Where to Stay: Best Areas in Canmore

Canmore is a scenic town that lies just outside the renowned Banff National Park in the rugged Canadian Rocky Mountains. This gem lies on the southwestern edge of Alberta, which is Canada’s fourth-largest province.

The area is a popular tourist destination for travelers who want to appreciate the great outdoors. The wild, mountainous scenery offers lots of opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding.

There are plenty of fantastic accommodation options to choose from in Canmore, but the first step in finding the right place to stay is selecting a neighborhood that suits your travel style.

Let’s take a look at some of Canmore’s most popular neighborhoods and highlight some of its best hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals so you can get started planning the perfect getaway in the Canadian Rockies.

Downtown Canmore for First-Time Visitors

Highlights: Ha Ling Peak, Bow Valley Trail, Canmore Museum, Canmore Engine Bridge, Canmore Golf & Curling Club

Canmore is lesser-known than nearby Banff and the bustling major city of Calgary, but it’s a great location to stay in for first-time visitors who want easy access to the Rockies at an affordable price.

The Trans-Canada Highway runs right past Canmore and it allows you to reach Banff in less than 30 minutes. The Banff National Park 1A route, also known as Alberta Provincial Highway 1A, also cuts through the heart of Canmore. This winding road runs from Lake Louise through Banff and all the way to Calgary. The section west of Canmore is known as the Bow Valley Parkway, and the section east of Canmore is called the Bow Valley Trail. The latter runs right alongside a long and beautiful stretch of Bow River and is popular with hikers and cyclists, as well as drivers looking for the scenic route.

Downtown Canmore is the very center of this pretty mountain town and it’s where you’ll find plenty of excellent hotels, inns, and lodges. Main Street is home to a good range of cafes, bars, and restaurants. Spring Creek is a pretty neighborhood bordered by tranquil mountain streams, and it has peaceful streamside pathways to stroll along when you want to take in the views. You’ll also find plenty of small parks and green spaces dotted throughout the town, so be sure to wander around and take in the relaxing atmosphere.

There are fewer attractions in Canmore than in the likes of Banff and Calgary, but you’ll still find interesting things to do when you don’t want to venture too far.

Canmore Museum is a fantastic place to learn about the town’s mining history. Join a cave tour to explore some of the fascinating caverns that are in this area, some of which boast ancient hieroglyph cave paintings.

If you’re ready for adventure, you could take a rafting tour along the Bow River. There are also plenty of great hiking trails within easy access of Canmore, including the route up Ha Ling Peak which will reward you with unbeatable panoramic views.

Where to Stay in Downtown Canmore

Here are some of the best hotels in the town of Canmore:

• The Malcolm Hotel by CLIQUE is a popular luxury hotel that offers gorgeous rooms with private balconies for spectacular mountain views. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s heated outdoor pool, hot tub, bar, and in-house restaurant.
• The Canmore Inn & Suites is an excellent family-friendly and pet-friendly hotel in Downtown Canmore. It has an indoor pool with a 3-story waterslide, an arcade room, a fitness room, and a conference center, and it offers free parking.
• Stoneridge Mountain Resort offers upscale accommodations with exceptional views of the Rockies. It has an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, a 24-hour gym, secure underground parking, and a 24-hour concierge service.
• Solara Resort is part of the Bellstar Hotels & Resorts chain and it provides spacious, upmarket condo suites that are equipped with full kitchens. Here, you can enjoy the convenience of a home away from home and the indulgence of on-site facilities such as a pool, hot tub, and sauna.
• Basecamp Lodge Canmore offers cozy rooms and suites, some of which have balconies, fireplaces, and full kitchens. There’s also a wood-burning fireplace in the communal lounge in the hotel lobby. You can also look forward to complimentary locally sourced toiletries and a free in-room continental breakfast.
• Lamphouse by Basecamp is a boutique hotel that offers modern, understated rooms and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the ideal spot for those who want a convenient base with free WiFi and parking. There are rooms and suites available and although there isn’t a pool, guests can make use of the outdoor hot tub.
• MTN House by Basecamp is a 4-star hotel with 24-hour check-in, free parking, and room service available. Its comfortable rooms are equipped with air conditioning, coffee machines, fridges, minibars, and complimentary toiletries.
• Pocaterra Inn & Waterslide is considered one of the finest Canmore hotels thanks to its spacious bedroom suites and friendly staff. It’s a pet-friendly and family-friendly option with a large pool and waterslide, a whirlpool hot tub, a dry sauna, and a fitness center to enjoy.
• Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a peaceful hotel that will help you relax and connect with nature. It has an impressive lobby area with a cozy wood-burning fireplace to welcome you, and a dry sauna is available 24 hours a day for guests to unwind.
• Chateau Canmore offers the ultimate comfort with its spacious rooms, which are equipped with fireplaces, fridges, microwaves, coffee makers, spacious seating areas, and even whirlpool bathtubs if you opt to upgrade. There’s an outdoor hot tub and a dry indoor sauna available to help you relax after a busy day.
• Georgetown Inn is a charming Tudor English-style building with pretty gardens and patios outside and a communal lounge that resembles an English country pub. With just 20 guest rooms, this eclectic and intimate hotel is the perfect choice for a romantic getaway.
• Blackstone Mountain Lodge by CLIQUE is a luxurious hotel with guest rooms and condos available. It offers an outdoor pool that is heated all year round, two hot tubs, a heated underground parking lot, a fitness center, and an outdoor courtyard area with impressive mountain views.

