5 Days in Banff with Kids: A Realistic Itinerary
This 5-day Banff and Canmore itinerary is based on our family trip and focuses on what actually works with kids—balancing the must-see highlights with time to slow down so the experience stays enjoyable from start to finish.
Day 1: Arrival & Bow River Loop Trail
This post contains affiliate links; I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full Disclosure
1.Arrive in Calgary (adjust timing to your trip).
2. Drive to Canmore, enjoying the scenic, easy highway (about 1 hour 20 minutes).
3. Stretch your legs with the Bow River Loop Trail: a 2-km flat gravel loop that crosses the river at the Canmore Pedestrian Bridge and returns at the Canmore Engine Bridge. There are spots to reach the riverbed, and kids loved tossing rocks—so it’s a great way to reset after travel without committing to a full hike.
4. Check into your accommodations in Canmore, or continue on to Banff (about 20 more minutes).
If you’re still deciding where to stay, you can read my Banff vs. Canmore comparison.
You can browse family-friendly stays in Canmore or Banff here to get a sense of layout, location, and pricing.
5. Before settling in, pick up groceries or arrange a grocery pickup to make the first night easy.
6. End with a simple dinner and a relaxed evening.
Day 2: Moraine Lake & Lake Louise (Shuttle Day)
This is the most planning-heavy day of the trip, and the one that benefits the most from getting an early start. It’s also one of the most memorable days of the trip, so it’s worth getting right.
If you’re coming from the East Coast, lean into the time change. Waking up early will feel natural, and it gives you a real advantage in the park.
Start the morning slowly at your accommodation. Having a rental makes this much easier—coffee, a simple breakfast, and a bit of quiet time before heading out.
Before You Go: Parks Canada Pass
You’ll need a Parks Canada pass to enter and drive within Banff National Park.
There are a couple of options:
• Daily passes
• Annual Discovery Pass
If you’re only visiting for a day or two, a daily pass may be enough. If you’re planning to visit multiple national parks within the year, the annual pass can be worth it.
You can purchase it online ahead of time or at the park entrance, but having it sorted in advance makes the morning smoother. You can check current pricing and purchase passes directly through the Parks Canada website ahead of time.
1. Drive to Lake Louise Ski Resort (Shuttle Parking)
You can’t drive to Moraine Lake anymore. Access is restricted to the Parks Canada shuttle or private tours, and the shuttle is by far the more practical option for families.
You’ll need to drive to the Lake Louise Ski Resort Park & Ride. This is where the shuttle departs—not Lake Louise itself. Even early in the morning, the parking lot can fill quickly, so give yourself a bit of buffer time.
2. Take the Shuttle to Moraine Lake
Booking matters here.
Shuttle tickets are released:
• Months in advance (spring release)
• OR at 8:00 AM (Mountain Time), 2 days before your preferred visit date
If you miss the early release, you’ll need to be ready for that second drop. Planning this for earlier in your trip gives you flexibility in case you don’t get tickets on your first try.
3. Moraine Lake — Go Early, Take Your Time
Start at Moraine Lake first.
This is where timing really pays off.
The drive down to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise Ski Resort (shuttle stop) is about 30 minutes along a very winding road. Plan accordlingly if you have kids that get carsick.
Early in the morning, before the sun fully hits the lake, it’s quieter and more subdued—almost muted in color. As the light comes in, the lake gradually shifts into that bright blue it’s known for.
Walk the shoreline from one end to the other.
• The path is uneven and natural
• Not stroller-friendly
• Lots of opportunities for kids to climb, explore, and move
This isn’t about rushing to a viewpoint. The experience is in moving slowly along the lake.
4. Moraine Lake Viewpoint (Rockpile Trail)
Before leaving, walk up to the main viewpoint.
• Short climb (~5 minutes)
• Classic panoramic view of the lake
This is the busiest part of Moraine Lake. Doing it after walking the shoreline works well—you’ve already had the quieter experience.
5. Shuttle to Lake Louise
From Moraine Lake, take the shuttle directly to Lake Louise. It’s a short ride, but this is where the energy of the day shifts.
6. Lake Louise — Expect Crowds
By late morning, Lake Louise is busy. Very busy. It’s still beautiful, but it won’t feel like Moraine Lake did earlier. Instead of trying to force the same kind of experience, adjust how you approach it.
7. Lunch at the Fairmont (Strategic Reset)
Rather than navigating the crowds along the shoreline, we had lunch at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise overlooking the lake.
It’s worth making a reservation in advance, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend or during a busy time of year.
It’s a splurge, but it gives you:
• space
• warmth
• a calmer way to enjoy the view
8. Return Shuttle + Optional Visitor Centre Stop
Take the shuttle back to the ski resort parking lot. If you have time, stop at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre.
The Parks Canada Xplorers Program is a great add-on for kids:
• activity booklet
• simple challenges
• collectible dog tags
9. Drive Back to Canmore
The drive back is about an hour. After a full day, it actually feels like a break.
