FOR MOST...Banff National Park will be what your exploring so renting a car is definatley an asset  (car rentals in Banff).

DRIVING UP THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY

Having a car is especially useful if you plan on heading up to Jasper - it'll give you the freedom to stop where you want for how long you want while driving up the Icefields Parkway - named by national geographic as "one of the top ten scenic drives in the world!" ... some car rental companies allow you to drop the vehicle off in Jasper so you don't have to back track.  If you need to take a bus - Brewster has a charter bus (not stopping at any of the scenic lakes and waterfalls) aswell as a scenic tour. Another company offering a charter and scenic tour to Jasper is

GETTING TO & AROUND LAKE LOUISE 

With a car, Lake Louise is only a 50 minute drive along the Trans-Canada highway, or 1 hour & 10 minutes on the Bow Valley Parkway.  Without a Car, you can take the Greyhound or Brewster Bus to Lake Louise, but you'll have no way (besides a upwards of $40 cab) to visit Morraine Lake and to get to Lake Louise you'll have to take a taxi(flat rate of $7). OR, to make this easier but less flexible you can choose a organized tour with either Banff Discover Tours or Brewster Bus Tours. 

GETTING TO & AROUND LAKE MINNEWANKA LOOP

To get to Lake Minnewanka there is NO public transit therefore driving is the easiest option. Drive along the main street out of town (away from the bridge)  - make no turns, just drive - you'll be at the lake in 20 minutes. The rest of the driving loop, past Two Jack Lake, and the turn off for Johnston's Lake, and back into to town. 

Without a car, you can take a brewster bus out to Lake Minnewanka, & around the rest of the loop. Buses leave at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 and are only  $20 dollars. If you want time to picnic, walk along the shoreline, or go for a half day hike your able to take a later bus back. If you include the boat cruise, it'll be $59 for the "coach and cruise." Book this shuttle by calling 1800-760-6934 or going to the brewster bus depot.

GETTING AROUND BANFF- Tunnel Mountain, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola, and THe Banff Upper Hot Springs Swimming Pool

There's a saying in Banff that everything is "only a fifteen minute walk away" - this is pretty much true, but there are a couple exceptions, especially when your tired. Public Transit is helpful - for only $2 you can catch the bus up to the famous Banff Springs Hotel (walk is 20-25 minutes), to the Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola & the Banff Upper Hot Springs (walk uphill is along the road for 40-50 minutes), or to Tunnel Mountain - site of the hi-hostel, tunnel mtn campground, hotels, and the hoodoos (OR walk uphill for 25-35 minutes.)  Banff's "ROAM" aka Public Transit buses are unique - they are hybrids, and run on biodiesel! Easy to spot - they are decorated with pictures of bears, elk, or wolves. *TIP* pick up a day pass for $5 when you hop on! And, have exact change, it's not provided. Parking is FREE downtown, but obey posted times. Taking a taxi is not too expensive, you just have to call, hailing a cab takes too long (Call 403-762-0000 OR 403-762-4444) Cab fares will generally be between $5-10.  

THERE IS NO BUS SERVICE OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO JOHNSTON"S CANYON