Banff and Lake Louise from San Diego, Dec 11–14: $1,217 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $1,217 for two, all in, with 3 nights in Banff
- Elk + Avenue Hotel: 8.4 from 428 reviews, free cancellation
- Ski season: Lake Louise, Sunshine and Norquay on one lift pass
The catch: The $264 fare has one stop and takes 21h 45m on the way out, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you want snow and a short mountain weekend; skip it if a 21h 45m overnight connection sounds rough.
Worth it if you can handle an overnight connection: $1,217 for two, all in, for 3 nights, Dec 11–14, 2026. That's flights on F9 + WS at $528 plus Elk + Avenue Hotel at $613 and $76 in property fees, with taxes and fees included. It's one stop, not nonstop: you leave Friday at 7:06 PM and land at 11:15 AM Saturday.
The total, before you go
$1,217 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $528 |
| Elk + Avenue Hotel, 3 nights, two guests, taxes in | $613 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $76 |
| The total, before you go | $1,217 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$65 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 for two round trip); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$264 per person, round trip
$528 for two, taxes and fees included · F9 + WS · 1 stop · 21h 45m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 7:06 PM – Sat, Dec 12, 11:15 AM · back Mon, Dec 14, 2:55 PM – Mon, Dec 14, 8:31 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| F9 + WS | $264 | 1 stop | 21h 45m |
| WestJet | $329 | nonstop | 6h 55m |
| AS + WS | $303 | 1 stop | 14h 58m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 12:31 AM PDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
When we checked, the fare was $264 per person, or $528 for two round trip. That's $65 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, 20% less, across the 12 offers we checked. Add 3 nights at Elk + Avenue Hotel for $613 plus $76 in property fees and the total comes to $1,217 for two before you go. A checked bag and spending money aren't included. Mid-December is ski season in Banff, with highs of 25–31°F and lows near 11°F, snow on the first and last days and overcast skies in between. That's the setting for one lift pass that covers Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay, or an ice walk through Johnston Canyon. If you'd rather skip the overnight connection, WS had a nonstop at $329 per person that takes 6h 55m.
The kind of trip this is
This is a cold-weather nature getaway with snow, frozen lakes and mountains. You can ski if you want to, or take the gondola up for the views if you don't. It suits a couple or two friends who like being outside at 25°F and then heading back to a warm room in town. The pace is short and full. You get Saturday afternoon and one full day on Sunday, so pick one or two big outings and keep the rest easy.
Weather in Banff and Lake Louise, Dec 11–14
Typical highs 25–31°F, lows near 11°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 11 | 27 °F | 11 °F | Snow |
| Sat, Dec 12 | 25 °F | 9 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Dec 13 | 25 °F | 10 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Dec 14 | 31 °F | 13 °F | Snow |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Banff and Lake Louise
All three hotels are in Banff, and all three offer free cancellation. Elk + Avenue Hotel is the best value and the one in the total: $613 for 3 nights, or $204 a night, room only, plus $76 in fees at the property. It scores 8.4 from 428 reviews. Brewster Mountain Lodge costs $621 for the stay ($207 a night) with breakfast included, plus $73 at the property, and scores 8.7 from 1,253 reviews. Peaks Hotel and Suites is the top rated at 9 from 560 reviews. It's $827 for the stay, or $276 a night, plus $97 at the property, and the room at that price faces the back alley. The Banff townsite is the walkable base, with the most restaurants and the Bow River trails. Canmore, just outside the park gates, has better-value hotels and condos.
Elk + Avenue Hotel
$613 for 3 nights, two guests · $204 a night
See roomsPeaks Hotel and Suites
$827 for 3 nights, two guests · $276 a night
See roomsBrewster Mountain Lodge
$621 for 3 nights, two guests · $207 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Banff and Lake Louise for these dates
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Where in Banff and Lake Louise
- Banff townsite: Walkable base with the most hotels, restaurants and the Bow River trails.
- Tunnel Mountain: Lodges and condos on the hill above town, a short bus ride to Banff Avenue.
- Lake Louise: The Château on the lake and the village below it, closest to Moraine Lake and the ski hill.
- Canmore: Mountain town just outside the park gates with better-value hotels and condos.
- Kananaskis: Nordic spa and lodges in the quieter valley between Calgary and Banff.
What to do in Banff and Lake Louise
- Ski Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay on one lift pass
- Take the winter ice walk through Johnston Canyon
- Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
- Drive the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield
- Walk the Bow River trails from the Banff townsite
Also worth it
- Shuttle to Moraine Lake for sunrise
- Canoe on Lake Louise in front of the Château
Tours and tickets in Banff and Lake Louise
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Getting there and around
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Banff and Lake Louise | Calgary International (YYC) |
| Flight time | 21h 45m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,278 miles each way |
| Time difference | +2 hours |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 3 nights in Banff and Lake Louise costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $528 |
| Hotel, 3 nights (Elk + Avenue Hotel) | $613 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 3 days for two | $780 |
| Total for two | $1,921 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: San Diego to Banff and Lake Louise
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $264 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $264 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Price checks | 2 |
Good to know
- Passport: passport needed: travelers from the United States need a valid passport for Banff and Lake Louise; check the expiry rule of the country before you book.
- Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD).
- Ski season; Sunshine and Lake Louise often run into May.
- You need a passport for Canada, and the currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD).
- You fly into Calgary International (YYC), and Banff is 90 minutes from the airport.
- The flight out leaves SAN Friday at 7:06 PM and lands Saturday at 11:15 AM. The return leaves Monday at 2:55 PM and lands at 8:31 PM.
- The $1,217 covers the flights, the hotel and its $76 property fee. A checked bag, about $240 for two, is not included.
- Plan on $780 in spending money for two over 3 days, or $130 per person a day.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if the overnight connection doesn't bother you. You get 3 nights in Banff during ski season for $1,217 for two, all in, and the fare is $65 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates. If you'd rather fly nonstop, WS had one at $329 per person that takes 6h 55m.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,217 when we checked: $528 for flights, $613 at Elk + Avenue Hotel and $76 in property fees, with taxes and fees included. A checked bag, about $240 for two, and spending money aren't included. Plan on $780 for two over 3 days. Prices change, so check the live price before you book.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, Canada requires a passport. You'll pay in Canadian dollars (CAD).
What's the weather like?
Cold and snowy. Highs run 25–31°F with lows near 11°F. Snow is in the picture for Dec 11 and Dec 14, with overcast skies on Dec 12 and 13. Pack for cold days on the slopes.
Is 3 nights enough?
For a long weekend, yes. You land in Calgary at 11:15 AM Saturday, 90 minutes from Banff, and fly home Monday at 2:55 PM. Sunday is your one full day, so save the lift pass or the Icefields Parkway for it.
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Banff and Lake Louise in pictures
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