Paying to enter the park
 

We'll be driving from Calgary to Banff. Apparently we enter the park before Banff and will pay there.

Does the toll stop accept credit cards (US) or must we have Canadian currency?

Well if you're travelling in Canada you should have Canadian currency anyway. I do believe that the Park gate will take credit cards.

I just visited the Parks Canada website, and it is frustratingly non-informative about this. We always buy an annual pass and have always paid cash - you might try e-mailing your question to:

[email protected]

Skip,

If memory serves, you can't use your credit card at the park gates (although I am not 100% certain about this).

As was suggested, cash is probably the easiest way to go - it's $14 CDN a day for a vehicle with 2-7 people and the pass lasts until 4 p.m. the following day.

Terry

I don't know about all of the gates into the park. But I definitely bought an annual pass on Visa at the gate entering the Park from Calgary.

Credit cards (at least Visa and Mastercard) are accepted as far as I can remember, but we usually pay cash for this (and you are going to have to have some Canadian money anyway).

Thanks to all who responded. We plan to carry Canadian currency - it is just a matter of how much.

Here is a response, verbatim, that I received from the Banff NP office just now. This confirms what some of us have already stated.

Hello/Bonjour,

At the Banff Entry Gates, you can pay with credit card; Visa, Master Card
or American Express, they do not accept debit card or "interact card".

Sincerely,

Banff National Park Information Centre

I think the cost is about $75 (CDN) for an annual pass. Not sure how long you're planning on being in the parks up there but it could be worth it if you plan on returning within 12 months.

Just returned- we bought a 4-day pass for Banff/Jasper at entry gate between Canmore and Banff- used a MasterCard. We had very little Canadian money with us and did just fine using our credit card most places including grocery stores. We got money from ATM just after we crossed border from Montana.