Route details
Distance:
182 km / 113 miles
Driving Time:
2hrs
*Subject to weather and traffic conditions.
Shared Shuttles may take longer
Return Route:
People often ask
Generally yes, but conditions vary. The highway is well-maintained, though snow, wind, and icy patches are common. Winter tires are strongly recommended from October through April.
Yes. Ridebooker sells seats on a scheduled bus from Lake Louise to Calgary as well as Calgary Aiport (YYC). The bus has multiple departures each day and runs year round with set pickup and drop off locations, so check before you book. There is no public transit between Lake Louise and Calgary.
Whilst it is technically possible to take an Uber or Lyft from Lake Louise to Calgary, it is unreliable. There are few drivers that operate in the Lake Louise area meaning that availability can be limited and prices often surge. Shuttles, buses and private transfers are more commonly used for this trip and guarantees price and availability ahead of time.
The drive is 182 km (113 miles) and takes approximately 2 hours without stops. The bus takes longer because of scheduled stops along the way. Allow extra time in winter weather and on busy weekends or holidays, when eastbound traffic into Calgary is heaviest.
For one or two people, the bus is the cheapest option. For groups of four or more, a private transfer often costs about the same per person, with door to door service and a schedule set by you. Both can be booked through Ridebooker.
With a private transfer, your driver will drop off at any address in Calgary. The bus only services set pickup and drop off locations. If you are travelling to the airport please search for trips to Calgary International Airport (YYC), which is a different zone to downtown Calgary.
For flights before 9am, it's often easier. Leaving Lake Louise in time for an early flight can mean a pickup before 4am, especially for US and international departures. A night in Calgary means a short ride to the airport in the morning instead and give you a chance to sample one of Canada's largest and unique cities. Private transfers through Ridebooker can be arranged for pickup at all hours if you would rather go straight from Lake Louise to the airport.
About travelling from Lake Louise, AB to Calgary, AB
Calgary is 182km (113 miles) east of Lake Louise, about two hours on the Trans Canada Highway through Banff and Canmore before the mountains give way to the foothills. Ridebooker offers two ways to make the trip: a scheduled bus, or a private transfer that drops you exactly where you’re going in the city.
The bus is the most affordable option for solo travellers and couples. It runs to a fixed schedule between set stops in Lake Louise and Calgary rather than private addresses. Seats are sold individually and services at the end of holidays and on busy weekends in summer and winter do sell out, so book once your plans are set.
A private transfer works around you instead. Your driver collects you from your hotel, condo or the ski resort at the time you choose, and drops you anywhere in Calgary, whether that’s a downtown hotel, a venue or your own front door. A taxi or luxury sedan suits two people with luggage. A 6 passenger SUV fits a family and their ski bags, while a 14 passenger van or 24 passenger mini bus covers groups and wedding parties. A full SUV, van or mini-bus often comes out close to the price of bus tickets on a per person basis.
Many visitors to Lake Louise spend a night or two in Calgary to experience the city before flying out, especially ahead of an early morning departure. If your flight leaves early in the morning, or late in the day, our Lake Louise to Calgary Airport (YYC) transfers take you straight to departures instead.
In winter, the stretch between Lake Louise and Banff usually sees extreme conditions, with roads typically improving as you pass Canmore. Booking with Ridebooker means a professional driver handles the journey, at a fixed price agreed before you travel.