Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is a bucket list destination for many travelers. And for good reason. Majestic mountains and unbelievably blue lakes make for spectacular scenery. It’s one of those places where photos don’t do it justice. You really have to see with your own eyes to fully appreciate it. Our itinerary had us exploring Banff in 3 days, which is plenty of time to experience this area.
In the summer of 2019, we did the ultimate double-date to Banff with another couple we are friends with. Together, we drove from Illinois all the way to Alberta. While it definitely was a lot of driving, road tripping allowed us to check out many other points of interest along the way to and from Banff, such as Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Glacier National Park, and the cities of Fargo, Winnipeg and Saskatoon.
WHERE TO STAY?
During our time in the Banff area, we stayed at the Falcon Crest Lodge in Canmore, Alberta through an Airbnb reservation. This was a great place to stay with access to hot tubs, underground parking and a fitness center. We definitely recommend staying in Canmore for a Banff vacation. It is another beautiful mountain town in the Canadian Rockies but without the higher prices of its more well-known neighbor. It is only about a 20 minute drive away, and if you don’t want to worry about parking in downtown Banff, public bus transportation is available.
If you’re looking at accommodations, try to book a reservation that comes with a parks pass. This was a great perk that allowed us to quickly drive through the national park entrances. There was another reason we loved the town of Canmore, but you’ll have to read on to find out why!
In this post series, we share how we spent 3 incredible days at Banff National Park and its surrounding areas visiting the attractions on the map above. It doesn’t matter which order you do these days in, so adapt it to what your family wants to see and do. Through sharing our experiences, we hope to inspire and help you plan your dream trip to Banff!
What are you looking most forward to seeing or doing in Banff? Let us know in the comments below!