Shuttles & Buses (Shared Services)
Taxis, SUVs & Vans (Private Services)
Route details
Distance:
144 km / 90 miles
Driving Time:
1hr 45mins
*Subject to weather and traffic conditions.
Shared Shuttles may take longer
Return Route:
People often ask
The easiest and most reliable way is to book a shuttle or private transfer from YYC directly to Banff. It saves you the hassle of renting a car, dealing with winter driving, or paying for parking in town. Ridebooker works with local providers to offer shared shuttles, private SUVs, taxis, and vans depending on your budget and group size.
Not necessarily. Banff town is walkable, and local transit makes it easy to reach Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and other nearby spots. Parking can be limited in peak season, so many visitors skip the rental car entirely and rely on shuttles, transit, or tours instead.
The drive takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions. Winter storms can slow things down, but professional drivers are used to the mountain highways.
Banff has access to three main ski areas on one pass:
- Sunshine Village – big alpine bowls and reliable snow
- Lake Louise Ski Resort – wide-open terrain and stunning glacier views
- Mt. Norquay – close to town, quieter, family-friendly
Together they offer over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain.
Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the closest major airport and the main gateway into the Canadian Rockies. Shuttle and private transfer services run directly from YYC to Banff year-round.
You can stay on-mountain at Sunshine Mountain Lodge for ski-in/ski-out convenience, or stay in Banff town, which has more hotel, dining, and après options. Banff is about a 20-minute shuttle ride from the Sunshine gondola.
Yes. Shuttles run daily from YYC to Banff throughout the year. Ridebooker offers shared shuttles, private SUVs, taxis, and vans — all operated by local drivers who know the route well.
You can, but it’s not a great option. Long-distance Ubers from YYC are hit-or-miss, wait times can be long, and fares often surge — so you won’t know the final price until you’re well on your way.
A dedicated Calgary–Banff transfer gives you guaranteed pick-up times, fixed pricing, roomy vehicles, and drivers who run this route every day. It’s the more reliable and stress-free way to get to the mountains.
About travelling from Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Banff, AB
Banff sits in the heart of the Canadian Rockies surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery Canada has to offer. In winter, visitors flock to the town to ski and snowboard with Sunshine Village, Mt. Norquay and Lake Louise all within reach and accessible on a single lift ticket. These three resorts offer a combined 8000 acres of skiing, light, dry powder and stunning scenery. Sunshine Village and Lake Louise are known for their abundance of snow and varied terrain offering everything from mellow groomed runs to steep bowls and tree-runs, whilst Mt Norquay is slightly quieter, more low-key and very family friendly.
In summer, the town turns into a hub for hiking, wildlife spotting and taking in some of the most spectacular views in Canada. Johnston Canyon, Sentinel Pass, Lake Agnes and the Beehive and the Plain of Six Glaciers are the most popular hiking trails, whilst Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Bow Lake are some of the most photographed world-wide.
Banff’s downtown is compact and walkable with a variety of restaurants, bars and shops to suit all tastes. Banff Ave Brewing Co. offers locally brewed craft beer, The Bison offers Cocktails and wood-fired plates and Whitebark Cafe and Wild Flour are the local’s favourites for coffee. In terms of shopping, you’ll find everything from souvenir-heavy tourist shops to outdoor mountain gear shops like Monod Sports, Helly Hansen and Patagonia. And wherever you stand, you’ve usually got mountain peaks in view.
If you’re flying into Calgary Airport (YYC), Ridebooker can handle the transfer so you don’t need to deal with driving mountain highways or sorting out rental cars. Whether you want a shared shuttle,or a private SUV, taxi or van, our network of local providers makes the trip straightforward. Once you land at YYC, it’s a scenic drive up through the foothills and into the Rockies. By the time you get to Banff, you’ll be set to ski, hike, paddle those glacier-fed lakes, or just wander town and take it all in.