Summary
- Renting a campervan is a budget-friendly way to explore the Canadian Rockies, saving money on accommodation and transportation.
- Traveling with a group allows for cost-sharing on expenses like gas, groceries, and accommodation, helping to stretch your budget.
- Planning an efficient route and filling up on gas in Alberta before crossing into British Columbia can save travelers a significant amount of money on fuel costs.
The Canadian Rockies are one of the most sought-after destinations in Canada, encompassing parts of British Columbia and Alberta. While most of the entertainment here is outdoors (yes, hiking enthusiasts will love visiting Banff for the first time), it can be surprisingly expensive to visit.
Hotel costs are high, especially in the towns of Banff and Whistler, plus food is costly when dining out for each meal. Luckily, there are a few ways to save while making a budget trip through the Canadian Rockies. Wondering how to travel to the Canadian Rockies on a budget and explore its highlights? Here are some budget-friendly travel tips for getting the most out of this stunning part of Canada without going broke.
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10 Rent A Campervan
A view of mountains and forests seen from a campervan
Renting a campervan for a trip through the Canadian Rockies is a great way to save money because it combines two of the biggest expenses: accommodation and transportation.
Travelers can pick up rental vans in Calgary, Edmonton, or Vancouver and either drop them back off at the same location or drop them off in one of the other cities (depending on the company).
- How It Helps the Budget: Accommodation is extremely expensive in Banff National Park and surrounding areas. A campervan cuts this cost down and combines it with a car rental cost, saving heaps of money.
9 Travel With A Group
Tourists wander along Glacier Skywalk (also called the Columbia Icefield Skywalk or the Jasper Skywalk), Banff National Park, Canada
There’s no denying that traveling with a group is a great way to save. Gather a group of adventurous friends for a memorable road trip.
Or, take that family vacation that’s been talked about for years to one of the most beautiful parts of Canada.
- How It Helps the Budget: Traveling in a group allows globetrotters to split costs like gas, groceries, and accommodation throughout the trip.
8 Plan The Route For Efficiency
The Canadian Rockies along Icefield Parkway in Alberta Canada on the way to Jasper
Gas is a major expense when exploring the Canadian Rockies because it’s necessary to drive almost everywhere. Plan the route thoroughly before departure to ensure the shortest, most direct routes are taken.
Plus, consider the other of which towns are visited to avoid circling back to the same area twice.
- How It Helps the Budget: Planning a route efficiently so there is no doubling back and wasting gas and time can cut costs.
7 Fill Up Gas Before Crossing The Border To BC
A man filling up gasat a gas station pump
Gas is significantly cheaper in Alberta, Canada, than it is in the neighboring province of British Columbia.
If travelers have the chance to fill up before driving from Banff National Park into Field, British Columbia, and down towards Vancouver, they can save some money.
- How It Helps the Budget: The difference in gas prices between Alberta and British Columbia can be as significant as 50 cents/liter. Filling up one more time in Alberta before driving into BC can save travelers a lot of money, especially if they’re in a large vehicle.
6 Cook Your Own Meals
A couple cooking dinner
Banff, Canmore, Jasper (Alberta), Squamish (near Vancouver, British Columbia), and Whistler (British Columbia) all have fantastic culinary scenes, which can make this tip tricky to follow.
The cost of dining out in these popular tourist towns in Canada is high, so going to the grocery store and buying some basic items to make breakfast, lunches, and some dinners in the van or rental apartment is a good way to save.
- How It Helps the Budget: Limiting the number of times travelers dine out while in the Rockies cuts down on their daily expenses.
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5 Bring A Reusable Water Bottle
Hiker carrying a reusable water bottle
The drinking water in the Canadian Rockies is delicious, fresh, and clean. Much of it is actually a higher quality of water (from the tap) than travelers will get from bottled water at the grocery store because it’s glacially fed water.
This is also a sustainable way to enjoy this area, which is among the most beautiful ecotourism destinations in Canada.
- How It Helps the Budget: There’s no need to budget for pricey bottled water at the store here – simply bring a reusable bottle and fill it up at the tap at the hotel or hostel.
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4 Stay Outside The Popular Tourist Areas
Exit to Canmore
Staying in Banff and Whistler, specifically, is very costly in terms of hotel and Airbnb prices per night. Nowhere in the area is “cheap,” but travelers can find much more affordable hotel and motel prices in the town of Canmore, just a short drive from Banff National Park.
Similarly, staying in Field, British Columbia, just outside Lake Louise, is a great way to cut down on hotel costs.
- How It Helps the Budget: Staying outside these high-demand areas means paying a lower cost per night.
3 Visit Lesser-Known Attractions In The Canadian Rockies
Emerald Lake is a stunning glacial lake located in Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada known for its vivid green color.
Top attractions in the Canadian Rockies, such as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, are becoming increasingly challenging to visit due to the high demand (especially in peak season). Moraine Lake, the jewel of the Canadian Rockies, is no longer accessible by personal vehicle – instead, travelers must pre-book space on a shuttle to get to the lake.
There is also a Lake Louise shuttle since parking for that lake is usually full by 7 AM. Travelers can opt to visit lesser-known attractions in the area (that are just as beautiful), like Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park or The Three Sisters peaks in Kananaskis.
- How It Helps the Budget: Going to lesser-visited attractions in the Canadian Rockies now means saving money that would otherwise be spent on shuttle buses.
Near Canmore, there are plenty of amazing hikes in Kananaskis Country that are just as beautiful but less crowded than the trails in Banff National Park.
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2 Be Selective About What Activities To Spend On
A gondola car going up the Banff Gondola in Banff National Park, Canada
There are plenty of exciting activities in the Canadian Rockies that travelers could easily splurge on.
In Squamish, there’s the Sea to Sky Gondola; in Banff, there is the Lake Louise Summer Gondola and the Banff Gondola. Not to mention the expensive canoe rentals (around $100 per hour) at Lake Louise.
- How It Helps the Budget: Choosing only one or two of these costly activities to splurge on during the trip helps travelers stay on budget. Balance it out by, for example, taking the Lake Louise Summer Gondola up for an epic view and hiking the Stawamus Chief Trail in Squamish instead of taking that Gondola ride (since it offers a similar view).
The view from the first peak of the Stawamus Chief trail offers a similar view to that of the Sea to Sky Gondola!
1 Opt For Free Hot Springs In The Canadian Rockies
Miette Hot springs, Jasper in the Spring, Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada
The Banff Upper Hotsprings are famous for sitting three kilometers above the Earth’s crust on Sulphur Mountain. While this unique experience is certainly worth indulging in if it’s within the budget, the ticket cost might not be feasible for some travelers who are trying to save money along the way.
Instead, visitors can consider soaking in some of the area’s free natural hot springs, like those on the Mist Mountain Hot Springs Hike.
- How It Helps the Budget: A little bit of money saved goes a long way when the budget is tight in an expensive destination. Cutting the cost of a ticket for the hot springs and still getting to experience this bubbly, natural comfort in a different way is a perfect trade-off for the budget traveler.
