How to Get to Moraine Lake: Parks Canada vs. Moraine Lake Bus Company

First: you cannot just drive to Moraine Lake

Personal vehicles are not permitted on Moraine Lake Road. For most visitors, that means using a shuttle or commercial transportation. You can also bike or walk the road, and lodge guests have separate access, but for most travelers the real decision is between the Parks Canada shuttle and a commercial shuttle.

Parks Canada vs. Moraine Lake Bus Company

Prices and schedules are current for 2026 and can change. Always verify current details before booking.

Parks Canada Shuttle: best value

If you can get the reservation you want, Parks Canada is an excellent option. In 2026, the shuttle costs CA$12.75 per adult, CA$6 for seniors and CA$4 for youth, plus a CA$3.50 online reservation fee per booking.

The regular shuttle starts at the Lake Louise Park & Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, where parking is included. Your reservation covers your initial trip to the lake you selected, unlimited use of the Lake Connector between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, and your return from either lake to the Park & Ride.

You do not reserve a specific return time, which makes Parks Canada particularly good if you want to visit both lakes and decide as you go how long to stay.

The reservation timing is the catch

For 2026, Parks Canada released 40% of seats for the full season at 8 AM Mountain Time on April 15. The remaining 60% are released on a rolling basis at 8 AM Mountain Time just two days before departure.

If you know your exact plans by April 15 and get the reservation you want, great. But many people do not have a Canadian Rockies trip fully planned by then — or simply miss the initial release. If Moraine Lake is one of the places you most want to see, waiting until two days before your visit to secure transportation can feel unsettling.

Parks Canada itself recommends having a backup plan because of high demand.

Why choose Moraine Lake Bus Company?

The biggest reason for us is certainty. If Moraine Lake is a non-negotiable part of your trip, Moraine Lake Bus Company gives you another way to reserve available transportation ahead of time rather than depending on the two-day Parks Canada release.

Daytime Moraine Lake trips currently start at CA$70 per person round trip. The company includes guaranteed free parking, reserved pickup, departures approximately every 30 minutes, and a scheduled return that you select based on how long you want to stay. Reservations can be moved to another available date/time up to 24 hours before departure, although tickets are non-refundable.

That setup can be especially appealing if you are building the day around a hike: choose enough time for the trail you want rather than treating Moraine Lake as a quick photo stop.

What we actually saw

We did not personally ride this shuttle. We stayed at Moraine Lake Lodge, so we did not need transportation to the lake. But we saw Moraine Lake Bus Company shuttles operating while we were there and spoke with travelers who had used them.

The people we talked to were very happy with the experience. They told us it was easy and that they still had plenty of time to hike and explore — which mattered to us because that is how we like to experience places like Moraine Lake.

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you book Moraine Lake Bus Company through our link, at no additional cost to you. We became an affiliate after our trip and did not personally ride this shuttle.

What about sunrise?

Both services offer very early access, but the logistics are different. Parks Canada's Alpine Start has 4 AM and 5 AM departures. Moraine Lake Bus Company currently offers multiple early departures, with pre-6 AM pickup from Samson Mall in Lake Louise Village and guaranteed free parking included.

For a sunrise visit, we would give the private shuttle a closer look. At that hour, having the parking, departure and return already arranged can be worth paying for — especially if Moraine Lake sunrise is one of the experiences you built the trip around.

See Moraine Lake sunrise shuttle options

Want to see Lake Louise too?

This is where Parks Canada has a real advantage. The regular Parks Canada reservation includes unlimited use of the Lake Connector between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, so it is very easy to see both lakes in the same day.

Moraine Lake Bus Company also has a both-lakes option, currently starting at CA$105 per person, with a one-hour Lake Louise stop before continuing to Moraine Lake.

If seeing both lakes in one day is your priority and you can secure the Parks Canada reservation you want, we would lean Parks Canada.

Can you bike or walk to Moraine Lake?

Yes. We saw cyclists on Moraine Lake Road. But this is not a short access road: walking it is roughly a 28 km / 17.4-mile round trip. For a strong cyclist — particularly someone who wants the ride itself to be part of the adventure — biking can be a legitimate option.

For hikers, we would rather save those miles for the spectacular trails that begin at Moraine Lake. If you came to hike, taking transportation in lets you spend your energy on places like Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass instead of the access road.

Which would we choose?

Our bottom line

Do not let the transportation logistics make you skip Moraine Lake. It was one of the highlights of our Canadian Rockies trip and, in our opinion, it is a must-see. Parks Canada is a fantastic value if you can get the reservation you want. Moraine Lake Bus Company is the option we would consider when having the day locked into the itinerary is more important than getting the lowest price.

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no additional cost to you.