How to Plan the Ideal One Day in Banff Itinerary
While I recommend staying longer than one day in Banff, if you’re pressed for time, I have put together my ideal one day Banff itinerary to help you experience the best of Banff National Park!
This itinerary will cover the most iconic sights and experiences, ensuring you get the most out of your short trip to Banff!
Let’s dive into the best way spend your day in Banff!
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One Day in Banff Itinerary
After spending a week in Banff, I have crafted the ideal one day in Banff itinerary to help you see the most iconic sights in a short amount of time.
While it’s ambitious to fit all of these things into a single day, depending on how much time you spend at each location and the hikes you choose to do, it can done with an early start and plenty of energy!
Either way, this guide can help you plan your trip, ensuring you don’t miss the highlights and make the most of your short time!
Visit Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
To kickstart your one day in Banff, I recommend starting your day early by visiting both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
Depending on when you’re visiting, Moraine Lake might not be accessible.
Here’s what you need to know about accessibility and transportation:
Moraine Lake Accessibility
- Open Season: Moraine Lake becomes accessible via Moraine Lake road usually from early June through mid October. You can check the current dates on the Parks Canada website.
- Transportation: During early June through mid October, you can reach Moraine Lake only by shuttle bus or biking, as personal vehicles are not allowed.
- Shuttle Buses: The best option to save time and energy.
- Biking: Not recommended if you only have one day, as the bike ride can take up half of your day.
If you’re visiting outside of these dates, when Moraine Lake road is not accessible, you can still visit Lake Louise year-round.
Lake Louise Accessibility
- Year-Round Access: Lake Louise is open year-round.
- Off-Season (Mid-October to Mid-May): Shuttles are not in operation during this time. You can check current shuttle opening and closing dates here. During this time, I recommend driving your own vehicle to Lake Louise and parking there. Parking is free during this time and spots are usually available.
- Peak Season (Mid-May to Mid-October): During this time, shuttles are available and recommended to avoid parking issues. During these dates, parking costs $36.75 CAD, and the lot can fill up quickly. Check out the shuttle operation dates here.
Shuttles to Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
When Moraine Lake is open (early June to mid-October), many shuttle options go to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
This is a convenient way to see two of Banff’s most iconic lakes without worrying about parking at Lake Louise.
Due to high demand, I recommend booking shuttle reservations in advance.
Here a few shuttle options I recommend:
- Parks Canada Shuttles – The Parks Canada shuttles give you the option to visit both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise with flexible arrival and departure times. They seem to be the hardest to get a reservation for and are the cheapest.
- Moraine Lake Bus Company – They offer shuttles to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
- Fairview Limousine – Another local company that offers shuttles to both lakes.
- Small Group Tour – This is a good option if you do not need a long amount of time at each of the lakes. This is guided tour that offers 30 minute stops at both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
What to Do at Moraine Lake
Once at Moraine Lake, head to the Rockpile Trail.
It’s a short and easy hike that offers the best views of Moraine Lake and the surrounding mountain peaks.
When you’re facing Moraine Lake from the parking lot, you will see a wooden sign off to the left pointing to the Rockpile trail.
The trail is only about a half mile round trip, but the view from the top of the rockpile is absolutely breathtaking, with the turquoise lake surrounded by the beautiful mountain peaks.
If you’re looking for a longer hike, I also recommend the Consolation Lakes trail which is 4 miles roundtrip.
What to Do at Lake Louise
Once you are done at Moraine Lake, make your way to Lake Louise and hike the Lake Agnes Trail.
This moderate hike is about 4.5 miles round trip and takes you through a beautiful forest, past Mirror Lake, and up to the charming Lake Agnes Tea House!
Please keep in mind that the Lake Agnes Tea House is only open seasonally from early June to mid October. Check their Instagram or Facebook for current updates.
It is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and they are cash only. Be sure to bring some Canadian cash with you if you want a treat from the teahouse – which you definitely should!
If you’re looking for a shorter and easier hike, you can walk the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail which is flat and takes you along one half of the lake.
