The two most beautiful lakes in Alberta, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, are located incredibly close to each other, which means they are super easy to visit on the same day! But, because Moraine Lake is no longer accessible by public vehicle, it can be slightly more difficult for visitors to get from Lake Louise to Moraine. It also requires a bit more planning.
I have lived around 4 hours from these lakes my whole life, and have visited both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise multiple times over multiple trips!
In this article, you will learn how to get from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, the details of each option, and find answers to popular questions about getting to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise!
Please know this website is reader supported and includes some affiliate links. I earn a small commission when you click on or purchase from affiliate links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!!
How to Get from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake at a Glance
- Parks Canada Shuttle Bus
- ROAM Transit Super Pass + Parks Canada Shuttle Bus Lake Connector
- Commercial Shuttle
- By booking a tour
The road to Moraine Lake is only open from late May/early June to mid-October. You cannot visit Moraine Lake in the winter.
You might also be interested in: Lake Louise One Day Itinerary
Getting from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake by Parks Canada Shuttle
Since 2023, you cannot drive your own vehicle to Moraine Lake.
One of the best ways to get from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake is by booking a ticket for the Parks Canada Shuttle Bus.
The Parks Canada Shuttle Bus initially departs from the Park and Ride parking lot at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and goes to either Moraine Lake or Lake Louise first (depending on the ticket you book).
The Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle Bus then connects Lake Louise to Moraine Lake and vice versa. Meaning that when you book a ticket for the Parks Canada Shuttle Bus, you will be able to visit both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and get between the lakes easily.
Do I Have to Book the Shuttle in Advance?
Yes! You definitely need to book the Parks Canada shuttle in advance.
Visiting Moraine Lake is one of the top things on every visitor’s Banff National Park Bucket List.
If you want to visit the lake during your trip, you need to plan in advance and secure a reservation, especially if you are planning to take the Parks Canada Shuttle.
The Parks Canada Shuttle runs only during a certain part of the year. The shuttle runs when the Moraine Lake Road is open – which is typically from late May/early June to Mid October (Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend) each year.
Make sure to plan for this when booking your trip – you cannot visit Moraine Lake in the winter!
How to Reserve the Parks Canada Shuttle Bus
You can reserve the Parks Canada Shuttle online, in advance, through the Parks Canada reservation system. There is also the option to reserve by phone, however I’m not sure how easy this is as I’ve never booked through this option!
Before the booking day opens online, make sure to have your Parks Canada account already set up and signed in, so that the booking process is easier.
Roughly 40% of the shuttle seats are released in the Spring for the upcoming Summer Season, and the remaining 60% of seats are released 2 days prior at 8am MST.
For Summer 2026, 40% of the shuttle tickets for the summer go on sale April 15, 2026.
Steps to Book Through Parks Canada Online:
- On the main booking page, select the “Day Use” option and then select “Shuttle to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake”.
- Select “Banff – Lake Louise” as the Park.
- Next, select the date you want to visit and how many seats you want on the shuttle bus.
- After you hit “enter”, it will most likely take you to a map view. On the map, find the “Shuttle” option and click this.
- Select the option you want for which lake you want to visit first and what shuttle time-frame you prefer. The time-frames are increments of 1 hour. Meaning, you can show up to ride the shuttle at any point within the 1 hour time-frame you selected/booked. Shuttles leave every 30 minutes.
- It will then take you to a grid selection for a more specific time for your reservation. Be sure you are selecting the right day and time you want.
If there is space available, there will be a green check mark and you can add that option to your cart. If all of the seats are booked, there will be a red X.
If you cannot find a ticket to Moraine Lake first, you can book the shuttle to Lake Louise and hop on the Free Lake Connector Shuttle at Lake Louise Lakeshore.
When to Reserve the Shuttle
There are 2 options when making a shuttle reservation.
About 40% of seats are released for reservation typically in the Spring of that year (for example, for Summer 2026, reservations would open in Spring 2026).
This year, reservations for the Lake Louise/Moraine Lake Shuttle open on April 15, 2026! Be ready at 8am MST to book!
The other 60% of seats are released 2 days prior to departure day at 8am online (Mountain Standard Time).
Reservations go fast! For your best chance at securing seats, you need to be online a few minutes before reservations open. This will put you into a “waiting room”. At 8am when reservations open, you will automatically and randomly be put into a “queue” and then you will have to wait your turn to book seats.
The more flexible you can be with days and times, the higher the chance you will have at securing a reservation!
How Long is the Shuttle From Lake Louise to Moraine Lake?
It is around a 20 minute drive from the Lake Louise Lakeshore to Moraine Lake on the shuttle. This means it is super easy to visit both lakes in the same day!
You would get in between the two lakes using the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle Bus, which is FCFS with your shuttle ticket.
What is the Frequency of the Shuttle?
The Lake Connector shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake runs every 15 minutes.
