Last Updated on 9.3.2026 by Lukas Vondracek
Is it even possible to travel around the huge parks in the Canadian Rockies without a car? And can you actually get everywhere you want to go?
In this guide, I’ll show a few ways to reach at least the most popular places using public transit and tour/shuttle buses — plus how to visit the main towns and get around once you’re there.
All prices below are approximate and can change depending on season and time of day!
I’m not listing every single tour-bus company on the market.
Getting from Calgary to the Rockies
There are a few ways to get from Calgary to the Canadian Rockies without a car — either straight from the airport or from downtown Calgary.
For more information How to get from Calgary to Banff.
Transportation from the airport
Airport transport is usually the easiest option. You simply book an airport bus for a specific time.
You can hop on right at the airport (or sometimes downtown) and it will take you to Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise.
These buses aren’t the cheapest way to travel, but they’re comfortable and they drop you exactly where you need to be. I actually used one of these myself years ago.
Most operators include one bag in the ticket price, with additional luggage for an extra fee.
If you’re traveling with sports gear or a stroller, let the company know in advance.
You can book an airport bus through a search engine or directly using the companies links below.
Prices usually start around $33 CAD, with the cheapest option being FlixBus at $23 CAD — but that route doesn’t run as often as the others.
Airport bus companies
Transportation from downtown
Downtown departures can be a bit cheaper, but keep in mind extra costs to get from the airport to downtown first — $4 CAD for a 90‑minute city transit ticket — plus any transfers between city transit stops and the bus terminal/stop.
If you’re staying in Calgary for a few days, a day pass ($12.65 CAD) can be worth it.
Kids under 12 (inclusive) ride free.
Most airport-bus operators also offer pickups from downtown.
Prices from downtown start around $12.50 CAD per person. Kids and seniors are $10 CAD.
Cheapest operator: On-It
Downtown bus operators
Taxi
The most expensive — and probably the most convenient — option is a taxi.
Biggest advantage: it runs 24/7. But expect at least $150 CAD+.
Public transport in Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise
Public transit in the Rockies is mainly run by Roam Transit.
Some routes are free, others are paid, and some may be covered by hotels (depending where you’re staying).
Roam runs buses within Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, between these towns, and to a few destinations around Banff.
You’ll find all fares, schedules, and a live bus map on the Roam Transit website.
Roam Transit fares
- Adult (19+) – full fare
- Senior (65+) – 50%
- Youth (13–18) – 50%
- Children under 12 – free
In this area, Roam operates routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5C, 5T, 6, 8X, 9, and 12.
A more detailed description of each route and fares is in my article: Public Transportation in the Canadian Rockies.
A few other companies also offer scenic loops, shuttles, and guided transportation to the most famous spots in Banff National Park.
Canmore without a car / with Roam Transit
Routes 5C and 5T are mainly for locals, but you can still use them to get closer to some trailheads.
Route 12 runs in summer to the Nordic Centre, Grassi Lakes, and Quarry Lake. These buses are free.
Route 3 runs between Canmore and Banff and costs $6 CAD.
I recommend boarding line 3 at the 9th Street stop — it’s the first stop, so you’ve got the best chance of getting a seat.
Banff without a car / town with Roam Transit
All buses pass through the Banff High School Transit Hub. It’s the busiest stop and the best place to transfer.
Buses to Lake Louise, Lake Minnewanka, Johnston Canyon, and Canmore also leave from here.
Route 1
- Banff Gondola
- Cascade of Time Garden
- Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum
- Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Banff Park Museum
- Downtown
Route 2
- Tunnel Mountain (summer only)
- Tunnel Mountain Village (summer only)
- Downtown
- Banff Park Museum
- Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum
- Banff Springs Hotel
- Bow Falls (short walk)
Route 4 (seasonal)
- Cave and Basin
- Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum
- Banff Park Museum
- Downtown
- Bow Falls
Tour buses in Banff town
Only one company does guided “city tours” style rides around Banff with commentary.
It’s a fun experience in a modified open‑top vehicle (roof on in bad weather conditions) with a vintage 1930s look.
Prices: Adults $62 CAD, kids 6–12 years $41 CAD.
Banff National Park with Roam Transit
Roam also runs several routes outside the town of Banff.
All of these routes depart from the Banff High School Transit Hub.
In peak season, I very recommend reserving your bus in advance.
Personally, I’d book a few days ahead — especially if you’re traveling with a bigger group.
Route 6 (seasonal)
- Lake Minnewanka
- Two Jack Lakes
- Johnson Lake
- Cascade Ponds
Route 9 (seasonal)
- Johnston Canyon
Route 8X
- Lake Louise Village
- Lake Louise Lakeshore
Tour buses – Banff National Park
Tour buses must be booked through each company’s booking system (you choose the exact tour/destination there).
Destinations
- Johnston Canyon
- Moraine Lake
- Lake Louise
- Takakkaw Falls
- Emerald Lake
- Icefields Parkway
- Columbia Icefield Glacier
- Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Companies
- Discover Banff Tours
- Banff Explorer
- Signature Banff Tours
- Banff Adventures
- Banff Everyday Tours
- Hop On Banff Ltd
- Pursuit
Kananaskis without a car
Traveling around Kananaskis without a car is more difficult than in Banff National Park.
