Banff 5-Day Road Trip: Ultimate Itinerary + Costs

🚗 Route: Vancouver → Kamloops → Revelstoke → Canmore → Banff → Vernon → Kelowna → Vancouver 💰 Total Costs: Gas: ~$350 (1,900 km round trip) Accommodation: ~$1,200 Gondola: $39/person Shuttle Bus: $75/person DAY 1️⃣: Vancouver → Kamloops 🍳 Brunch at Hello Toast (Kamloops) Overhyped—food was dry (skip if you’re picky). 📍 428 Victoria St 🌳 Riverside Park Perfect kid pitstop: Splash pads, playgrounds, pirate ship! 📍 100 Lorne St ❄️ Night at Ice Igloo Hotel Off-season perk: Easy booking! Winter offers snowmobiling. DAY 2️⃣: Kamloops → Canmore (via Yoho NP) 🌿 Scenic Stops: Emerald Lake (Jade-colored waters) Natural Bridge (Rock formations) Takakkaw Falls (Short walk from parking lot!) 🏡 Stay: Cozy Canmore Airbnb DAY 3️⃣: Canmore → Banff 🚠 Banff Gondola Sky Bistro: Book window seats ahead for mountain views! 🏡 Night in Banff Cabin Evening: Explore Banff Ave (shops + eats) DAY 4️⃣: Lake Louise & Moraine Lake 🚌 WOW Banff Shuttle (Double-decker! Affordable) Pro Tip: Public shuttle sells out—book private early. Lakes Visits: Hourly buses to both lakes. 🌙 Night in Vernon DAY 5️⃣: Vernon → Kelowna → Vancouver 🍷 Failed Mission Hill Visit: Now requires reservations even for wine purchases. 🍇 Hidden Gem Winery Unexpected find: Beachfront tasting ($10/person) + bought 2 bottles! 💡 Key Tips: Download offline maps (No signal in Yoho NP!) Book shuttles/lodging early (Especially summer!) Skip Hello Toast (Mediocre brunch) #BanffTravel #RockiesRoadTrip #FamilyAdventure #CanadianBucketList