With your reservation on the Shuttle to either Lake Louise or Moraine Lake (depending on which one you choose to visit first in the booking process), you will have a seat on the Lake Connector Shuttle to the second lake.
You do not reserve an official seat on the Lake Connector Shuttle. Instead, you wait in line for the Shuttle when you are ready to go to the next lake, and hop on for the ride.
Depending on how busy it is, you may or may not spend a lot of time waiting in line for the Lake Connector Shuttle! Make sure to budget enough time in case you need to wait.
Can I bring my SUP on the Parks Canada Shuttle?
In 2026, you are no longer allowed to use personal watercraft at Moraine Lake! This means you would not need to bring your SUP on the shuttle.
Am I able to Bring a Stroller on the Parks Canada Shuttle to Moraine Lake?
There is space for strollers on the Shuttle and typically they can be brought on.
Can I Bring Climbing Gear on the Shuttle?
Yes, there is usually also room for Climbing Gear to be brought on the Parks Canada Shuttle!
Lake Louise to Moraine Lake With ROAM Transit
There is no ROAM Transit Bus (Banff’s public bus system) that connects Lake Louise to Moraine Lake. However, if you upgrade your ROAM Transit Pass to a ROAM Super Pass, you are allowed to board the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle Bus that I talked about above.
You are able to get to Lake Louise with the ROAM Transit Bus via Route 8X year-round.
In previous years, they also had an 8S route during the summer season (8S is the scenic route through the Bow Valley Parkway). In 2026 they are not running the 8S route. This means that the 8X bus is the only option to get to Lake Louise by public bus.
In previous year during the fall, you were able to get to Moraine Lake with the ROAM Transit Bus directly (Via Route 10). This route typically ran for a short time in the fall larch-hiking season, however ROAM announced that it will not be running for the 2025 season.
This means this year, the only option to get to Lake Louise by public bus is with the 8X, and to get to Moraine Lake with this method, you will need to reserve the Super Pass in advance, which will grant you access to the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle.
Without the Super Pass, you are not able to get on the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle.
Your typical journey to Moraine Lake with the ROAM Transit Bus would look like:
- Ensure you have a ROAM Transit Super Pass
- Catch the ROAM Transit Bus Route 8X to Lake Louise Lakeshore from the Banff High School Transit Hub (you can reserve your seat/time slot in advance)
- Explore Lake Louise
- Catch the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise Lakeshore (no prior seat reservations; First Come First Serve only)
- Explore Moraine Lake
- Take the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle back to Lake Louise Lakeshore (no seat reservations; First Come First Serve only)
- Catch the ROAM Public Transit Bus Route 8X back to Downtown Banff from Lake Louise Lakeshore
*Please know, there is a stop called Lake Louise Village, this is not the lakeshore! Stay on the bus until you get to the Lakeshore
Getting from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake by Commercial Shuttle
Another option to get from one lake to the next is by booking a commercial shuttle.
The pros of booking a Commercial Shuttle are:
- Not needing to wait in line for connecting between the lakes
- Not having to fight for tickets during the online booking windows (whether in Spring or 2 days prior), especially if you have a big group
- You are supporting local with most companies!
In 2026, there are quite a few options for commercial shuttle. Some of the most popular choices are:
- Moraine Lake Bus Company
- Via Via Moraine Lake
- Mountain Park Transportation
- Fairview Limos
Each of these companies have different pickup and drop off locations/routes.
Moraine Lake Bus Company: This company will pick you up either from Samson Mall in Lake Louise Village or at the Lake Louise Gondola parking lot. You can also choose to include a 1-hour stop at Lake Louise. This company is also one of the few that offers a Moraine Lake sunrise shuttle. I have ridden with Moraine Lake Bus Company before and highly recommend them!
Via Via Moraine Lake: Another great shuttle company, this is one of the few that pick up in Downtown Banff instead of at the Lake Louise Gondola parking lot (Ski Village). They also offer sunrise shuttles to Moraine Lake. During my sunrise tour with them, they provided us with coffee/hot chocolate and blankets, which was a really nice touch! I recommend this company as well, based on past experience.
Mountain Park Transportation: This company is a direct route shuttle to Moraine Lake. This means, it does not go to Lake Louise and insteads leaves from Lake Louise Village and hotels in the area. If you are wanting to also visit Lake Louise Lakeshore, it might be best to book something that will take you to both lakeshores.
Fairview Limos: Another company that offers a direct shuttle to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise Village (pickup is at the Lake Louise Inn). As mentioned above, if you want to see Lake Louise Lakeshore, you could inquire about a private shuttle from this company, or choose a different option in order to see both the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Lakeshore.
You might also be interested in these tips for visiting Banff on a budget.
Tours to Each Lake and Beyond
One last way to get to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise is by booking a tour that includes a stop at both lakes.
