Summer set to bring much traffic to Banff, and the town has some thoughts about that

With summer approaching, Banff is readying itself for the onslaught of traffic that will inevitably come with the season’s rush of visitors.

The town, an ever-popular southern Alberta tourist destination, issued a release on Thursday afternoon talking tips to keep congestion down.

Thursday’s release said the town, which takes up less than four square kilometres, saw “nearly seven million vehicles” at its two entrances in 2025.

The release said the town sees 24,000 to 30,000 vehicles cross its entrances every day in summertime.

But Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno said “with planning and good choices,” traffic jams and parking shortages are avoidable.

Thursday’s release included the following advice:

Go vehicle-free

You can find transit and mass transportation options at carfreebanff.ca to get to Banff and use transit and shuttles to move around town and the park.

You can also learn about Roam Public Transit at roamtransit.com and find more information at explorethePark.ca.

Arrive later

If driving, aim to arrive after 5 p.m., as “free parking spaces at the Banff Train Station and along Bow Avenue become available in the evening.”

Trails, attractions and shops are also often less crowded later in the day.

Use this entrance

Use the Banff Avenue/Minnewanka entrance from the Trans-Canada Highway to enter the town.

An intersection closed until early July for reconstruction near the Norquay Road entrance means all traffic in this area is being detoured in the meantime.

Keep cars camped

Visitors are encouraged to leave their cars parked at their campsites or hotels and use transit to get to town and get around town.

The town noted Roam “is free from campgrounds into the town,” and “most hotels give their guests transit passes.”

Use the pedestrian bridges

Drivers are discouraged from crossing the Banff Avenue/Bow River Bridge north to south.

The town instead suggests parking on the north side and using pedestrian bridges to get to the south side and taking transit or shuttles from there.

Prices go up for paid parking

Paid parking in downtown Banff now costs $12 for an hour and $6 for half an hour.

According to the town, its paid parking is meant “to stimulate shorter stays downtown, which would increase turnover and availability.”

It also funds wildfire risk reduction work, Roam Public Transit enhancement and cycling, walking, hiking and skateboard projects.

In Thursday’s release, DiManno said, “We sincerely thank (visitors) for the investment.”

The release noted pay parking revenue is more than $6 million annually and is only used for those purposes.