Canadian Rockies Travel Budget
A trip to the Canadian Rockies is expensive, and you might wonder how much things cost. Read our comprehensive Canadian Rockies budget guide, including our expenses and tips on saving money while traveling around top places such as Banff, Jasper, and other national parks.
When preparing for a trip, we already have rituals we never skip. We usually create a packing list, plan a detailed travel itinerary, and another thing we never forget is budgeting for the entire journey.
It does not matter where we travel to; we always want to approximately know how much we should budget and our predicted expenses to avoid unpleasant surprises.
And our trip to the Canadian Rockies on a budget was no exception to this fact.
It's not that we know in advance how our total bill will be like; it is instead about getting an idea of how much things cost in the foreign country.
We always combine essential and unavoidable expenses such as transport and accommodation, add food costs, and then activities we want to do.
Of course, everything can change on the spot, but as we consider ourselves budget travelers, we feel this summary gives us control over our money. It is even more important to create a travel budget if we travel to a more expensive country.
Simply put, it would be a mistake to think that a hotel room in Banff or Jasper in the season costs $20 same as in Southeast Asia.
The Canadian Rockies is not a typical budget-friendly destination, that's for sure. But with careful planning, we were still able to enjoy its beauty without breaking a bank.
The essential word here is planning. If traveling on a budget, it is clear that you'll need to think a lot before booking the trip.
Things like accommodation, tours, food, or rental car cost a fortune in the Canadian Rockies, especially in the busy summer season, so you need to answer questions if you can sleep in a tent, share a car with fellow travelers, cook own meals, or skip popular activities, in order to save money.
We've put together helpful tips on how to travel on a budget in the Canadian Rockies, but in this post, we also want to share our actual Canadian Rockies travel budget to give you an idea of how much things cost and how much we spent in two weeks.
Before we start, there's one essential thing to know.
Be aware that in Canada, prices in shops are without GST, so you'll pay more at the counter than advertised. As of now, the GST in Alberta and British Columbia is 5%.
It was something that we did not expect, as prices in stores in the Czech Republic are always final.
HOW TO BUDGET FOR THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
We are very aware that every person can imagine something else under the word budget, mid-range, or luxury. This blog post is aimed at travelers who want to explore the best of the Canadian Rockies and want to spend as little as possible same as to travelers who do not like wasting money.
To give you an idea, we traveled in a group of four, so we were able to share the cost, rented a campervan, slept in campgrounds, and except for one or two occasions, we cooked our own meals.
Even if your budget is higher, keep on reading, as you can easily figure out how much a traveler in your budget category needs to have ready for this trip.
In total, we traveled two weeks in the Canadian Rockies before we crossed borders to the USA.
Even though we lived in Calgary for a year and visited the area numerous times, this calculation is based on the separate trip when we toured the Canadian Rockies as regular international travelers, and we had similar spending you are going to have.
Our total spending was $70 per person per day without flight tickets and insurance. We do not include those two items as the cost is way too individual. Prices are in the USD, calculated for two people unless stated otherwise.
Our expenses | 1940 USD
FLIGHT TICKETS
Flight ticket price is highly individual; therefore, we cannot predict your expenses here. The gateway to the Canadian Rockies is either Edmonton or Calgary (for us, it was Vancouver this time), so check out your options before making a reservation.
At the time of planning our trip, flight tickets from Prague, the Czech Republic to those two cities were insanely overpriced (roughly $1500 per a flight ticket on selected dates).
So we decided to improvise a bit, and booked return tickets from Munich, Germany (we drove there by car) to Seattle, USA, where we hoped on the bus to Vancouver, Canada, where we rented the car.
Although it seems like too much hassle, this move saved us, in the end, a lot of money we could have spent elsewhere.
Return flight tickets from Munich to Seattle cost $685 per person.
Of course, if you find a great deal directly to Calgary or Edmonton, go for it.
Once you book your flight ticket, it is also essential to start planning how to get from the airport.
Will you spend the night in the airport hotel and then rent a car?