Keep the evening easy:
• casual dinner
• short walk if you have energy
• early night
Day 3: Banff Gondola & Marble Canyon
1. Start the morning with a relaxed breakfast at your rental. No rush, but aim to leave for Banff by mid-morning.
2. Head to the Banff Gondola. Arriving around 9 a.m. works well—parking is easy and crowds are lighter.
3. Ride the gondola up and enjoy the mountaintop boardwalk. It’s a wooden walkway with stairs—just pace yourself, especially with the altitude. Bundle up—it’s colder at the top!
4. Have lunch at Sky Bistro (make reservations in advance). It’s a relaxed, scenic meal before heading back down.
5. After lunch, drive about 45 minutes to Marble Canyon BC (in Kootenay National Park).
Remember, there’s no cell reception nearby, so have your route ready.
6. Hike Marble Canyon Trail—1.4 km out-and-back. You’ll cross multiple bridges over the canyon, which the kids loved.
7. After the hike, it’s about a 50-minute scenic drive back to Canmore. Relax in the evening—maybe a simple dinner, board games, and just unwinding as a family.
Day 4: Johnston Canyon & Bow River Falls
This day is intentionally lighter—which balances out the earlier, more structured days and gives you space to slow down while still experiencing a few key spots.
1. Early Start to Johnston Canyon
This is one of the most popular trails in Banff, and it fills up quickly. Arriving around 9 a.m. or earlier makes a big difference in how it feels.
The drive from Canmore is about 40 minutes. As you get closer, the road becomes more of a forest drive—still easy, but narrower and a bit more winding than the main highway.
2. Johnston Canyon — Lower Falls Trail
Start from the main parking lot. The beginning feels like a typical forest path, but it quickly changes as you move into the canyon itself.
• Catwalks built into the canyon walls
• Water running below you
• A more “inside the canyon” experience compared to Marble Canyon
The walk to the Lower Falls is about:
• 1.2 km one way (2.4 km round trip)
At the falls:
• there’s a bridge viewpoint
• and a small tunnel you can walk through to see the waterfall from a different angle.
This part is especially fun for kids.
Getting there early makes the biggest difference. On the way back, it tends to get noticeably busier.
3. Drive into Banff Town
After the hike, head into Banff.
It’s a short drive and an easy way to break up the day.
Spend about an hour:
• walking the main strip
• grabbing lunch
• popping into a few shops
You don’t need a full day here. This is more of a reset between activities.
4. Bow Falls Viewpoint
Bow Falls is less about the waterfall and more about what’s right in front of it. The parking lot and the riverbed are almost at the same level — you step out of the car and you’re basically already there.
Let the kids loose. They can throw rocks, build little rock sculptures, and scamper along the shore while you take in the mountains and the falls around you. After a structured morning of hiking, this kind of unplanned, open-ended time is exactly what kids need — and honestly, what parents need too.
5. Wildlife Spotting (Especially Elk)
The area around Bow Falls and the Banff Springs Hotel is actually known for elk sightings, especially in the fall.
As we kept walking past the viewpoint, the path opened up into a clearing, and we saw a small group of elk grazing along the edge of the trees.
If you do see wildlife:
• stay back
• don’t approach
• take your time and just watch
6. Return to Canmore
Head back to Canmore in the late afternoon.
After a lighter day, keep the evening simple:
• dinner
• relaxing at the townhouse
• starting to pack if needed
Day 5: Grassi Lakes & Departure
This is a shorter, flexible final day—just enough time to get outside one last time before heading home.
1. Morning Reset + Pack Up
Start the morning slowly.
Have breakfast, pack up your accommodation, and get everything loaded into the car before heading out.
This makes the rest of the morning feel a lot more relaxed.
2. Grassi Lakes Trailhead
If you have time before your flight, Grassi Lakes is a great final stop. It’s located right in Canmore, which makes it easy to fit in without adding extra driving.
The trail starts through the forest and gradually becomes a bit steeper, with some uneven and wet sections along the way.
• Not stroller-friendly
• Manageable for kids
• Out-and-back trail
At the top, you’re rewarded with the bright blue-green Grassi Lakes, which feel very different from the larger lakes in Banff.
3. Wildlife Awareness
There was recent bear activity in the area when we visited, and we kept the kids close and made sure no one ran ahead.
Even on shorter, more accessible trails like Grassi Lakes, you’re still in wildlife territory. It’s something to be aware of and prepared for.
4. Drive Back to Calgary
From Canmore, it’s about:
• 1 hour to Calgary Airport
Give yourself enough buffer time, especially if you’re flying out with kids—having that extra margin makes the day feel much less rushed.
More Banff Planning Guides:
Where to Stay in Banff: Canmore vs. Banff for Families
Banff with Kids in the Fall: A Family Trip to the Canadian Rockies
