One of my favourite lakes in Banff National Park is Moraine Lake, but since 2023 you can no longer drive your personal vehicle there. That means that if you want to visit Moraine Lake in 2026, you’ll need to plan in advance and book a shuttle, public transit, have it as a spot on a tour, or walk (it’s a long walk and you will most likely still have to pay for parking!). Moraine Lake Bus Company is one of the shuttle companies in Banff that will take you to Moraine Lake! I had the opportunity to take Moraine Lake Bus Company to Moraine Lake during the fall season for a larch hike and it was super stress-free and easy! This article shares my experience and overall review, so you can choose if it is your best option for your trip.
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About Moraine Lake Bus Company
Moraine Lake Bus Company launched in 2023 after Parks Canada stopped allowing public vehicles to drive themselves to Moraine Lake. It is locally-owned by Alexandra King and Jesse Kitteridge, which is a huge plus in my eyes. Supporting local is so important and by booking with them you are supporting Banff locals!
The road to Moraine Lake is typically open from June 1 – Canadian Thanksgiving (October 13, 2025) each year. This depends on snow and conditions, as sometimes it will open a few days early, or sometimes it will close early.
In 2025, Moraine Lake Road closed 1 day early (October 12, 2025) due to icy conditions and therefore all shuttles and tours were cancelled for that day!
Since Moraine Lake is on top of so many Banff Bucketlists, booking a shuttle with Moraine Lake Bus Co will make your trip a lot less stressful!
Check prices and availability on their website!
The Shuttle Busses
The shuttles themselves are like super cute mini-busses that seat up to 24 passengers per bus. Their staff are super friendly which goes a long way, and the windows are huge so you don’t miss any views!
The seats are in pairs on either side of the aisle, and there is room for a small bag above your seat so your ride is more comfortable.
Booking Tickets
You can book tickets with Moraine Lake Bus Company online, in advance. Because this particular shuttle offers so many departure times, you can usually book this shuttle a little bit last minute and still end up with a nice departure time (typically!!). If you are not flexible though and there is an exact day/time that you want, I would highly recommend booking in advance just in case.
If you are really last minute with your itinerary and not able to purchase tickets online beforehand, you can try to walk up and book a ticket at their ticket shack that day and see if there is space. I wouldn’t rely on this though as Moraine Lake can be one of the busiest spots to visit in Banff during the season!
Pick-up Point/Where to Park
To ride Moraine Lake Bus Company, you’ll have to get yourself to the Lake Louise area. Lake Louise is about a 45 minute drive from Banff, so a rental car is important! If you are visiting the Canadian Rockies without a car, you are probably better off booking your tickets to Moraine Lake through ROAM Transit.
If you are taking the shuttle with Moraine Lake Bus Company though, where you park depends on the shuttle you booked.
- Sunrise shuttle: Parking is at Samson Mall.
- Shuttle after 6am: Parking is at the Lake Louise Summer Gondola.
Both parking lots are free!
Check prices and availability on their website!
Types of Shuttles Moraine Lake Bus Offers
There are different shuttle options that you can book with this company to make your visit what you want!
The types of shuttles you can book with them include:
- Moraine Lake Sunrise Shuttle: Get there to see sunrise! Departure times will depend on the time of year you’re visiting.
- Moraine Lake Day Shuttle: Explore during the regular hours of the day. This is a great option if you don’t care about sunrise or want to spend more time hiking around or just not need to get up super early.
- Shuttle with 1 hour stop at Lake Louise: Perfect if you want to check out Lake Louise for a few photos and quick stop!
- Lake Louise Shuttle: A great option if you only want to visit Lake Louise and don’t care about Moraine Lake.
What We Loved About Moraine Lake Bus Co
- No lines: Sine you have a set departure time and pick up time, you don’t have to worry about waiting in lines and your day is more predictable! The lines with the Parks Canada Shuttle/ROAM Transit can be large, since the shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are on a First Come First Serve basis.
- You can take an earlier shuttle back if there’s space: If you end up doing everything you wanted and are ready to get back early, you can check in with an earlier bus and see if there’s space for you to ride back early. They have so many shuttles running that it’s definitely possible there are open spots to head back early!
- Support local! Moraine Lake Bus Company is locally owned, so by using this company you are supporting local, which is really important in towns like this!
- Overall super comfy ride: I thought the shuttles were super comfy, with huge windows providing a great view and overall awesome experience!
Check prices and availability on their website!
Cons of Moraine Lake Bus Co
I felt there weren’t really any huge cons with Moraine Lake Bus Co. The only two I can think of is that it is a bit of a pricier option if you’re a large group, particularly compared to the cost of using ROAM Transit and the Parks Canada Shuttle to get there. However with an increased price, comes the stress-free booking experience, no lines, and a guaranteed more efficient visit!
I also feel the stop at Lake Louise when coupled with going to Moraine Lake is pretty short! With only 1 hour, you can see the Lake Louise Lakeshore, but there isn’t enough time to hike to the Teahouse or Beehives, or explore very far.
To get around this though, you could drive yourself to Lake Louise on a different day and pay to park, and spend the day at Lake Louise without a time limit. This would cost extra money though and also parking at Lake Louise can be pretty challenging during the peak season!
Other Things to Know About Moraine Lake Bus Co
- Moraine Lake Bus Company does not have wheel-chair accessible shuttles, however if you have a blue disabled parking placard, you can drive to Moraine Lake and park (as long as there is a parking spot). Parks Canada will let you know if there is parking and if you can proceed at the base of Moraine Lake Road.
- There is no cell service at Moraine Lake and sometimes it can be spotty in the Lake Louise area. Make sure to have everything you need downloaded onto your phone, screenshotted, or printed, before arriving just in case you need it!
- Lake Louise is open year-round, but the shuttle to Lake Louise with Moraine Lake Bus Co only runs June-Mid October (similar to the Moraine Lake shuttle).
Moraine Lake Road is only open from late May/early June to mid-October, depending on snow and conditions. Because of this, shuttles only operate when the Moraine Lake Road is open! Keep an eye on opening and closing dates each season to make sure you can visit during your trip!
Would I Book With Them Again? + Summary
Yes, I would definitely book with Moraine Lake Bus Company again! I thought it was a fantastic shuttle and gave me enough time to explore Moraine Lake before heading back! I also loved that I didn’t have to worry about wasting my time standing in line, and that the ride is overall comfy and stress-free.
Thank you Moraine Lake Bus Company for inviting me on your shuttle. All opinions are my own!
Check out Moraine Lake Bus Company at their website!
Other Posts on Moraine Lake and Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake Tips for Visiting
- Biking to Moraine Lake in Banff
- Lake Louise 1-Day Itinerary
- Hiking to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, Big Beehive, and Little Beehive
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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.
