The Town of Banff says vehicle traffic this year “may exceed the 2024 record vehicle count of 6.7 million vehicles,” with vehicle volume at main entrances for the month of July increasing 1.68 per cent over last year and 3.55 per cent over pre-pandemic 2019, and tour bus activity “rebounding to pre-COVID levels.”
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In a July 2025 Traffic Volume news release, the town said 867,581 vehicles were recorded at its two main entrances in July. For 2025 to the end of July, vehicle volume tracked at the entrances is up six per cent over the year-to-date in 2024.
The release said “tour bus visitation is climbing back to pre-COVID levels, evidenced by an overfull bus parking in the public lot east of the Mount Royal Hotel.” Overnight tour bus parking has been expanded at the Train Station Public Parking Lot, in addition to space in the Industrial Compound. A pilot adjustment starting in late August will change the lot behind the Mount Norquay Hotel from two-hour parking to 15-minute loading only, and additional bus and shuttle parking in the townsite is being explored.
According to the release, Bow River Bridge vehicle volume remains 12.91 per cent lower than 2019, possibly due to increased use of Roam Public Transit and pedestrian bridges. In July, bridge crossings reached 452,841, a 6.6 per cent increase from July 2024, but 12.9 per cent lower than July 2019. Year-to-date traffic over the bridge is up 3.17 per cent compared to last year and remains 11.35 per cent below 2019.
Mountain Avenue vehicle traffic totalled 137,058 in July, which the release said was “about the same as in July 2024 (slight decrease of 0.8%) and 21.1% below 2019 levels.” Year-to-date traffic is 1.52 per cent higher than the same period in 2024 but remains 8.51 per cent lower than 2019.
The release said Roam Local Transit Routes 1 and 2 ridership increased by 21.9 per cent over 2024, with 260,960 riders in July. The town estimated this “replaced over 105,000 private vehicles, helping reduce congestion and emissions in Banff.”
The town said weather in July was “cooler and much wetter than average,” which “may have led to a slight decline in day trips and active travel modes,” especially for day visitors driving from the Calgary region. The release provided Environment Canada data showing an average high of 21.5 C, average low of 7.5 C and 98.7 millimetres of precipitation in July 2025, compared to 26.2 C, 8.4 C and 11.1 millimetres in July 2024. Climate normals are computed over a 30-year period to eliminate year-to-year variations. Source: Environment Canada.
The release also said the upper viewing platform at Surprise Corner will close from Sept. 8 to Oct. 20 “to repair vandalized structures, replace aging boards and re-stain and maintain the stairs, benches and railings.” The parking lot will remain open but the viewing area will be reduced.
Traffic management measures listed in the release include manual traffic signal overrides at peak times, weekend flaggers at key intersections, and signs on main routes to the Bow River Bridge when Parks Canada advises the Banff Gondola is at full capacity.
The release said the town is “now tracking License plate data at town entrances” to provide insights into the geographic origin of visitors, including “U.S. tourists taking advantage of a stronger dollar, and residents of Calgary and surrounding areas.”
It also said communications during peak summer months include:
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Encouraging day visitors to consider leaving their vehicle at home and taking a bus to Banff.
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Urging overnight visitors to leave their vehicle — especially RVs and trailers — parked at the campground and taking free Roam Transit to town, and hotel guests to leave their vehicles parked and using free transit passes that most hotels give to guests.
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Encouraging Calgary-area drivers to arrive before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to be able to find parking and less crowded trails, attractions and transit.
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Encouraging visitation in fall, winter, and spring.
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