Will you rent a car straight away?
Or you plan on getting around by public transport or shuttle? In that case, you need to book, for example, a shuttle bus from Calgary to Banff or Lake Louise or from Edmonton to Jasper, and of course, add the cost to your total bill.
Our expenses | 1370 USD
VISA AND ETA
When traveling to the USA and Canada, as citizens of the Czech Republic, we didn't have to apply for a tourist visa, and we could stay in the country for up to 90 days. Always check online before your departure if your country is in Visa Waiver Program.
The conditions do not change that often, but it is always essential to know up-to-date information to avoid unpleasant situations.
In general, Canada is a very touristy country that does not unnecessarily make the arrival for visitors harder, and you should not experience any problems, in case your passport and other documents are in order.
When arriving in the USA by air, you need to arrange ESTA for $14, and the same applies for Canada, but the form is called ETA and costs CAD 7, which is very budget-friendly.
Our expenses | 28 USD
ACCOMMODATION
If there is one thing on our list that can either make or break your Canadian Rockies travel budget, it is accommodation. This destination has been insanely popular for some time, and prices, especially in the summer season, skyrocket.
Mountainous towns such as Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper fill up quickly, and it is tough to find a room, especially if you have budget constraints.
Fortunately, we can give you a few tips that will save you money on the road.
BOOK ACCOMMODATION IN ADVANCE
If you travel on a budget, it means you have to act fast. No, even the first-minute rates for July, August, and September won't be low, rather the opposite, but they still are reasonable compared to last-minute rates.
Based on our experience, we would not arrive in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper in the summer without a previous reservation, and it applies to hotels and campgrounds as well.
It means that backpacking with no particular itinerary in mind is not the best strategy in the Canadian Rockies. Although we like being flexible on the road, this destination deserves careful planning and a day-by-day travel itinerary.
CAMPING
When it comes to budgeting on accommodation, booking campsites is where you can save a lot of money.
First, you need to realize that even frontcountry camping in the Rockies often means lower comfort, so we recommend it to travelers who already have a backcountry experience because sleeping in a tent is often demanding, especially when the weather is bad.
Of course, you can stay in your RV, which gives you better comfort.
It is essential to know that campsites, thanks to the fact they are cheaper, fill up as quickly as hotel rooms, if not faster, so always check the Parks Canada and save the date when the reservation system opens.
Campsites in Jasper National Park, same as in Banff National Park, work either on a first-come, first-serve basis, or need to be booked in advance, and only some of them are opened all-year-round, so if you prefer this alternative, always check if your selected campsites are available during your travel dates.
We slept in a campervan, and the rate usually was CAD 25 - 40 per night per one unserviced camping spot (you will pay the same price per spot for 1 to 4 people).
STAY OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL PARKS
One strategy that could save you money is to stay outside national parks, but we think it is impossible to do it all the time, yet it is worth considering it for at least a few days.
For example, Calgary is not that far from Banff National Park (about ninety minutes drive), so it’s a smart idea to stay there the night before and after the trip.
We're not saying Calgary is the cheapest city in the area, but thanks to many hotels and competition, rates are more affordable than in smaller towns in the mountains.
Another great example is Golden, a gateway to Yoho National Park. Golden sits so close to the national park, that it is perfectly doable to make a few day trips from there in order to save money on accommodation.
And if you are arriving from Edmonton to Jasper National Park, take a look into Hinton, a small town on the edge of the park.
Always check hotel rates in towns within driving distance; it can save you a lot of money and stress.
Before you go, read our accommodation guides on Where to stay in Banff and Where to stay in Jasper, and make a reservation as soon as you know your travel dates.
Our expenses | 390 USD
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation in the Canadian Rockies is expensive. Plan your trip carefully and book your room early enough to guarantee a struggle-free stay.
Here is our choice of the best hotels in popular towns in the Canadian Rockies.
Calgary | Are you tired after a long flight and don't want to drive? Stay at the Wingate by Wyndham Calgary Airport.
