The Best Calgary Airport Shuttles to Banff

The Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the closest airport to Banff National Park. If this is your first time flying into Calgary and you want to visit Banff without a car, there are several good Calgary airport shuttles to Banff to choose from.

At first glance, the main Calgary to Banff airport shuttles look similar, so the best shuttle for you will depend on the small details, like where you are staying (the Town of Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise or Jasper), what time you land and how much luggage you plan on bringing.

This guide compares the two major Calgary airport shuttle operators that most Banff travelers end up choosing: The Banff Airporter and the Brewster Express. In this guide, I’ll show you the important differences between them, and what matters most for a smooth arrival and subsequent trip to Banff.

If you are unfamiliar with some of the pick-up and drop-off locations offered by these shuttles, we describe them all in our Destinations page.

This post contains compensated links.

Quick Answers: Which Calgary Airport Shuttle is Best for Banff?

Before we get into the details of each Calgary airport shuttle, here are some quick answers to help you decide.

• Best overall for most Banff visitors: Banff Airporter
• Best for Canmore: Tie – both shuttles include a single Canmore stop
• Best for Lake Louise Airport Shuttle Service: Brewster Express
• Best for Jasper Airport Shuttle Service: Brewster Express
• Best for late-ish arrivals: Banff Airporter

Banff Airporter (YYC to Banff and Canmore)

Best for: Banff hotel drop-offs and the simplest “YYC to Banff” experience.

For most people looking for a simple, reliable Calgary airport shuttle to Banff, we recommend the Banff Airporter. The Banff Airporter is perfect for those who wish to land at Calgary, hop on their shuttle and get dropped off at their Banff hotel with the least amount of fuss.

Providing shuttle service for over 25 years, the locally owned Banff Airporter is the shuttle we personally use for our YYC shuttle needs.

Destinations Served by the Banff Airporter

• Canmore: scheduled pick-up and drop-off is exclusively at the Coast Canmore Hotel.
• Town of Banff: pick-up and drop-off at hotels and home addresses.

Where to Find Banff Airporter in YYC

The Banff Airporter is easy to find in the Calgary International Airport. Their check-in desk is located on the Domestic Arrivals level between exit doors 5 and 6.

Shuttle Frequency

The Banff Airporter operates 11 shuttles a day in each direction – from Calgary to Canmore & Banff, and from Banff & Canmore to YYC. The schedule is published on their website and is easy to read at the time of booking.

The schedule currently shows that the Banff Airporter has the latest departure from YYC (leaving at 22:30) and the earliest departure from Banff (05:00).

Flexibility / Flight Delay Policy

As flight times and travel plans can easily change, one of the best features of the Banff Airporter shuttle is how flexible it is. These flexibility features help reduce stress for first-time visitors to Banff National Park.

For example, you can cancel for a full refund up to 1 hour before your scheduled departure time.

If you provide your flight information at the time of booking, the Banff Airporter will proactively track your flight. If your flight is delayed, they will move your reservation to the next available shuttle automatically.

If you are scheduled to take their last departure of the day, be sure to read their “Last Shuttle” policies to understand what will happen if your flight is late.

Baggage Policy

The Banff Airporter baggage policy allows each passenger two pieces of luggage, plus one carry-on bag. If you are going skiing in Banff, skis & snowboards are allowed, but they must be in a bag, and they count towards your luggage limits. If you wish to bring your bike, it must be in a bike box.

If you are traveling with a bike box, or any other oversized item, you must contact the Banff Airporter ahead of time.

Banff Airporter Reservations

If you are ready to make your reservation, you easily can do so with the button below. However, the Banff Airporter has graciously given our email subscribers a 10% discount on their Banff Airporter tickets. To get this discount, along with many other amazing Banff deals, visit our Banff Discounts page to sign up.

Brewster Express (YYC to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper)

Best for: Travellers going straight to Lake Louise, or wanting a wide variety of stops in the Canadian Rockies.

If your Banff travel plans include destinations outside Canmore and the Town of Banff, the Brewster Express is the easiest way to keep your arrival day simple. Brewster Express offers the widest variety of pick-up and drop off points of all major YYC airport shuttles, including downtown Calgary, Kananaskis, Lake Louise and Jasper.

The name Brewster is synonymous with the history of Banff National Park, having operated in the park for over 125 years! Brewster Express is part of Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit, who operates some of the most iconic attractions in Banff, including the Banff Gondola, the Lake Minnewanka Cruise and the Columbia Icefield Adventure.

Of the main Calgary Airport shuttle options, the Brewster Express is the only one which offers a ride in a full-size, coach-style bus.

Destinations Served by Brewster Express

Of all the Calgary Airport shuttles to Banff, the Brewster Express airport shuttle has the largest selection of destinations. Note, that some of these destinations are only offered in the peak summer months (early May to mid-October).

• 6 Downtown Calgary Hotels: Marriott Downtown Hotel, Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Downtown, Fairmont Palliser, The Westley Calgary Downtown, Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre or the Westin Calgary Hotel
• Stoney Nakoda Travel Centre
• Canmore: Coast Canmore Hotel
• Town of Banff: all hotels and at the Brewster Transportation Centre.
• Lake Louise: Samson Mall depot, plus the following Lake Louise hotels: the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise Inn, Hostelling International Hostel, Deer Lodge and the Post Hotel.
• Saskatchewan Crossing
• Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre
• Sunwapta Falls
• Town of Jasper: the train station, plus the following Jasper hotels: the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Astoria Hotel, Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites, Chateau Jasper, Lobstick Lodge, Marmot Lodge, Forest Park Hotel, The Crimson, Tonquin Inn, Whistler’s Inn.

