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Canadian Rockies Park Pass - Your Questions Answered
- andrewsco3
- 4 days ago
- 13 min read
Exploring the Canadian Rockies takes you to some of Canada’s most breathtaking landscapes, but you’ll need the right park pass to access them. If you’re planning a trip to one of the national parks in the Rockies, here’s everything you need to know about purchasing your park pass.
Many of our top hiking guides and itineraries cover Canada's National Parks, including our most-read post: 2 Week Canadian Rockies National Parks Itinerary: Banff, Waterton, Kootenay, Yoho & Jasper. To help you navigate the latest park pass requirements, we’ve put together this Q&A guide.
To jump ahead to a certain section, click the links below:
Table of Contents (click to expand)
What Exactly is a Park Pass?
As locals, we've been buying a Park Pass for years, so we know how it works. But with so many different terms floating around, it's easy to see why visitors to the Canadian Rockies may find it confusing.
You might have come across terms that either refer to the Park Pass, are variations of it, or aren’t related to it at all, such as:
Park Pass
Canadian Rockies Pass
Banff Park Pass
Daily Pass
Discovery Pass
Annual Pass
Single-Location Pass
Kananaskis Conservation Pass (this is different to a National Park Pass btw)
Sound overwhelming? Don’t worry – we’ll break it all down.
But the short answer is: If you're stopping in any of the national parks – or even just driving through in some cases – you'll need a Park Pass.
When Do I Need a Park Pass (And When Don't I)?
You require a Park Pass when spending time in a National Park anywhere in Canada. The term 'spending time' is the one used by Parks Canada, and includes road trips, camping, backcountry adventures, visits to picnic sites, viewpoints, and stops in towns and villages. For travel in the Canadian Rockies, this includes:
Spending time in National Parks in the Rockies:
Alberta – Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes
British Columbia – Yoho, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier
Driving along the Scenic Parkways such as Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) or the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A) (even if not stopping).
Visiting towns located inside a National Park, such as Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Field, Waterton, and Revelstoke (regardless of how long you stay)
You are not required to have a Park Pass when doing the following:
Visiting Provincial Parks – A National Park Pass is not needed and does not apply to provincial parks, including Kananaskis. However, Kananaskis requires its own Conservation Pass for anyone passing through.
Visiting Municipal or Regional Parks – City and regional parks do not require a Parks Canada pass.
Travel Along Certain Highways That Pass Through National Parks – If you're driving through Alberta and/or BC on Highway 1 and not stopping, you do not need a Park Pass.
Visits to towns located outside the National Park such as Canmore, Golden, Fernie and Invermere.
Do I need a separate Park Pass for Each different National Park?
No, generally speaking, you don’t need a separate pass for each national park. A Daily Pass or Discovery Pass is valid for all national parks in the region, including Waterton, Banff, Yoho, Jasper, Glacier, Kootenay, and Mount Revelstoke.
However, some parks in Alberta and British Columbia offer a Single-Location Annual Pass, which provides access to just that park. More details below.
For trips limited to the Canadian Rockies, a Daily Park Pass or an annual Discovery Pass covers all the parks you’ll visit.
What Are the Different Types of Park Passes?
Discovery Pass
A Discovery Pass is an annual pass that provides entry to all national parks and national marine conservation areas managed by Parks Canada across the country. If you plan to visit multiple national parks throughout the year or stay for at least seven days, this pass typically offers the best value. It also includes access to National Historic Sites in and around the Rockies, such as Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Banff Park Museum, and Bar U Ranch. If you plan to visit any of these historic sites, it may help you decide whether a Discovery Pass is worth purchasing.
Daily Pass
A Daily Pass allows access to the following National Parks in the Canadian Rockies for a single day, ending at 4pm the following day.
Banff
Jasper
Yoho
Kootenay
Revelstoke
Glacier
Waterton Lakes
Elk Island National Parks
If you're visiting for a short time, typically five days or less, a Daily Pass is often the most cost-effective option. However, unlike the Discovery Pass, it does not include entry to National Historic Sites, so this needs to be factored into your decision making.