This can be a great option if you are limited on time and want to see as much as you can in one day, as they usually have multiple stops all throughout the national park. The stops on a lot of day tours can be quite a bit shorter though, in order to fit all the stops into one day.
This is great if you want to stop, take some photos, and move on. If you are wanting to hike at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, it may be difficult to find a day tour that gives you enough time to do this.
This is a great option because you can spend the whole day exploring popular spots in Banff National Park, including Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, and decide how much time you want to spend at each place. The earlier you Hop-on, the more time you’ll have to explore each stop!
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Tour
This tour will allow you to see both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in one day, however, you only get 30 minutes at each lake. That’s enough time to snap a few photos of the lake, but you might find yourself wanting more (especially if it’s crowded). This is a great option if you are short on time, but if you have more time, I would recommend a more flexible option.
Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Emerald Lake Day-trip:
This tour can pick you up in either Calgary or Banff, and takes you to three of the most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies. You get around 2 hours at Lake Louise, 1 hour at Moraine Lake, and 20 minutes at Emerald Lake. That’s a great amount of time at each lake to snap photos and enjoy the scenery. At Lake Louise you would have time to do a small hike (Fairview Lookout or Lakeshore Hike), or rent a canoe (depending on availability/time).
At Moraine Lake you can explore the Rockpile for great photos and might be able to squeeze an exploration of the Lakeshore in as well. At Emerald Lake, you’ll have time to snap some beautiful photos and explore a little bit of the area as well.
Banff Lakes and the Icefields Parkway
This is a great option if you are exploring the Canadian Rockies without a car. It is a full-day tour that includes stops at Lake Minnewanka, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake. Both Bow Lake and Peyto Lake are located on the Icefields Parkway, which is only accessible by personal vehicle or tour. This tour will also pick up from any campground or hotel in Banff, as well as in the Town of Canmore as well.
Can I Drive my Car to Moraine Lake?
You cannot drive your car to Moraine Lake. Since the 2023 season, Parks Canada has closed the road to vehicles and only things like shuttle buses and tour buses are allowed to drive the road.
The only way to drive your personal vehicle up to Moraine Lake is if you are a guest staying at the Moraine Lake Lodge. You will receive special instructions from the hotel and be able to park in their hotel parking when you have a room booked there.
*In previous years, if you had a blue handicap parking pass you could drive up to Moraine Lake. In 2026, this is no longer an option, and instead there are separate shuttles provided for those who need them.
There is only one road into Moraine Lake, and Parks Canada staff monitor the road at all times during the day to prevent private vehicles from driving up.
At night, there is a large bar that blocks the road, which makes it inaccessible for cars to drive up the road.
If you don’t want to pay for a ride up to Lake Moraine, you can try hiking up or biking up the road to Moraine Lake. But, the road is almost entirely uphill, it is a winding road, and there are limited shoulders on the road. Be safe and be prepared to share the road with large buses who take up a lot of the road if you choose this route!
In Summary
Visiting Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in one day is definitely possible and probably the best way to make use of your time since they are so close to each other (especially if you have a limited number of days in the Rockies!).
There are quite a few options to get from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, including:
- Parks Canada Shuttle Bus
- ROAM Transit Super Pass/Parks Canada Shuttle Bus Lake Connector
- Commercial Shuttle
- By booking a tour
You cannot drive your personal vehicle up to Moraine Lake (unless you are a guest at Moraine Lake Lodge), meaning that you will need to plan in advance and book something before arriving.
Both lakes are incredibly popular places to visit in Banff National Park! Brace yourself for crowds, but try to find a spot along the lakeshore in order to try to escape them.
And, make sure your camera is fully charged! You’ll need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you definitely can visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on the same day! Both lakes are very close to each other, and when booking a tour, shuttle, or planning to use ROAM Transit, the most efficient thing to do is visit both in the same day. If you are planning a day hike though, like the hike to Big Beehive, you may need to plan multiple days to ensure you have enough time. It really depends on what you want to do!
You can no longer drive your personal vehicle from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, unless you are a guest at the Moraine Lake Lodge.
I think it is so worth it to visit Moraine Lake, and if the shuttle works best for your itinerary then it’s worth booking the shuttle!
You technically could walk between the lakes, however it would take you a very long time and probably wouldn’t be in your best interest. There is also a hike that connects Lake Louise to Moraine, however you would need to book a spot on a shuttle still and requires a plan!
That is personal preference! But I personally think that Moraine Lake is the prettiest lake in the Canadian Rockies.
Sunrise at Moraine Lake is a special experience, and the early morning light at Lake Louise is very pretty as well. However, visiting at the very end of the day before the sunsets typically has fewer crowds during peak season!
Yes, the Moraine Lake Lodge is located at the lakeshore of Lake Moraine. It can be quite expensive to stay here, however when booking a room at the lodge, you are allowed to park in their private parking.
Thank you so much for reading this guide! If you have any questions, please send me a message on Instagram!
Find me on: Instagram | Pinterest
Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
