By plane
The closest International Airport is in Calgary. Banff does have an airstrip, but there is no commercial service. An expensive charter flight will be required to land right in the park. Vancouver International Airport is an approximate 12 hour drive to the west. Springbank Airport west of Calgary, towards Banff is nearly 80 km from Banff. It operates short charter flights and tours over Banff National Park.
By bus
Greyhound (http://www.greyhound.ca/) and Brewster (http://www.sightseeingtou...) provide regular scheduled coaches that serve Banff and Lake Louise, departing from Calgary and points in British Columbia. Another option is to book one of the many guided bus tours that visit the park. Most of these will depart from Calgary or Vancouver.
There are three different airport shuttle providers from the Calgary Airport to Banff and Lake Louise.
Banff Airporter Inc.
(http://www.banffairporter.com) offers 10 shuttles daily or private charter shuttles if needed.Brewster Airport & Resort Connector
(http://www.sightseeingtou...) offers shuttle service from both the Calgary & Edmonton Airports, schedule varies with season.Mountain Connector
(http://www.mountainconnec...) offers up to 8 shuttles daily, never wait more the an hour to be on the road to the Rockies.
By train
Explore the Canadian Rockies by rail. Day rail tours depart from Banff connecting to Vancouver.
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations
(http://www.rockymountaine...) provides independent year round vacation packages to the most unique and scenic regions of Canada, including travel on the world acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer rail journey.Between Mid-April and Mid-October, the two-day, all daylight Rocky Mountaineer travels between Vancouver or Whistler, British Columbia and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper, Banff or Calgary Alberta. Guests relax in Redleaf or Goldleaf Service, enjoying onboard commentary and bi-regional cuisine as the awe-inspiring scenery passes by at a leisurely pace. For selected departure date in December, the festive Rocky Mountaineer travels through a winter wonderland where the mountain valleys are covered in a blanket of snow.
By car
Highway 1 Trans-Canada bisects the park east/west. Banff is about an hour and a half from Calgary Alberta and the same from Golden British Columbia. Other ways to enter the park by automobile include the Icefields Parkway from Jasper, Highway 11 from Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer Alberta, and Highway 93 from Radium Hot Springs and Cranbrook British Columbia.