Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are two of the premier destinations in Banff National Park. Hiking and exploring both areas is high on the wish list of almost every visitor to the park. That’s why you need to plan ahead – so you can visit them and avoid disappointment.
In this blog, I’ll show you how you can get to both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake comfortably in a day from both the Banff townsite and the Lake Louise Ski Resort and Summer Gondola where there’s a Park ‘n Ride.
As a side note, private vehicles are not permitted on the Moraine Lake Road anymore and parking is incredibly hard to get at Lake Louise with 2,000 – 3,000 vehicles turned away on busy days. What a change from 2011 when I moved to Calgary and drove my mother-in-law up to Moraine Lake in larch season with no problem parking at all!
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Where are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake located?
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are both located in Banff National Park – a 90-minute drive west of the Calgary International Airport via the Trans-Canada Highway. The town of Lake Louise is 60 km west of the town of Banff.
From the Lake Louise Visitor Centre, it’s 4.2 km to reach the parking lot near Lake Louise itself. And it’s 14.4 km to Moraine Lake via the Moraine Lake Road. From the Trans-Canada Highway exit, it’s approximately 2.6 km to the Lake Louise Park ‘n Ride at the ski hill and summer gondola.
It’s feasible to cycle to both lakes especially if you start by the Lake Louise Visitor Centre or even at the Park ‘n Ride. If you’re in great shape you could certainly cycle from the town of Banff, but I don’t think many people will want to do that. You can rent bikes from Wilson Mountain Sports in Samson Mall.
Shuttles from Calgary International Airport to Banff and Lake Louise
There are numerous private companies offering shuttle services from the airport to both Banff and Lake Louise. It’s best if you reserve ahead, but there are walk-up locations near the baggage area on the arrivals level of the Calgary International Airport where you may be able to get the next shuttle out.
Companies offering transportation to Banff and Lake Louise from the Calgary Airport include the following:
Banff Airporter (to Canmore and Banff only), AM PM Limo (Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise), Discover Banff Tours (Canmore and Banff), Brewster Express (Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise), Mountain Park Transportation (Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise), Alpine Limo Tours (wherever you need to go), ABest Transport and Tour Services (Canmore, Banff and Moraine Lake), Banff Sedan (Banff and Canmore), and Banff Chauffeur (Banff, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise.)
How to get to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
You can get to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake via Parks Canada shuttles, private shuttles, Roam Transit from Banff, guided tours and by bike.
If you go VERY early in the morning you might score one of the parking spaces at Lake Louise, but there are no guarantees – and parking is $36.75 per vehicle per day, even if you’re only there an hour.
Parks Canada Shuttle
There are Parks Canada shuttles from the Park ‘N Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Area to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Once at either lake, you can take the Lake Connector shuttle at no extra cost, but you will have to show your original ticket.
See the table below for frequency, times, dates and where all the Parks Canada shuttles travel.
Starting pointDates/
frequencyDeparture schedule (MST)Last return shuttleRouteReservations
Lake Louise LakeshoreMay 17 – Oct 14/ every 30 min6:30 AM – 6 PM7:30 PMPark ‘n Ride to Lake Louise LakeshoreRequiredMoraine LakeJune 1 – Oct 14/every 30 min 6:30 AM – 6 PM7:30 PMPark and Ride to Moraine LakeRequiredAlpine StartJune 1 – Oct 14/2 daily departures4AM and 5AM7 PM via the Lake ConnectorLake Louise Lakeshore – Moraine LakeRequiredLake ConnectorJune 1 – Oct 14/every 30 min 7 AM – 7 PM
Lake Louise Lakeshore – Moraine LakeNo reservation needed & free for reservation holders.Park & Ride ConnectorMay 17 – October 14/every 30 minutes7 AM – 7:30 PMLake Louise Campground to Lake Louise community & the Park and RideNo reservation needed & free for reservation holders.
With the Alpine Start shuttle you’ll still have to pay $36.75 for parking at the Lake Louise Lakeshore – and show proof. You will return to your vehicle via the Lake Connector shuttle.
Pets on shuttles
Small pets are allowed on the Parks Canada shuttle (at no extra charge) if they are in a clean, secure carrying crate that is small enough to sit on your lap.
Booking Parks Canada Shuttles
You can book a Parks Canada shuttle online. Reservations open sometime in April – and that date varies from year to year. You can also call 1-877-737-3783 between 8 AM and 6 PM local time to make a reservation.
Rolling window bookings
Spaces on the shuttle sell out quickly. However, more tickets are released in a rolling window at 8 AM MDT two days prior to departure day.
Another Parks Canada booking option
Another option is to use Schner– a company that scans for cancellations and will notify you the minute they happen – depending on what you have signed up for.
Useful info: Wait times for shuttles between the lakes and back to the Park ‘n Ride can be up to one hour at peak times of the day. I never waited more than 15 minutes.
Private shuttles to the lakes
There are many companies offering private shuttles to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. They include the Moraine Lake Bus Company, Fairview Limousine, Three Sisters Taxi, Ten Peaks Shuttles and Tours, Wow Banff, and Mountain Park Transportation.
