Getting here

Kootenay National Park is located in the province of British Columbia, near the Alberta border. It is part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. There are no towns inside Kootenay National Park. The closest full service towns are Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta.

Directions

By vehicle

Highway 93 South (also called the Banff-Windermere Highway) runs 94 km through the centre of the park. It is the only major route and can be accessed from:

• Banff National Park to the east, via the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at Castle Junction 
• Golden, B.C. to the north and west, via Highway 95 and Highway 1 
• Cranbrook, B.C. to the south, via Highway 93/95 

There is no public transportation in Kootenay National Park. Most people travel in a personal vehicle. Vehicle rentals are available in Invermere, B.C. as well as in Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta.

By air

Calgary and Vancouver are the closest airports serviced by major national and international carriers. Connections may be made to Cranbrook, 145 km south of Radium Hot Springs, B.C. Airport shuttles from Calgary, Alberta are available to Lake Louise and Banff near the park's east entrance.

Road reports

Drive BC provides road conditions and a helpful trip planning tool for British Columbia including the mountain national parks. Dial 1-800-550-4997 or visit on mobile device. Alberta 511 provides road conditions for Alberta. Dial 511 (inside Alberta) or 1-855-391-9743 (outside Alberta). 

The highway is maintained throughout the year. The maximum speed limit is 90 km/hr. Temporary closures may occur in the event of adverse weather conditions.

• Highway Cameras - Alberta 511
• Highway Cameras - Drive BC
• Kootenay National Park - Weather Forecast  

Did you know? In 1923, driving the Banff-Windermere Highway (Highway 93 south) took an entire day in a Ford Model T. Today, you can legally drive Hwy 93 in less than 2 hours.