Banff National Park
Banff National Park was Canada’s first officially designated national park, and it is also the most visited.
Situated in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff has rocky mountain peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, a picture-perfect mountain town and village, abundant wildlife and miles of scenic drives and trails. With easy access to pristine wilderness, endless outdoor adventures, and all the amenities you need, Banff National Park is a place you need to see to believe.
Places to Stay While Visiting Banff
There are a number of hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and campgrounds in and around the town of Banff, AB. There is also public transportation available in town. Lake Louise, AB is a neighboring town that also has a lot of amenities.
VISIT Banff National Park:
Park Details
Banff National Park was established in .
| Address | |
|---|---|
| Phone | 403.762.8421 |
| Hours | Open year round |
| Entrance Fee | $21 per family daily |
When to Visit: Weather vs. Peak Visitation
There is no better way to experience Banff’s pristine mountain landscape than to get out there in the snow. Thousands of avalanches occur throughout Banff National Park every year. Visitors wishing to venture beyond the limits of the trails described in this guide should assume that they are travelling in avalanche terrain and should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and equipment.
Using Historical Data to Predict
We crunched 30 years of historical weather and/or park service data to find the best months to visit Banff National Park. We looked for the optimal temperatures, the least amount of snow and rain, and stayed away from peak visitation months if we could help it. All this data then helped us paint a picture as to what the absolute best time to visit Banff National Park is.
Our data shows the best months to visit Banff National Park are September, July, June & August.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Visits | 208,100 | 177,900 | 236,800 | 262,200 | 317,800 | 389,100 | 688,500 | 723,800 | 472,300 | 149,700 | 126,000 | 151,400 |
| Precipitation | 31 | 27 | 43 | 70 | 107 | 131 | 87 | 77 | 57 | 43 | 43 | 24 |
| Avg Temp | 29 | 32 | 36 | 44 | 55 | 63 | 71 | 71 | 62 | 47 | 33 | 28 |
| Max Temp | 40 | 41 | 46 | 58 | 71 | 76 | 83 | 82 | 77 | 63 | 44 | 40 |
| Avg Temp | 16 | 17 | 23 | 32 | 41 | 47 | 52 | 52 | 45 | 34 | 22 | 16 |
| Min Temp | -6 | -3 | 3 | 16 | 28 | 36 | 41 | 40 | 32 | 17 | 2 | -5 |
Banff National Park Road Trips
Many family vacations consist of stringing one or more national parks together during a week-long trip. Creating these types of trips is our specialty! Here are the road trips we've created where Banff National Park is visited.
| Trip Name | Trip Miles | Trip Days |
|---|---|---|
| Jasper, Yoho and Banff | 687 | 9 |
| Glacier to Canadian Banff & Kootenay | 1,035 | 9 |
Other Nearby National Park Sites
From national monuments, to historic sites to seashores and more, here are the other parks closest to Banff National Park.