Canmore vs Banff: Where should you stay in the Rockies?

When it comes to visiting the Canadian Rockies, visiting Banff is an absolute must. However, during our years living in Canada, we’ve visited the Rockies several times and discovered more places to visit both in and near the Rockies.

But, is it the best place to stay in the Rockies? That depends on exactly what you’re looking for and this Canmore vs Banff blog post will hopefully help you decide.

When looking for places to stay in Banff, you’ve probably come across Canmore hotels too. Canmore is a little less well known internationally (although very popular with visitors from Calgary and return visitors to the Rockies).

There are a lot of pros and cons of staying in Banff in Banff National Park and Camore just a little further south.

While I have a preference for Canmore, and I’ll tell you why below based on our experience of staying in both, Banff is popular with others looking for something different to me.

Below, I’ve included the pros and cons of staying in Banff vs Canmore. I’ll cover the atmosphere of both Canmore and Banff, the driving distances to the top places to visit in the Rockies, the dining options, accommodation in Banff vs Canmore and also the best things to do near each town.

Is it Better to Stay in Canmore or Banff?

This question really depends on what you’re looking for, but by breaking it down and giving you more details base don my personal experience of staying in Banff and Canmore, Alberta, you should be able to see which will be best for you.

How far is Canmore from Banff?

Canmore and Banff are both in the Canadian Rockies. While Banff actually sits in Banff National Park, about 1.5 hours drive away from Calgary, getting from Banff to Canmore takes around 20 minutes.

The town of Canmore sits slightly to the east of the National Park and is a little bit closer to Calgary.

The distance from Canmore to Banff is around 25km. You drive to Canmore from Banff via the Trans-Canada Hwy/AB-1 W.

You can also get the bus from Canmore to Banff. You’ll want the Route 3.

Canmore to Banff bike trail

Just because you’ve chosen to stay in Banff vs Canmore or the other way around, it doens’t mean you can’t visit the other!

One of the best ways to visit the two towns is to bike the Canmore – Banff legacy trail. The legacy trail from Canmore to Banff is a 26.8 km long, 3-metre-wide paved trail.

The trail was was built to commemorate Parks Canada’s 125^th anniversary and is regularly used by cyclists and runners travelling between Canmore and Banff while enjoying the stunning scenery all around.

To bike Canmore to Banff takes most people around 2-3 hours return. There’s minimal elevation of around 250m which isn’t too bad over that distance. Biking from Canmore to Banff is a unique and fu way to explore the Rockies.

Atmosphere in Banff vs Canmore

Banff

Banff is primarly a tourist town that has a population of just under 8,000 people. Set in the Rockies Mountains (and in Banff National Park if you didn’t catch that).

Since Banff sits inside the National Park, you’ll need a parks pass to stop in Banff (even if you’re just passing thorugh).

You can buy a Canada Parks pass online before your visit, at the park gates as you enter the park from the highway, or from visitors centres in Banff and Lake Louise. You can buy these on a daily basis, but if you’re visiting National Parks in Canada for more than 7 days over the course of a year, it’s actually more cost-effective to buy a yearly pass.

Banff is the center of tourism in the Canadian Rockies which means it’s a very popular place to stay in the Rockies. In the summer months, the crowds can put some people (including me) off the town, but for others it’s the reason they want to stay in Banff.

In summer, the streets of Banff are very busy and crowded. The main streets in Banff have been pedestrianised because of this but it’ll still feel busy. You’ll also find you need to book acccommodation months in advance to secure somewhere you want to stay and restuarants will need booking too.

Banff is a cute town with a beautiful mainstreet that almost feels a little like a frontier town. Whichever street you look down while exploring downtown Banff, you’ll get a view of the impressive Rocky mountains.

While Banff these days is extremely busy and very commercial with plenty of chain restaurats including Mcdonalds and Starbucks and Tim Hortons, as well as tourist shops, it’s still very charming and pretty. If it’s your first visit to Banff, especially for international visitors, you’ll likely be impressed by how pretty it is.

