Banff to increase downtown parking rates during peak tourist season

Visitors heading to Banff this summer should prepare to pay more for parking, as the town moves ahead with a significant rate hike it says is aimed at easing congestion during its busiest months.

Starting May 1 and running through Oct. 31, hourly parking rates in select downtown areas will rise from $7 to $12 per hour.

The Town of Banff says the change is designed to encourage quicker turnover of parking spaces and reduce the number of vehicles circulating through the core.

For many visitors, the jump feels steep. One tourist, after paying $14 for two hours of parking, called the increase “crazy,” adding, “I understand it’s a tourist town, but a bit high.”

Another visitor was more blunt, telling CityNews, “That’s terrible. They need more parking spaces, but they’ve got to make their money somehow—they’re way up in the middle of the mountains.”

Mayor Corrie DiManno says the goal isn’t to penalize visitors but to manage traffic in one of Canada’s most popular mountain destinations. She notes that guests staying at local hotels or campgrounds will continue to receive free-roam transit passes, allowing them to access downtown and major attractions without a car.

“The main objective here is to limit vehicles on our road networks,” DiManno explained. “Roam goes to all the popular attractions, the gondola, Johnston Canyon, and more, so people can get anywhere they’d like to go.”

Still, some travellers say the rising cost of parking may influence future plans. One visitor said they might choose to stay in nearby Canmore instead, using it as a base for mountain excursions.

Another added with a laugh, “I’m pretty sure there are people willing to pay, but I’m not one of those people.”

The town maintains that the higher rates will help manage demand during the months when Banff sees its heaviest influx of tourists.