Lunch at the Trailhead Cafe
You have probably worked up quite the appetite after spending a few hours at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise!
I recommend grabbing a bite to eat at the Trailhead Cafe which is close to Lake Louise.
This cozy spot offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps, and baked goods. They only have a handful of small tables inside, but you can grab the food to go as well.
It’s a great place to grab a quick and delicious lunch before continuing your sightseeing.
I highly recommend the iced maple latte, spicy chicken caesar wrap, and their berry crumble bar. Everything was so good!
Peyto Lake
After lunch, you will drive up the Icefields Parkway to reach Peyto Lake.
Icefields Parkway is arguably one of the most beautiful highways in the world, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take photos of the surrounding mountains.
Once you have arrived at the Peyto Lake parking lot, you will have a short hike to the Peyto Lake Viewpoint.
The trail is only about 1 mile round trip and is relatively easy. From the viewpoint, you’ll get an incredible view of the lake, which is shaped like a wolf’s head and is known for its bright blue color.
The whole visit only takes around 45 minutes, making it an easy stop to add to your one day in Banff itinerary!
Bow Lake
After taking in the breathtaking views of Peyto Lake, continue your journey along the Icefields Parkway to Bow Lake.
The drive is short, only about 30 minutes, but offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
Bow Lake is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park and is known for its turquoise-colored waters.
Once you arrive, I recommend taking some time to walk along the shore and enjoy the surrounding nature.
For those looking for a bit more adventure, consider hiking the Bow Glacier Falls Trail.
This moderate trail is about 5.5 miles round trip and takes you through a beautiful alpine forest.
The trail follows the shoreline of Bow Lake before continuing upward towards the falls, offering fantastic views along the way.
The waterfall itself is a spectacular sight!
Explore Downtown Banff
In the afternoon, head back to the town of Banff.
While there, take some time to explore the charming streets that are filled with cafes and shops to browse.
You can also take the relatively short walk to Bow Falls Viewpoint which is accessible from downtown Banff, no need to drive!
Dinner at Lupo
For dinner, I highly recommend dining at Lupo, an Italian restaurant known for its delicious pasta!
It was our favorite restaurant in Banff!
It is slightly pricier than other restaurants in Banff, but well worth the cost.
If you visit between 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Monday – Thursday) or 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Friday – Sunday), they have a happy hour where they offer $16 pizza and pasta.
I highly recommend the Agnolotti truffle pasta if you’re truffle lover – it was the best pasta dish I have ever had!
Beavertails for Dessert
No trip to Banff is complete without having a beavertail for dessert!
Therefore, be sure to end your one day in Banff with a sweet treat from Beavertails.
These delicious pastries are a Canadian classic, and you can choose from a variety of toppings!
Conclusion
I hope this one day Banff itinerary has helped you craft your own itinerary to ensure you don’t miss out on the iconic sights!
While you can barely scratch the surface of Banff National Park in a single day, you can still experience plenty of the iconic sights!
Helpful Tips For Planning Your Trip to Banff
- Recommended Activities: I highly recommend checking out the Banff Gondola, Via Ferrata, White Water Rafting, and Lake Minnewanka Cruise.
- Best Hikes in Banff: Plain of Six Glaciers, Little Beehive & Big Beehive, Johnston Canyon, Peyto Lake, Tunnel Mountain – read more on my best hikes in Banff blog post!
- Where to Stay in Banff: I loved our stay at the Banff Inn and would 100% recommend! The Canalta Lodge and Moose Hotel & Suites are great options too.
- Rental Car: If you’re wanting to get a rental car in Banff, I recommend using Expedia or Rentalcars.com for the best deals!
- Flights: Look for the best flight deals using Aviasales.
- Airport Transfer: Use the Banff Airporter to get you from the Calgary Airport to your hotel in Banff if you don’t have a rental car.
- No Rental Car: If you don’t have a rental car, consider using the Hop-On and Hop-Off Bus or joining a guided tour of the most popular sights.