Single-Location Annual Pass
While all National Parks in the Canadian Rockies allow entry with a Daily Pass or an annual Discovery Pass, some also offer a single-location Annual Pass that grants access to just that park for the year. These passes are typically available for parks that are more isolated, in order to offer a lower-cost option for those visiting only that specific park. The exception is Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks, which share an Annual Pass, which is valid for both parks.
Unless you're certain that you'll only be visiting one National Park, then I would recommend purchasing either a Daily Pass or the annual Discovery Pass to give you more flexibility.
A List of Single Location National Parks in Alberta & British Columbia:
Glacier National Park
Revelstoke National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
Elk Island National Park
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
What is the Cost of a Park Pass? (As of 2025)
The cost of park passes varies depending on the type of pass and the number of people in your group. Here are the prices for 2025 from the Parks Canada website:
Canadian Rockies Park Pass Pricing
Ticket | Daily Pass | Discovery Pass (all National Parks) | Annual Pass (select National Parks only)** |
Adult | $11.00 | $75.25 | $54.50 |
Senior | $9.50 | $64.50 | $46.50 |
Youth (17 and under) | FREE | FREE | FREE |
Family / Group * | $22.00 | $151.25 | $109.00 |
Notes
* up to seven people are allowed to travel in one vehicle.
** only available in the Canadian Rockies at Waterton (single location) and Revelstoke / Glacier (both locations).
Should I Purchase the Annual Discovery Pass or Multiple Day Passes?
Generally speaking, a day pass works well for short weekend visits, but if you're staying longer or planning visiting multiple visits to National Parks across Canada, the Discovery Pass quickly pays for itself. That said, you do sometimes need to get the calculator out to see which pass is right for you. Here are a few examples to see where the break even point is:
Example 1: A Family of 2 Adults and 2 Kids Travelling in One Vehicle:
Adults are required to pay $11 each, and the kids are free, so there is no benefit to getting a family/group Daily Pass, as the cost is $22 per car regardless.
If you’re not visiting any National Historic Sites included in the Discovery Pass, the breakeven point for a family pass is seven days.
Example 2: A Family of 4 Adults and 2 Kids Travelling in a One 7 Seater Vehicle and planning to visit Cave & Basin National Historic Site:
In this scenario, as there are more than 2 adults it would make sense to purchase the family / group Daily Pass at a cost of $22 per day. The cost for the 4 adults to access Cave & Basin is $36 (the kids are free) and means that you have to factor this $36 into your calculations.
When considering the entry to the Cave & Basin (that is free with a Discovery Pass), the breakeven is now 6 days, and if you were considering visiting any other National Historic Sites, it would likely be 5 days.
Example 3: A family of 6, made up of 2 adults, 2 seniors and 2 kids, split across 2 vehicles:
Here you need to consider who sits in which car to get the cheapest price. For example, if you had 1 adult, 1 senior and 1 child in each vehicle, the daily cost for each car would be $20.50, so $41 in total.
If you changed the configuration around to be 2 adults and 1 senior in car no.1, and 1 senior with 2 kids in car no.2, you pay a daily cost of $22 for car no.1 but only a $9.50 charge for car no.2, so $31.50 in total.
This configuration would save you $9.50 per day if you were visiting for less than 7 days.
Assuming you do not plan on visiting any National Historic Sites included in the Discovery Pass, 7 days would be the break even for purchasing the family Discovery Pass for car no.1, and a senior Discovery Pass for car no.2.
Note: you must purchase a Park Pass for all vehicles. Even though a Discovery Pass family/group rate can accommodate up to 7 people, they must all be travelling in 1 vehicle for it to apply.
This may seem complicated, but my advice is to do the math based on the following factors:
The length of your stay
The number of vehicles
Whether you plan to visit any National Historic Sites
Whether you can have more adults into 1 car to make a second car cheaper
Which National Historic Sites in (or near) the Canadian Rockies are Included with the Discovery Pass?
The following National Historic Sites, located in (or near to) the Canadian Rockies, are included with a Discovery Pass:
National Historic Site | Daily Admission Fee |
Banff Park Museum | Adult $$.50, Senior $4.00, Youth FREE |
Bar U Ranch | Adult $13.50, Senior $11.25, Youth FREE |
Cave and Basin | Adult $9.00, Senior $7.50, Youth FREE |
Rocky Mountain House | Adult $9.00, Senior $7.50, Youth FREE |
Be sure to factor these fees into your decision when considering whether to purchase a Discovery Pass.