Harvie Heights for Budgeters and Backpackers

Highlights: Banff National Park entrance

Harvie Heights allows you to see the Canadian Rockies on a budget, which is ideal for young travelers and backpackers.

It lies just five minutes down the road from Canmore by car, but its accommodation options are significantly more affordable. Plus, it’s just a minute away from Banff National Park’s entrance, so you can explore the great outdoors with minimal effort.

The small hamlet of Harvie Heights started life as a seasonal cottage community in the late 1950s. It has since evolved into a permanent community that’s home to a mix of full-time and part-time residents and welcomes visitors keen to explore the local area.

There’s a small community hall where you might be lucky enough to catch a social event, and to the south of this hall lies an outdoor skating rink and a tennis court. On the hall’s north side is a playground ideal for letting the kids burn off some steam.

There are scant attractions in Harvie Heights except for Banff National Park, so you can expect to travel if you want to see museums and other cultural sights. Your main pastimes are set to be hiking and exploring the beautiful wilderness.

If you want a comfortable room in a cheap hotel, lodge, or chalet with quick access to the great outdoors, Harvie Heights is for you.

Banff for Adventurous Families

Highlights: Banff Gondola, museums, Upper Hot Springs, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Glacier Skywalk

Banff is a beautiful town located inside Banff National Park, and many consider it the ultimate destination for visiting the Canadian Rockies.

You can see Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain from almost everywhere in town, and Sundance Peak and Mount Norquay are within very easy reach. You’ll have a huge variety of hiking trails to choose from, and the town itself is very walkable.

Shuttle buses run to many popular sights, such as Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon, so Banff is a very convenient place to stay if you don’t want to hire a car.

Banff Avenue is the town’s main drag and there are plenty of very good restaurants here, as well as fun bars and eclectic shops. There’s more choice in this regard compared to Downtown Canmore, and the atmosphere overall is more lively.

Keep in mind that the town can get very busy and crowded during the height of summer and the winter skiing season. If you’re not a fan of overly touristic vacations, Banff might not be for you.

When you’re ready for a break from all that hiking and mountaineering, you have plenty of slower-paced activities to choose from in Banff. Ride the Banff Gondola to see the incredible landscape from a new perspective. Relax your sore muscles when you take a dip in the mineral-rich Upper Hot Springs. Learn about the region’s history when you visit Banff Park Museum National Historic Site, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, and the Buffalo Nations Museum.

Where to Stay in Banff

One of the most appealing aspects of staying in Banff is the fantastic choice of hotels and vacation rentals on offer. You’ll also find plenty of campgrounds on the outskirts of town. There’s a good mix of high-end, midrange, and budget accommodations, but given the sheer popularity of the area, you can expect higher rates than in Canmore and Harvie Heights.

Calgary for Night Owls

Highlights: Restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, parks, Fort Calgary, Calgary Zoo, Calgary Tower

Calgary is some 60 miles away from Canmore and accessible in an hour by car via the Trans-Canada Highway.

If you’re traveling to the region by plane it’s likely that you’ll fly into Calgary, in which case you might consider staying in the city for a night or two to experience its bustling atmosphere.

As the fifth-largest city in Canada, Calgary has a fantastic nightlife scene. There’s a huge variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs on offer, but one of the most famous after-dark hotspots is Cowboys Dance Hall which has a huge dancefloor and a fun, casual vibe that encourages drinking and dancing long into the night.

There’s also plenty of culture to experience in Calgary. Visit Glenbow Museum to discover local history and artworks. Heritage Park is an open-air history museum with actors recreating life in historic Western Canada. Fort Calgary dates back to 1875 and offers fantastic insights into the city’s origins. Visit Calgary Tower to get incredible panoramic city views from its revolving restaurant, or check out Calgary Zoo to see a range of native and exotic animal species.

Where to Stay in Calgary

You won’t have any trouble finding accommodation in Calgary, particularly in the city center, and there’s plenty of variety to suit a range of budgets and tastes.

It’s unrealistic to use Calgary as a base if you plan to do plenty of exploring of the Rockies during your stay as the drive out to Banff National Park is too long.

However, if you want a taste of Alberta’s urban charm in addition to its incredible natural beauty, you could start or finish your Canmore vacation with two or three days in Calgary.

Where Will Your Canmore Vacation Take You?

Now you’re up to speed with the best tourist areas in Canmore you can get started planning your vacation to this beautiful part of Alberta. Which neighborhood will you call home when you explore the Rocky Mountains?