Banff doesn’t have skyscrapers and doesn’t feel like a city. You can still see bears elk and deer around the town especially just before hibernation season and winter when theyre looking for food lower down.

In the summer season, it can be almost impossible to find parking in Banff due to how busy it gets. And, if you do find parking, then expect it to be quite expensive.

On the plus side, because of how busy it gets and in an effort to manage this, Banff does have a good public transport system around the town and the most popular sites.

The Banff bus system, Roam, goes around the campgrounds such as Tunnel Mountain Village, over to some of the lakes and picnic sites and into the town of Banff which means you don’t need to use your car to get around town.

Canmore

Canmore is just outside of Banff National Park, it has a larger full time residency than Banff of about 14,000 people though the downtown core feels a bit smaller.

The town is more sprawling than Banff but is also charming downtown with independent shops, restaurants and plenty of cafes. The Bow River runs through Canmore too and the Three Sisters mountains look to be guarding the town and can be seen from pretty much everywhere.

Canmore wasn’t set up for toursits in the same way as Banff was and so some of the amenities are spread out a bit more. If you’re staying in Canmore, you may feel you need to rely on a car a bit more to get around since things like supermarkets and hotels are more spread out. There also isn’t quite as robust a transit system in Canmore.

When it comes to shopping Camore, there are a lot less tourist/souvenir shops and more shops that you’d need if you lived there such as Hardware stores and supermarkets. This gives it a more liveable feel and you’d be hardpressed to find someone who has visited Canmore and not thought about relocating to live there.

Camore typically gets fewer crowds than Banff, but it’s still a popular destination to visit and is getting busier every year as more people find out about it. However, the crowds of people that you’l experience in the centre of Banff aren’t seen in Canmore.

Canmore vs Banff atmosphere summary:

Banff:

• ✅ More of a buzz: Busier, livelier streets with plenty of people
• ✅ Great public transport system
• ✅ Lots of shopping options from souvenir shops to outdoor stores
• ❌ Some would say it’s too busy (me included) and too touristy
• ❌ Added expense of needing a parks pass to visit (although you’ll likely have this anyway if you’re visiting the Canadian Rockies)
• ❌ More chain stores and restaurants
• ❌ Hard and expensive to park

Canmore

• ✅ Smaller town vibe with more locals around
• ✅ Not as busy as Banff
• ✅ Easier to find parking
• ❌ Fewer options for dining and shopping
• ❌ Public transit around the town lacking, amenities more spread out

Driving times from Canmore vs Banff

Banff

Since Banff is already in the National Park, and is much closer to Lake Louise, it has a definitive advantage when it comes to the time it takes to drive to the top attractions in Banff National Park.

Near to Banff there is the Banff Gondola and Sulphut Mountain, Tunnel Mountain, the Banff hot springs, Vemilion Lakes and the Bow Valley Park Way. Plus, you’re just ‘re 45 minutes away from Lake Louise rather than an hour.

Lake Louise is where many of the main attactions in Banff National Park are found including Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, the beginning of the Icefields Parkway and access to Yoho National Park where there’s Emerald Lake and Lake O’Hara.

In the winter, Banff is better located for skiing too. You have Mt Norquay which is just outside of town and actually has great views of Banff, Nakiska Resort about an hour away and Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Resort too.

If you’re deciding to visit Banff National Park without a car, then it’s a lot easier to do so when you stay in Banff. There are plenty of guided tours that leave from Banff.

The Banff Roam Transit company also provide shuttles around Banff and to Johnston Canyon and Lake Louise. At Lake Louise you can get shuttles to Lake Louise itself and up to Moraine Lake (a shuttle is the only way to visit Moraine Lake as of 2023, you’re not longer allowed to drive!).

Canmore

Canmore is about 20 minutes east of Banff and so if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in Banff and Lake Louise, you’ll need to add about 40 minutes to your daily travel time.

In total, the distance from Canmore to Lake Louise is about 80 km and takes around an hour.

However, the drive is on a highway and it’s usually not gridlock traffic. Plus the scenery along the way is beautiful so if you’re looking for a relaxed town to stay in, the 40 minute drive to me is totally worth it.

