Town of Banff and the rest of Banff National Park run through the transit hub.
To help narrow down the best places to stay in downtown Banff without a car, we’ve added an extra search criterion of being within easy walking distance of multiple decent restaurants and shopping options.
The best places to stay in downtown Banff without a car are:
1. Moose Hotel & Suites
BEST OVERALL CHOICE FOR CAR-FREE TRAVELERS
Located right in the heart of Banff Avenue, the Moose Hotel & Suites isn’t just an excellent hotel for people traveling to Banff without a car – it’s one of the best hotels in Banff, period. The Moose Hotel features an onsite spa, an indoor swimming pool and two rooftop hot pools with amazing views!
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Moose Hotel
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 3 minute walk to the Banff High School Transit Hub
- Roam Routes Available at nearest bus stop: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8X and 9
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
2. Banff Aspen Lodge
BEST FOR FREE BREAKFAST
Located right along Banff Avenue, right across the street the Moose Hotel, the Banff Aspen Lodge offers the same exceptional location for car-free travelers, at a more reasonable price point.
The Banff Aspen Lodge offers a wide variety of amenities including two outdoor hot tubs and balconies where you can enjoy the mountain views from your room. While they do not offer free Roam passes, they do offer a complimentary breakfast to guests.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Banff Aspen Lodge
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 3 minute walk to the Banff High School Transit Hub
- Roam Routes Available at nearest bus stop: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8X and 9
- Free Roam Passes: No
- Complimentary Breakfast: Yes
3. Elk + Avenue Hotel
CLOSEST HOTEL TO THE BANFF HIGH SCHOOL TRANSIT HUB
The Elk + Avenue is the closet hotel on my list to the Banff Transit Hub – it’s literally right across the street!
As for its downtown Banff Avenue location, you can easily walk to many of the top shops and restaurants. If you are interested in some self-catering while in Banff, you’ll love that the IGA supermarket is right across the street from the Elk + Avenue!
If you wish to enjoy any of the top Banff attractions offered by Pursuit, such as the Banff Gondola or the Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise, Pursuit has an Adventure Centre in the hotel.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Elk + Avenue
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 1 minute walk to the Banff High School Transit Hub
- Roam Routes Available at nearest bus stop: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8X and 9
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
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4. Banff Ptarmigan Inn
As with the Elk + Avenue, the Banff Ptarmigan Inn is even closer to the Banff High School Transit Hub than the first two hotels on this list!
In addition to it’s very walkable downtown Banff location, the Banff Ptarmigan Inn offers free transit passes, a steam room, a sauna and two indoor hot tubs. I like that guests of the Banff Ptarmigan Inn enjoy the ‘Key to Banff Savings Program’, which gives you discounts at many Banff restaurants, shops and attractions.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Banff Ptarmigan Inn
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 2 minute walk to the Banff High School Transit Hub
- Roam Routes Available at nearest bus stop: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8X and 9
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
5. Banff Park Lodge
QUIET BUT CENTRAL DOWNTOWN BANFF LOCATION
Located on Lynx Avenue, the Banff Park Lodge has an enviable location on the shores of the beautiful Bow River and is just two blocks away from transit stops on Banff Avenue. I’ve stayed at the Banff Park Lodge several times and I like how it’s only a 1 – 2 minute walk away from tons of great restaurants and shopping on Bear Street. Enjoy a swim in their heated indoor pool, or a dip in their large hot tub.
Even with their great location and lots of amenities, the Banff Park Lodge made our list of the best affordable places to stay in Banff.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Banff Park Lodge
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 6 minute walk Downtown Wolf West Stop (only 7 minutes to the Hub)
- Roam Routes Available at nearest bus stop: 1, 2 and 4 (the other routes are only 1 more minute away at the Transit Hub)
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
Banff Vacation Rentals
There’s a good chance that if you are visiting Banff without a car that you will want the option to do some self catering too. Vacation rentals are tightly regulated in the Town of Banff, but there are still several Banff Airbnb options to choose from. The most walking friendly Banff vacation rentals can be found 1-2 blocks east or west of Banff Avenue, between Wolf Street and Buffalo Street.