Can I Purchase my Park Pass Online in Advance?
You have the option to purchase a Park Pass online before your visit and have it delivered by mail. Having a pass in advance will save you time at the park gates, as you can drive straight through without stopping. In my experience, we've never had to wait long (maybe 15 minutes?) even during peak summer times, so I wouldn't worry too much about ordering online unless you're really pressed for time.
The main advantage of purchasing your annual pass online is that you can avoid waiting in line at the Banff Park Gates. If you want to hit the ground running, the convenience of having your pass in hand can save you time and hassle.
There is no discount for buying online, and you’ll actually pay more due to shipping fees.
Country | Regular Shipping | Express Shipping |
Canada | $4.00 | $15.75 |
USA | $4.50 | Calculated at checkout |
Other International Locations | $6.50 | Calculated at checkout |
We’ve never ordered online, but Parks Canada suggests allowing about two weeks for delivery unless you choose express shipping.
If you’d like to pre-purchase your pass online, you can do so here:
Where Can I Purchase a Park Pass Inside the National Parks?
You can purchase National Park passes at a variety of places. The most convenient for many people is at the Park Entry Gates, but there are also options to Purchase at National Park Visitor Centres as well as select Campgrounds throughout the National Parks. Here is a summary of your options:
Purchase at the National Park Gates:
Banff East Park Gate: Located ~5 km west of Canmore on Trans-Canada Highway (#1). This is where you will most likely purchase a pass if arriving directly from Calgary.
David Thompson Gate: Located ~150km west of Rocky Mountain House on David Thompson Highway (#11) (Open in summer)
Niblock Gate in Banff National Park (open in summer): Located 4km north of Lake Louise, immediately after exiting onto Icefields Parkway Hwy 93N
Kootenay West Gate: Located 1km east of Radium on Highway (#93S)
Jasper National Park West Gate: Located 22 km west of Jasper on Highway 16
Jasper National Park South Gate: Located 6 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway
Jasper National Park East Park Gate: Located 48 km east of Jasper on Highway 16
Icefields Parkway Gate: Located 7km south of Jasper on Icefields Parkway (#93N)
Waterton Lakes National Park Gate: located at the entrance to the Park (there is only one access road into the park.
National Park Visitor Centres:
Banff National Park
Banff National Park Visitor Centre
Lake Louise Visitor Centre
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park Visitor Centre (Jasper, Alberta)
Parks Canada Administration Building (Jasper, Alberta)
Icefields Centre (Columbia Icefields: mid Apr. to mid Oct.)
Kootenay National Park
Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre (Radium, British Columbia: May to Sept.)
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park Visitor Centre
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
Staffed Campgrounds within the National Parks:
Campgrounds that participate in the Parks Canada Campground Reservation Service allow you to purchase a pass on-site. However, it's best to call ahead, as we have found availability to be hit and miss in our experience.
What if I Enter a National Park via a Tour Bus?
If you are entering a National Park on a tour bus, you still need a valid pass for the duration of your stay. Many tours include this in the ticket price, but it's important to confirm with your tour operator. Some visitors take a tour bus to Banff and then rent a car to explore the area and (mistakenly) think that they don't need a Park Pass. In all instances, if you have a car within a National Park, it requires a valid pass to be displayed on the windshield.
Are There Any Discounts Available?
For Canada locals, CAA/AMA members can receive a $10 discount on an annual Family/Group Discovery Pass, although you have to already be an AMA member at the time of purchase. Many people in Calgary use AMA for car insurance and we've used this in the past. You can read more about this here: AMA Travel Parks Canada-Discovery Pass.
There are no other discounts per se, but its worth mentioning that there are a few exceptions where people can access National Parks for free:
Free admission for newcomers to Canada and new Canadian citizens via the Canoo App. We did this when we got our citizenship and we saved over $1000 in entry fees across Canada, so well worth doing.
Parks Canada offers free admission and access to programs for support persons travelling with a visitor who has a disability.