Canmore has the major advantage of being the gateway to the Kananaskis Country provincial park.

This park is over missed by travellers to the area, but locals frequently come here for hiking, kayaking and skiing in the winter.

To visit Kananaskis you need to purchase a Kananaskis recreation pass, similar to the Parks Pass for Banff. The two passes are separate so you can’t buy one and then use it for the other.

Within close proximity to Canmore, there are so many beautiful hikes. Some of the best Canmore hikes include Ha-Ling Peak, Grassy Lakes and Tent Ridge. There are also some stunning lakes near Canmore for kayaking and paddleboarding, and the Bow River through the town has plenty of spots for chiling out and cooling off by.

When it comes to visiting Canmore in winter, you’re about half an hour away from Mt Norquay and Banff Sunshine Village ski areas. Nakiska Ski Resort is closer to Canmore than Banff at about 45 minutes drive away.

Summary of driving times from Banff vs Camore

Banff:

• ✅ Closer to many of the best things to see in the Rockies
• ✅ Great public transport system
• ✅ Possible to visit and get around Banff without a car using the shuttles
• ❌ Very hard to park if getting around with a car

Canmore

• ✅ Easier to park
• ✅ Close to Kananaskis Country area
• ❌ Need to add 40 minutes driving time daily for getting to Banff
• ❌ Harder to visit without a car

Things to do in Banff vs Canmore

Banff

Though the main attraction of planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies is the mountains and outdoors activities, Banff has the advantage of having many other attractions.

This can be great if you’re travelling to Banff with kids, or are looking for things to do on a rainy day.

In Banff, you can find the Banff hot springs, a cinema, a couple of musuems and historic sites, a bowling alley and lots of shops. The main museumis the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site.

There’s also golfing, picnic areas and all the beautiful hikes around Banff too as well as picturesque places such as Cascade Ponds, Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka. It’s hard picking the top things to do in Banff as there’s a lot of choice!

Canmore

Canmore too has plenty of things to do though they’re more things you’d find in any town, than specific to Canmore. While Canmore attractions don’t include historic sites and museusms like you’ll find in Banff, there is a rocki climbing gym, a pool and some great shops.

If you’re looking to go golfing in the Rockies, there are lots of options when it comes to Canmore. There’s Silvertip Golf and Country Club, Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club and Canmore Golf and Curling Club.

There are a tonne of beautiful hikes near Cnamore, as well as mountain biking trails and nordic skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre. The Canmore Nordic Centre has 65 km of trails and is where the Canadian Olympic team trains, so you know it’s good.

There isn’t really any mountain biking in Banff since it’s all protected as part of the National Park. So, for mountian biking, you need to go to Canmore. There are plenty of rental places too to gear you up from Canmore bike trails.

Things to do in Canmore vs Banff summary

Banff:

• ✅ Lots of indoor/non mountain activities in Banff
• ❌ No mountain biking or nordic skiing

Canmore

• ✅ Moutain bikingrails + nordic skiing
• ❌ Less indoor activities set up for tourists

Staying in Canmore or Banff: Accommodation

When visiting Canmore and Banff, you’ll obviously need somewhere to stay. If you still can’t decide between the two towns in the Rockies on the other factors included above, perhaps the accommodation will be the deciding factor!

Banff

Banff has a lot of accommodation options but prices tend to be higher for hotels in Banff than hotels in Canmore. Accommodation sells out quicker in Banff compared to in Canmore. Book early espeically if visiting Banff in July or August.

Vacation rentals, like Airbnbs in Banff are limited in downtown Banff, though you can find some if you stay a little outside of downtown, such as near Tunnel Mountain. You can then use the shuttle buses, walk, cycle or drive into Banff.

If you’re looking to stick to a lower budget while visiting Banff, then accommodation is where it gets tricky. Hotels in Banff are very expensive pretty much all year round, though a little cheaper during autumn.

There are a lot of resort style hotels in Banff, and you’ve also got the Banff Fairmont Springs hotel if you’re looking for some luxury.