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Tunnel Mountain Hotels (Quiet + On Route 2)
The Tunnel Mountain hotel district appeals to visitors who are looking for a quieter, wilderness setting. Despite having a tranquil, forested setting on the lower slopes of Tunnel Mountain, it’s only a 6-minute bus ride on Route 2 to downtown Banff.
For the car-free traveler to Banff, staying at a hotel on Tunnel Mountain is a bit more inconvenient than the hotels listed above, but if you are looking to get away from it all, it’s worth it.
All three of our recommended Tunnel Mountain hotels offer free Banff Roam bus tickets to guests.
1. Tunnel Mountain Resort
WILDERNESS SETTING – BUS STOPS AT THE RESORT
I’ve stayed at the Tunnel Mountain Resort many times and love the wild, forested wilderness setting. Enjoy sweeping mountain views of Banff National Park from your balcony or patio at the Tunnel Mountain Resort.
Kids will enjoy the playground and indoor swimming pool, making the Tunnel Mountain Resort one of the best kid-friendly hotels in Banff. If you’d prefer a more rustic feel, the Tunnel Mountain Resort also has several Banff cabins to rent.
There’s a Roam Route 2 bus stop right in front of the Tunnel Mountain Resort.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Tunnel Mountain Resort
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 0 minutes. The Tunnel Mountain Hotels bus stop in in front of the hotel.
- Roam Route Available at nearest bus stop: 2
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
2. HI-Banff Alpine Centre
THE ONLY BANFF HOSTEL ON OUR LIST
The only Banff hostel to make this list of Banff hotels without a car, the Hi-Banff Alpine Centre offers private and dorm style rooms. Guests enjoy an onsite restaurant, along with foosball, billiards and darts. There are not many cheap hotels in Banff, so if you are on a budget, this highly rated Banff hostel is worth a look.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – HI-Banff Alpine Centre
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 3 minutes walk to the Tunnel Mountain Hotels bus stop
- Roam Route Available at nearest bus stop: 2
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets
If you are traveling to Banff without a car, you are looking for a convenient location to stay. Despite it’s remote location on Tunnel Mountain, the Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets makes your life easy. With fully equipped modern kitchens, an onsite grocery store, liquor store and laundromat, you may not even need to go to the Town of Banff!
Families also love the Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets. With an indoor play area, the children’s pool and a small pool with two waterslides, it’s one of the most kid-friendly hotels in Banff.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 1 minute walk to the Tunnel Mountain Hotels bus stop
- Roam Route Available at nearest bus stop: 2
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
Luxury Without a Car (Route 2)
Sulphur Mountain, home of the Banff Gondola, looms over the Banff Townsite from the south. One of the best hotels in Banff National Park is found on the lower slopes of Sulphur Mountain. If you’d like a little luxury on your car-free trip to Banff, this amazing hotel is easily reached from downtown Banff via Roam Route 2.
Fairmont Banff Springs
The world-famous Castle in the Rockies is one of the best luxury hotels in Banff. Everything about the Banff Springs Hotel is world class, from its award-winning golf course, the Willow Stream Spa, it’s 6 restaurants and 3 bars, skating rink and bowling alley. The list of reasons to stay at the Banff Springs Hotel could go on and on…
And yes, the Banff Roam bus goes right to the Banff Springs Hotel.
Worried about the cost of a stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs? Check out our review of the most affordable room at the Banff Springs and read our best tips for finding a deal at the Fairmont.
Car-Free Convenience Checklist – Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
- Distance to nearest bus stop: 0 minutes – the Banff Springs Hotel bus stop is right out front.
- Roam Route Available at nearest bus stop: 2
- Free Roam Passes: Yes
- Complimentary Breakfast: No
Read More
Canmore is another excellent option for travelers coming to Banff without a car. Not familiar with Canmore? You can learn more about the differences between Canmore and Banff, then check out our list of the best hotels in Canmore.
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Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hopping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.