Canmore | Canmore is a perfect alternative to Banff, and Malcolm Hotel is one f the best places to stay while there.
Banff | Banff Park Lodge is an environmentally friendly hotel located in the town center surrounded by stunning scenery.
Lake Louise | Stunning views of Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier from Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise will blow you away.
Jasper | Are you looking for a hotel with an excellent location, cozy rooms, sauna, and steam room? Stay in Jasper Inn Suites.
Golden | Soak in the Golden's history tied to the Canadian Pacific Railway and the logging industry. We recommend you to stay in Best Western Mountainview Inn.
TRANSPORT
Transport is another item on your budget list you need to consider carefully. Sometimes in order to save money, you need to invest. Historically, the best way how to get around the Canadian Rockies is by car.
First of all, road tripping is the ultimate way to explore this part of Canada as it gives you flexibility and the possibility to visit as many places as possible.
The thing is, public transport in the Rockies is not very frequent, and more importantly, it connects only the major travel destinations.
In our opinion, you would miss out a lot on natural attractions along the road.
Of course, we know there's a community of travelers who simply does not want to rent a car either because they do not have a driver's license or feel uncomfortable driving in a foreign country.
In that case, do not despair; there are still a few more alternatives.
Firstly, you can travel by shuttle buses, hop-on-hop-off buses, and take a tour (tours are often costly, but you can visit the top attractions on day trips) or simply base yourself at one place and explore the area thoroughly.
For us, renting a 5-seat campervan turned out to be a great idea, and it eventually paid off. It was four of us, and two could sleep inside the car and two in the folding tent on the roof.
This is how we did it during our first trip to the Rockies; next time, we rented a car (which is a bit cheaper) and slept in a tent.
Cars or campervans are also in high demand, so you should make your reservation simultaneously with accommodation and flight tickets.
Our expenses | 800 USD
EATING OUT
Eating out in Canada is quite expensive; this is why we decided to do grocery shopping almost every day, and we cooked our own meals in the campsites. We know that many of you cannot imagine a holiday without all the service that comes with it, and it is completely fine.
You just need to know that lunch or dinner without drinks in Canada costs between CAD 15 - 30, and this is for mediocre food in a no-name restaurant; it is even more when you want to eat in a fancy restaurant.
This topic brings us back to personal preferences. We are not willing to pay this amount daily, but we absolutely understand if you want to enjoy your time in the Rockies, save time, and spend more on food.
If we remember correctly, we ate in a restaurant twice during a two-week trip.
Our expenses | 100 USD
GROCERY
We did a lot of shopping during our travels. Cooking was much cheaper and also more convenient than eating out as we slept in camps. Food prices are very similar to Europe or the USA, which means it is not that bad.
The shopping costs more in smaller tourist mountain towns such as Jasper, but that's nothing that should surprise you as this 'mountainous' surcharge is very common.
You can sleep in a room with a kitchenette or, same as us, have a campervan (cooking gear is usually included).
In case you rent a car and sleep in tents, you need to calculate the additional cost of purchasing cooking gear and gas.
The only thing you must consider is that cooking takes some time, but we always cooked simple meals such as pasta, nothing complicated and you should also allocate some time every day for shopping.
It is possible to make a stock of dry food, but it is hard to store fresh items that you need to refill periodically.
Our expenses | 400 USD
ACTIVITIES
The Canadian Rockies is a perfect destination for individual travelers as you can basically visit every place on your own, without the necessity to hire a guide or book a tour.
Of course, if you want to spice up your travels or short on time (we booked a helicopter flight to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park during our other trip), only the sky is the limit.
It is possible to rent a canoe in Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, or Maligne Lake, or on almost any other water surface in the Rockies.
You can take a scenic flight over the Rockies, walk the icefield on Athabasca Glacier, soak in Miette Hot Springs or Radium Hot Springs, do horseback riding, paragliding, white-water rafting, biking, walk with a local guide to spot wildlife, take a gondola ride to some of the best views, and the list could go on and on.