In summer, you can use bus routes from Calgary to Kananaskis Village. Unfortunately, there are no direct routes from Canmore or Banff.
Some smaller adventure companies also provide transportation for organized hikes or rafting trips on the Kananaskis River.
For deeper exploring of Kananaskis Provincial Park, I’m afraid a car will be necessary.
Jasper without a car
There are regular direct routes to Jasper from Calgary and Edmonton, with a few stops along the way.
For all buses, it’s best to book a few days in advance!
You can book directly with each company, or use a route search site like Busbud.com.
Transportation from Calgary and Bow Valley
The bus route from Calgary usually goes Banff – Icefields – Jasper, so you can treat it as a scenic ride too.
Operators recommend being at the stop at least 20 minutes early.
Travel time is roughly 6–8 hours.
Brewster – summer only (May 1 to October 31)
One-way fare is around $140 CAD.
One-way fare is around $180 CAD.
Banff Passenger Transport
One-way fares start from $80 CAD.
Transportation from Edmonton
From Edmonton, several companies run daily services toward Hinton, and the trip usually takes around 4–6 hours.
One-way fare is around $110 CAD.
Ticket price is very similar — around $109 CAD.
One-way fares start from $60 CAD.
Another option from Edmonton is the train.
The trip is about 6.5 hours and tickets start around $124 CAD.
This service is run by VIA Rail Canada.
Jasper public transportation in town
In Jasper, local buses are run by Jasper Transit.
There are 5 routes covering the town and nearby areas.
Buses are free for kids under 12 years old. Everyone else pays $2.50 per ride.
The bus provider also offers passes.
Green Line
- Lake Mildred
- Lake Annette
Orange Line
- Pyramid Lake
- Patricia Lake
Red Line
Teal Line
- Marmot Meadows
- Folding Mountain
- Hinton – West Mall
Town Loop
Jasper Tour Buses
Tour buses from Jasper can take you to popular sights around the area.
Destinations
- SkyTram
- Maligne Lake
- Sunwapta Falls
- Athabasca Falls
- Weeping Wall
- Columbia Icefield Glacier
- Columbia Icefield Skywalk
- Maligne Canyon
Companies
Golden and Revelstoke without a car
Buses to Revelstoke from Calgary go via Golden.
Travel time is around 6 hours to Revelstoke, and about 3.5 hours to Golden.
Direct buses from Calgary (with stops in Bow Valley) are operated by:
Golden from Calgary
- Rider Express – $61 CAD
- Ebus – $67 CAD
Revelstoke from Calgary
- Rider Express – $67 CAD
- Ebus – $77 CAD
Revelstoke from Vancouver
- Rider Express – $87 CAD (about 8 hours)
- Ebus – $103 CAD
Revelstoke Transit – public transportation
In town, there are 3 routes (1, 3, and 5).
Fare is $2 CAD per ride, or you can buy a pass.
Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver.
Route 1
- Residential areas – mainly for locals
Route 3
- Downtown
- Railway Museum
- Riverside Walk
Route 5
- Revelstoke Mountain Resort – skiing, gondola, summer hiking
Tour buses
Tour buses in Revelstoke still aren’t very common.
Because of that, it’s often better to visit major tourist spots from Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper instead.
Summary – traveling through the Canadian Rockies without a car
Canmore–Banff–Lake Louise – Banff National Park and Yoho Park
- Excellent access without a car – buses from Calgary
- Very good public transportation coverage
- A big selection of tour buses and guides
- Easy to travel without a car
Jasper
- Good access without a car – buses and the train from Edmonton
- Excellent local transit coverage in town and nearby areas
- Tour options aren’t as extensive as in Banff
- Still possible to explore without a car
Golden, Revelstoke
- Bus access from Calgary, Bow Valley, and Vancouver
- Public transit is available (mainly Revelstoke only)
- Very limited tour options in the surrounding area
- I recommend traveling by car if you want to explore more
Kananaskis Provincial Park
- Limited transportation – basically only to Kananaskis Village
- Very difficult to reach the park using tour buses
- Car recommended
In the Canadian Rockies, you can get by without a car really easy if you stick to traveling from Calgary into Bow Valley.
I believe you can reach almost all of the popular tourist spots in Banff National Park and Yoho National Park without driving.
Jasper National Park is also doable without a car — tourist transportation is organized fairly well there.
If you want to keep going farther west, I’d recommend renting a car.
FAQ
Is it possible to visit the Canadian Rockies without a car?
Yes, it is. If you focus mainly on Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, and Jasper National Park, you can get to most major places using public transport, shuttle buses, and guided tours.
Can you visit Lake Louise without a car?
Yes. Lake Louise is very easy to reach without a car from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff. You can use bus services like Roam Transit, On-It, or FlixBus (sometimes combined with local connections).
Can you get to Moraine Lake without a car?
Yes — but not with your own car. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles. You’ll need to use Parks Canada shuttles, private tour buses, or go there by bike or on foot.
Can Jasper National Park be visited without a car?
Yes. Jasper is accessible by bus or train from Edmonton, and once you’re there, local buses and tour services make it possible to explore the area without driving.