Is Banff Worth Visiting with Kids?
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All photos in this post were taken by me during our trip. I love capturing real experiences to give you an authentic look at what to expect.
Banff National Park is a bucket list destination, but it may not be your first thought when planning a family vacation. The epic mountains, glacial lakes, and the world class hiking and skiing make it an outdoor lover’s paradise, but is Banff worth visiting with kids?
We’ve been to Banff twice now – once without our kids and once with our 9- and 13-year-old – and it was not only manageable with kids but it became one of our favorite family trips to date!
Here’s what we loved, what surprised us, and what to keep in mind when planning a Banff trip with kids.
Is Banff family-friendly?
Banff National Park is a magical family destination. We felt incredibly safe the entire time, and it was easy to navigate as a family. There were loads of good restaurants and experience options that work well for families. We went dog sledding, hiked to a tea house, and really enjoyed the cafe at the top of the Banff Gondola.
Downtown Banff is very walkable with wide sidewalks, and they even close some roads to limit cars during peak months. We stayed in Canmore on both of our trips, but spent several evenings in downtown Banff after our excursions and hikes.
One evening, we were able to walk to dinner at Magpie & Stump, then to get dessert, and then to a movie after dark. We even caught the northern lights at Vermillion Lake on our drive back home from Banff to Canmore.
The parking areas for the most popular attractions and hikes have clear signs and staff to help direct traffic during peak season.
So if you’re asking yourself if Banff is good for families, we’d say 100% yes.
Top Reasons to Visit Banff with Kids
- Adventure is easily accessible. You don’t have to travel far to have an adventure in Banff National Park. Hiking, fishing, climbing, wildlife viewing, and boating are all easy to access from most areas in the park.
- Incredible views with minimal work. Even with younger kids or limited mobility, your family can enjoy breathtaking views. Take a gondola up to alpine meadows, stop at scenic lookouts on short drives, or just admire the views from a local café or grocery store. They’re all stunning.
- Truly unique family experiences. We’ll never forget dog sledding, standing on a glacier, renting canoes on Moraine Lake, and hiking to a tea house. There are so many things to do in Banff that feel like once in a lifetime adventures.
What Surprised Us as Parents
Banff was easy to travel to with our kids. This was our family’s first international trip. We knew that there would be a learning curve for us as parents to travel with our kids in a country outside the US, but it was not nearly as difficult as we expected. Many aspects felt like home, which made it an easier transition for our kids, but different enough to feel like a true international adventure. Banff is now one of our top recommendations for parents traveling internationally with kids for the first time.
We didn’t have altitude sickness. We’ve struggled with altitude in the Colorado Rockies before, so we were prepared for similar challenges here, especially since our son has asthma. We were pleasantly surprised to have zero issues with elevation during our Banff trip.
The crowds were manageable. We expected packed trails, no parking, and long waits during our July visit. But by getting out early or waiting until evening, we avoided most of the crowds. We often found ourselves leaving just as others were arriving. When we went in April, we had several scenic spots all to ourselves and were able to stay as long as we liked.
The early morning Moraine Lake shuttle was totally worth it, but it sold out fast. When we visited without the kids, we booked the earliest shuttle through the Parks Canada system. We weren’t sure if getting up that early would be worth it, but being first to the lake meant we were also first in line for the canoes. We got to enjoy Moraine Lake at sunrise – quiet, uncrowded, and absolutely stunning.
We were surprised at how quickly the shuttle tickets sold out. We bought ours on the day Parks Canada released the 2024 summer tickets, and they were completely gone by the end of the day.
The kids are already asking to go back. We absolutely adored our summer week in Banff and knew it was the perfect place to take our kids. What we didn’t expect was just how much they would love it. Before we were even home they were asking when we could go back, and they’ve already decided they want to visit in every season.
Tips for Making the Most of Banff with Kids
Managing Expectations
Planning a realistic itinerary is one of the ways we make traveling with kids easier. Know your kids’ energy and interest levels and plan accordingly. If they aren’t interested in historic buildings, don’t spend hours at the Fairmont. We always make sure there’s something everyone is excited about on our itineraries, but we are conscious of everyone’s tolerance levels. In our experience, getting a snack before an excursion helps with patience levels.
Packing Tips
A solid pair of hiking shoes or boots is a necessity if you’re hitting the trails in Banff. Think ahead to the excursions you have booked and what you’ll need for each one. If you’re short on luggage space, consider renting gear locally. There are lots of outfitters in the area.
Weather Changes Quickly
Conditions in Banff can shift dramatically throughout the day. Layers are the easiest way to stay comfortable, no matter what the skies decide to do. Rainstorms (and even snowstorms in higher elevations) can come quickly in the national park, even in summer. Make sure you have a daypack with a rain jacket or a light jacket for those surprise storms. It’s always a good idea to check the forecast each morning to make sure your planned adventures are still safe.
Transportation
We highly recommend renting a car for your family trip to Banff. While there are shuttles available, having a rental car gave us way more flexibility, especially for early hikes, scenic drives, and spontaneous aurora chasing at night.
Where to Stay
We stayed in Canmore on both of our trips, and staying just outside of the city was a great budget saver for us. The drives to the excursions were still very doable, and it even opened up more adventures in Canmore. The dog sledding adventure was based in Canmore, and some of our favorite memories were on the local Canmore sledding hill. We stayed in VRBO rentals both times and loved having a bigger space, common areas to hang out in, access to laundry machines, and a full kitchen to cook and save money. Staying in Banff also has its perks, like walking to restaurants and shops, and having shorter commutes to popular hikes and activities.
Food and Meal Planning
Typically, we eat breakfast at our rental, pack a picnic lunch for the adventures of the day, and eat out for dinner. This was very doable in Canmore and Banff, and made the trip more affordable. We loved shopping in the local grocery stores and seeing what was familiar and what was new! Some of our favorite restaurants in Canmore were Das Schnitzelhaus, Red Rock Pizza Company, Marra’s Way Sushi, and Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.
Scheduling
Now that our kids are older, we typically plan 1-2 big adventures each day. When they were younger, we only planned one activity per day. Even now, we make sure there’s plenty of time in our day for exploration, rest, and play. Know your people and consider them when planning your itinerary!
What Age is Best for Visiting Banff?
Honestly, Banff is one of those rare destinations that’s great to visit at almost any age. Some trails can easily accommodate jogging strollers, you can take a gondola to summit a mountain without the work, and nap time can happen during a scenic drive. For teens, there are unforgettable adventures like snowboarding in the winter or guided glacier hikes in the summer.
It’s also a great spot for multigenerational travel. Bring the grandparents, babies, and teenagers along for a trip everyone can enjoy.
Our kids were able to participate in most of the adventures we planned. Our 9-year-old wasn’t quite old enough for the glacier hike (the minimum age was 10), and the Sulphur Mountain trail was a bit too strenuous for her experience level. But we found alternate options that were just as fun: we took the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, and did a family-friendly ice hike in Grotto Canyon instead.
Final Thoughts: Is Banff Worth It for Families?
Yes, Banff is 100% worth visiting with kids. This is a great entry level destination for families, and there’s something for every age and ability in Banff National Park. Ready to plan your trip? Check out our Banff Family Itinerary with kid-tested adventures, day-by-day plans, and everything you need to book your trip confidently.
Happy Travels!
Michelle