Another way to get cheaper accommodation in Banff is to go camping. However, be aware that campsites in Banff do fill up very quickly and need to be booked months in advance. I’ve got a full guide to camping in Banff National Park here.

We’ve had luck getting last minute reservations at Tunnel Mountain Campground on two ocassions. It’s not the most picturesque camping location (the Two Jack Lake lakeside campground wins that), but it does the job!

Canmore

Accommodation in Canmore is generally a better price and value for money. There are also typically more options on short term rentals like Canmore Airbnbs and VRBOs since more eople live here and can rent out suites and rooms.

We’ve stayed in an Airbnb suite in Canmore previously and it’s a great option as many have their own kitchen space and/or laundry facilities.

There are also a lot of great hotels in Canmore such as Basecamp Resorts.

Whilst still not cheap, Canmore is cheaper than Banff. So if cost is your main deciding factor between the two, then Canmore is a clear winner.

Summary of accommodation in Canmore vs Banff

Banff:

• ✅ Lots of campgrounds which offer cheap accommodation
• ✅ Lots of choice
• ❌ More expensive
• ❌ Books up very quickly

Canmore

• ✅ Generally cheaper than Banff
• ✅ More optoins for Airbnb and short term rentals

Dining in Canmore vs Banff

Both Canmore and Banff are popular places to visit in Canada, especially in summer and both have lots of great restaurants and cuisine choices.

There are very few restaurant chains in Canmore and many restaurants in Banff and Canmore focus on locally sourced ingredients which is always a plus for me!

Canmore

In Canmore, my favourite restaurants and cafes include Rocky Mountain Bagel which we stopped at before and after our hiking trip to Assiniboine. We devoured breakfast bagels and then order more for the road.

Kain Tayo is also excellent food, which was up there with some of the best restaurants in Vancouver. I think it’s one of the best restaurants in Canmore. They do a kind of Mexican Asian fusion menu as well as super tasty cocktails; I highly recommend eating here whether you decide to stay in Banff or Canmore.

Also in Canmore is Communitea Cafe which is primarily a cafe but they do great, fresh and healthy vegetarian and vegan wraps salads and bowls. It’s a super cute spot too.

When it comes to grabbing a drink after a day of adventure in Canmore or Banff National Park, you should head to Grizzly Paw Brewing. This Canmore brewery also does tasting tours which is a great idea for things to do in Canmore in winter or if it’s raining.

Banff

There are even more options when it comes to places to eat in Banff. Since Banff is a larger town and caters more to tourists, you’ll find a bigger range of cheaper fast-food places as well as high-end restaurats with tasting menus.

Some of the best Banff restaurants are Bear Street Tavern which does great pizzas, Eddie Burger Bar which I found was the perfect restaurant in Banff for a post Lake O’Hara hiking meal.

If you’re looking for a luxurious place to eat in Banff, then check out Eden restaurant in Banff which does tasting menus and really great food.

Summary of dining choices in Banff vs Canmore

Canmore

• ✅ Lots of independent places
• ✅ Good focus on local food and interesting menus
• ✅/❌ Less familiar chain restaurant options

Banff:

• ✅ Plenty of options
• ✅ Mix of cheaper fast-food and luxury tasting menu
• ❌ Having lots of chain restaurants can make it feel too touristy

The Final Verdict – Banff vs Canmore

Essentially, the choice between Canmore vs Banff, comes down to whether you’re looing for somewhere cheaper and quieter, but a bit further a way adding to your daily drive time, or would rather not have to drive so far and are willing to pay more for that.

The centre of Canmore is popular in sumer, but doesn’t quite reach the same level of crowds as Banff does. It’s more laid back and feels more like somewhere you’d want to live, but is further away from Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway which you’ll definitely want to visit during your trip.

While Canmore is my favourite of the two, I think if I was visiting the Canadian Rockies for the first time as an international visitor I’d probably still stay in Banff.

Banff is an iconic destination and it is closer to all the things you’ll want to see.

Places are popular for a reason and you’re going to be wanting to see and do so much in Banff and Lake Louise, that saving 40 minutes of driving time each day can really help you fit it all in.

Last Updated on April 18, 2023 by Hannah