In winter, you can enjoy canyon icewalks, go skiing, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
The bottom line is that the expenses for activities can differ really a lot, and they can be from zero to thousands of dollars.
We'll assume you take at least one tour, same as we did, so budget approximately CAD 100 per person, but if you already know you want to try more activities, budget accordingly.
Last but not least, the Canadian Rockies offer an extensive network of hiking trails, and this activity is always free.
Check out our guides such as Maligne Canyon, Lake O'Hara, Sulphur Skyline Trail, or Corry Pass to get inspired.
Our expenses | 80 USD
PASSES AND ADMISSION
In order to visit the national parks in the Canadian Rockies, we had to purchase Discovery Pass valid for one year.
Discovery Pass costs CAD 136.40 and can be used for a group (car up to seven passengers), which we think is very cheap considering what you get in return.
Although it is possible to buy a one-day pass, it is not very advantageous, and you should buy this annual pass straightaway. Of course, it is always better if you can share the cost, but even solo travelers will use the pass to its full potential.
There were no other entrance fees as we stayed outdoors only and were not seeking any cultural activities this time.
Even though the Canadian Rockies are all about wildlife and stunning scenery, if you have time and plan your trip carefully, Calgary hosts a great outdoor show called Calgary Stampede each year, usually at the beginning of the summer.
Our expenses | 110 USD
GEAR
The Rockies are an outdoor destination, which means you must arrive well-prepared
We assume that you already have most of your gear you're going to need, such as a tent, sleeping bag, headlamp, hiking boots, rain poncho, windproof jacket, rain jacket, travel towel, quality backpack, hiking pants, water bottle or water bottle with a filter.
On the spot, you might need to purchase gas for cooking and a few additional items.
One of them is a bear spray that is highly recommended to have, especially if you travel in the berry season, which coincides with summer.
Bear spray costs around CAD 40, and it is much better to purchase it online before your trip, as the rate is higher on the spot.
Unfortunately, we cannot know what you'll need to buy before your trip to be well-equipped, so our travel budget includes only what we bought from gear, which was only the bear spray for our safety.
Because we love the great outdoors, we had already had all other gear. Had we traveled in the winter, we would have purchased snowshoes, microspikes, and a warmer down jacket.
You can read a more detailed all-season Canadian Rockies packing list we've created to inspire you on what to pack and what to leave behind.
Our expenses | 30 USD
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Although travel insurance is often considered an optional expense, we cannot disagree more.
Based on our experience, travel insurance is absolutely essential, especially if you plan on spending your holiday actively. An old saying states that those who cannot afford to purchase travel insurance should not travel at all.
Although we hope your travels will be as smooth as possible, you never know, and it is important to protect yourself, your health, and your belongings.
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Our travel insurance cost us $100 per person per the whole trip.
Our expenses | 200 USD
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
If you want to save money, it is not only enough to plan your Canadian Rockies itinerary carefully, but you also need to consider which season is the best.
Logically, the most popular for traveling in the Rockies is the summer season from the end of June till mid-September, and this is also the time when prices are at their peak.
Although winter can be pretty rough for average travelers and hikers, ski resorts are fully booked, and you will hardly save on accommodation.
Simply put, if you want to enjoy the beauty of the Rockies but keep your expenses to a possible minimum, consider traveling in the shoulder season.
Although you still can be caught by snow, check out your options when it comes to late April, May, and the beginning of June, and the month of October is certainly not a bad choice either.
GROUP SIZE
What else can significantly lower your expenses? It is undoubtedly the number of people at your party.
Although we usually prefer traveling just two of us, we appreciated that this time we could share the cost of the Discovery Pass, same as the car rental and food cost, with another two people.
If you do not have friends or family members who would like to join you on this trip but still do not want to give up on your dream, try searching for fellow travelers online or once you arrive, ask around in your hostel, we are pretty sure you'll be successful.
The rule of thumb is to have a backup plan or a few days to spare before finding the companion.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