Where to Find Brewster Express in YYC

The Brewster Express airport shuttle is also found on the Domestic Arrivals level between exit doors 5 and 6. It’s essentially right next to the Banff Airporter.

Shuttle Frequency

The Brewster Express airport shuttles run every 90 minutes. The stops offered on each run varies with time of day and the season. Given the wide variety of pickup and drop-off locations offered by the Brewster Express airport shuttle, we encourage you to read the schedule carefully.

Summer Airport Shuttle Schedule

In the peak summer season, the Brewster Express operates 9 daily airport shuttles between YYC and Canmore and the Town of Banff. Most (but not all) of these departures give you the option to go all the way to Lake Louise, and a single daily departure goes all the way to Jasper (including stops along the Icefields Parkway – one of the most scenic drives in the world!). Several of the daily shuttles can also begin or end in downtown Calgary.

Winter Airport Shuttle Schedule

In winter, the Brewster Express also operates 8 daily airport shuttles between YYC and Canmore and the Town of Banff. Several of the daily winter departures offer an expanded list of pickup and drop off points, including downtown Calgary, the Stoney Nakoda Travel Centre and Lake Louise.

Flexibility / Flight Delay Policy

The Brewster Express also has a very flexible policy which allows for last minute changes to your travel plans. Tickets can be changed for free and are refundable up to 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

Baggage Policy

Passengers traveling on Brewster Express may bring two checked pieces of luggage, not to exceed 30 kg (66 lb) total. Oversized items (ski gear, sports equipment, etc.) and additional bags are subject to a surcharge and is subject to available space.

Brewster Express Reservations

If you are ready to book your Brewster Express airport shuttle, you can easily do so with the button below. Note, that you can save 25% if you book a return trip! I’ve also included a link which allows you to make reservations for the Banff Jasper Collection attractions, including the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka Cruise and more!

How to Choose the Right Airport Shuttle to Banff

If you still have questions about which YYC airport shuttle to Banff is the best for you, hopefully these tips will help!

1) Where are you staying?

Banff hotel or rental in Banff townsite: Both shuttles offer drop-off and pick-up at all Town of Banff hotels. For those staying at a Banff Airbnb, the Banff Airporter has the added benefit of home address service.

Kananaskis Country: Brewster Express is the only shuttle with service to the Stoney Nakoda Travel Centre.

Canmore: Both shuttles include drop-off and pickup at the Coast Canmore Hotel – a conveniently located Canmore hotel close to downtown and transportation hubs.

Lake Louise: Brewster Express is the only shuttle with scheduled service to Lake Louise.

Jasper: Brewster Express is the only shuttle with scheduled service to the Town of Jasper.

2) What time do you land at YYC?

If you land in the middle of the day, either of these options will work. Choose your airport shuttle based on drop-off or location convenience.

If you have a late-day arrival, both operators offer a late day shuttle between 10-11 PM. Given the increased risk of a late-day shuttle, be sure to read each operators last-departure rules. Alternately, you could book a stay at one of these Calgary Airport Hotels, and then take a Banff airport shuttle the next day.

3) How tight is your connection between landing and shuttle departure?

If your flight lands close to a shuttle departure, build in time to deplane, baggage claim, customs (if international), and the walk to the desk.

If it seems too tight for comfort, we advise that you book the next, more comfortable departure. If you make it to the desk in time for the earlier departure, there’s always a chance you can get on it. This is the strategy we use, and we have had success getting on the earlier shuttle.

Calgary Airport Shuttle Tips

If you are travelling to Banff National Park during the peak summer or Christmas seasons, we strongly recommend making your Calgary airport shuttle bookings as early as possible.

When booking your airport shuttle from Calgary to Banff, be sure to factor in time to clear customs (if necessary) and to collect your bags. Guidance from the YYC airport shuttle companies states to plan on 30 minutes to clear customs, and another 30-60 minutes to collect your bags. These are estimates based on typical experiences and are subject to change on your travel day.

If you are travelling in winter, your chances of encountering inclement weather increases. In these conditions, your safety will always come first, and the shuttle drivers will slow down to a safe speed, potentially resulting in a later than planned arrival. Give yourself some extra time, especially on your way back to YYC.

Local Tip: No matter which airport shuttle you take, your drive into Banff National Park will include some amazing scenery. Bring an entertaining and educational Banff tour guide into your car with the GuideAlong app. Visit our Banff Discounts page to get 15% off your Banff audio guide.

Additional Banff Without a Car Resources

If you want more help planning your full no-car Banff trip, start with: How to get to Banff without a car. Then you can learn the best Banff hotels without a car, how to get around Banff without a car, and the best Banff hikes you can do without a car.

Final Thoughts – YYC Airport Shuttles to Banff

For those who do not wish to drive themselves, taking a Calgary Airport shuttle to Banff is the easiest way to travel. Both of these excellent operators have been safely and efficiently transporting travellers from YYC to Banff for decades. Not matter which one you choose, you are in good hands.

FAQ – Calgary Airport Shuttle to Banff