Free daily admission for active members and Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and their immediate families
How Long are Park Passes Valid for?
Daily Passes
Daily passes provide entry to all applicable National Parks in until 4:00 pm the following day. This can mean you may not need to buy an extra day's pass. For example, if you were to leave Lake Louise at 3.45pm and drive straight back to Calgary without stopping via Highway 1, you wouldn't need a pass for that day.
Annual Passes
The annual Discovery Pass and Single-Location Annual Passes are both valid for one full year, until the end of the calendar month in which it was purchased. For locals this can mean that you can almost get 13 months under each pass if you time the purchase correctly. For example if I buy an annual pass on 1 July 2025, this pass is valid until 31 July 2026.
Is a Digital Park Pass or App Available?
Parks Canada does not currently offer a digital pass or app as an alternative to displaying a physical pass on your windshield. Unlike the Kananaskis Conservation Pass, which is linked to your vehicle’s license plate, National Park passes must be printed and displayed for valid entry. Passes should be placed on the left-hand side of the dashboard or hung from the rearview mirror with the date side visible. The pass is technically supposed to be signed by the pass holder, though I’ve never signed mine and it’s never been a problem. Even if purchased online, a physical copy is still required.
Can I Borrow a Park Pass from a Friend?
The official answer is no, you can’t. Park passes are non-transferable and meant to be used by the pass holder. While some people may do this and not get caught, as long as there’s a valid pass displayed on the windshield, you shouldn’t. The money from park passes helps to maintain the parks we all enjoy.
It is worth noting that you can 'get a lift' in a car with a Discovery Pass holder, then all of those people are covered under the Discovery Pass holders pass during that stay, providing the pass holder remains in the park with them. If the Discovery Pass holder was to leave the Park, you would need a pass for the remaining days in the park.
What are the Consequences of Being Caught Without a Valid Park Pass?
I can't tell you exactly how much you get fined for not buying a Park Pass. We've always bought one, so we've never had an issue. I can say from experience that it is a common sight to see park wardens checking vehicles at trailhead parking lots, by the popular lakes (Louise, Minnewanka, etc) and in Banff.
The Parks Canada website is VERY broad as to what fines are - all it says is that you can be fined up to a maximum fine of $25,000! Obviously it is incredibly unlikely that you would get fined this amount, and it's probably more the region of a $100-200 ticket..... but I wouldn't take the chance.
Can I use my Discovery Pass that I bought in Banff in Eastern Canada?
Yes! This is one of the biggest benefits of a Discovery Pass. We used ours to access National Parks in Nova Scotia and PEI during a two-week Eastern Canada road trip, saving us hundreds of dollars.
What Does the Money from the Park Passes Get Used For?
The money from Parks Canada park passes goes toward maintaining trails, campgrounds, and visitor facilities while also supporting conservation efforts, wildlife protection, and safety programs like search and rescue. In short, it helps preserve the beauty of the National Parks for everyone to enjoy.
The money from Parks Canada park passes supports the maintenance of trails, campgrounds, visitor facilities, and conservation efforts, including wildlife protection and safety programs like search and rescue. These fees help preserve the beauty of the National Parks and are used locally to maintain scenic parkways, day-use areas, trails, and public safety services. All revenues collected from park passes stay within the park or historic site where they are purchased, ensuring funds go directly toward improving the visitor experience.
Does a Family Discovery Pass Cover More Than One Vehicle?
Unfortunately, you would need to purchase a pass for the second vehicle, as each vehicle needs to have a valid pass displayed on the windshield otherwise you are likely to get a ticket. You can’t share a park pass with another vehicle.
Does a Park Pass include entry into Kananaskis Provincial Park?
In short, no. If you’re planning an epic roadtrip and driving into Kananaskis Country or the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, you’ll need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Similar to the National Park Pass, you have the option of purchasing a day pass or an annual pass:
Day pass - $15 (registers one vehicle)
Yearly pass - $90 (registers up to 3 vehicles)
You can purchase your Kananaskis pass here.
We hope you have found this Q&A guide useful. If you have any more questions that we haven't covered here please let us know in the comments and we can add it to this list.
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