The Moraine Lake Bus Company offers convenient pick-up locations at Samson Mall and the Lake Louise Summer Gondola. They have a huge number of departure times and offer shuttles starting at 4 AM so you can visit Moraine Lake at sunrise.
Fairview Limousine also offers shuttles to Moraine Lake with free parking at the Lake Louise Inn. They too offer a Moraine Lake sunrise shuttle and can accommodate well behaved animals on their buses for a fee.
Ten Peaks Shuttle & Tours offers sunrise and sunset shuttles to Moraine Lake in addition to the Lake Louise – Moraine Lake combo.
Three Sisters Transportation offers a daily shuttle service between Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake which includes time up at both lakes.
Wow Banff offers a double decker Moraine Lake and Lake Louise shuttle bus. Get on at the Park ‘n Ride at the ski resort and get off at Lake Louise or continue to Moraine Lake. There is a shuttle every 45 minutes to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise and you can board one of these at any time. Shuttles from Moraine Lake back to the Park ‘n Ride are offered every 45 minutes until 5:15 PM.
Roam Transit
To Lake Louise
Roam Transit offers year round bus service to Lake Louise via the Banff Express Route 8X. In Banff, the bus picks up from the Banff High School Transit Hub.
For 2024 the fares for the express bus are $10 per adult, and $5 for seniors and youth. Children under 12 travel for free.
You can make bus reservations online.
To Moraine Lake
To line up with larch season Roam transit offers direct Route 10 buses to Moraine Lake from Banff from September 16 – October 6, 2024. Reservations for this bus will open at 9 AM MST on September 3, 2024. The bus schedule is online here.
Depending on the weather forecast and road conditions, there may be additional bus reservations available on September 30th at 9 AM MST for October 7 – 14th, 2024.
Another option
If you want to visit both lakes in one day – and you’re not part of a tour – then you must either book the Parks Canada shuttle from the Park ‘n Ride OR purchase a Super Pass on Roam. With that you get return transportation on Route 8X or Route 10 AND access to the Park’s Canada Lakes Connector Shuttles.
Guided tours to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Many of the companies that offer shuttle services from the Calgary International Airport to Banff and Lake Louise also offer guided tours.
There are a few additions though.
White Mountain Adventures offers a Glaciers, Lakes and Peaks trip at Lake Louise.
HopOnBanff offers two departure times and from there you can hop on and off as you see fit. They also include a long stop at Johnston Canyon.
Radventures offers half and full day adventures to the lakes as well as private adventures.
Yamnuska offers a half day tour of both lakes for all ages.
I love the hiking tours offered by Joel of Great Divide Nature Interpretation. He offers numerous hikes that will start at either lake, though they won’t be the focus of the outing.
Through Viator you can book many tours – including Banff National Park with visits to both lakes, sunrise tours to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, and a trip that also includes Emerald Lake and stops in nearby Yoho National Park.
Good to know
If you’re staying in Lake Louise
If you’re staying in Lake Louise, you can take the free Village and Campground Connector from the Lake Louise Campground and the Roam bus stop to the Park n’ Ride at the bus stop outside Samson Mall. Departures are every 30 minutes from 7 AM to 7 PM.
If you’re staying at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, there are guest exclusive shuttles to Moraine Lake.
If you have a disability
If you are a person with a disability or are traveling with someone who is AND you have a parking placard showing that, you can access both lakes in your vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis.
Can you take bear spray on a shuttle bus?
Yes – with the safety clip on and stored in a bag or pack while on the bus.
What if you miss the last bus back to the Park ‘n Ride?
The bottom line – you have a problem. There is no cell service at Moraine Lake though you can use the public phone near Moraine Lake Lodge. (Note that taxis aren’t allowed on Moraine Lake Road.)
Whitehorn Road (where the Park ‘n Ride is located) is closed from 8 PM – 6 AM from May till October to allow wildlife freedom of movement.
There are approved on call transportation services available from 8 PM until 7 AM but be prepared to cough up big bucks – in the order of $225 + GST just to get between the two lakes. It’s better not to be late!
Final thoughts
With some careful planning, you and your family can enjoy a full day at both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. I would recommend packing food in recyclable containers and taking plenty of water with you. Don’t forget to pack layers of clothing as mountain weather can change quickly.
For more information visit Explore The Park.
There is food for purchase in a cafe at the Moraine Lake Lodge from 8 AM – 4 PM. At Lake Louise you will find numerous options for dining at theFairmont Chateau Lake Louiseincluding The Guide’s Pantry offering salads, sandwiches, baked goods, and desserts to go.
If you’re willing to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House or the tea house at the Plain of Six Glaciers, then you can purchase lunch or snacks and enjoy a stellar view.
More reading on hikes in the area
Lake Annette – Paradise Valley Hike & Camp
Eiffel Lake Hike in Banff National Park
The Larch Valley – Sentinel Pass Hike in Fall
The Outstanding Fairview Mountain Hike
The Lake Agnes Teahouse – Little Beehive Hike near Lake Louise
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