The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Canmore, Canada

Book the budget-friendly Canmore Hotel Hostel to mingle with backpackers in a former saloon | © eye35 / Alamy Stock Photo

Johanna Read

9 November 2021

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This former coal-mining town is beyond the boundaries of Banff National Park (by a 10-minute drive) – so it used to be easier to find lower-priced accommodations in Canmore than in Banff itself. But Canmore now has so much to offer that cheap stays are harder to find – not impossible, though. Staying here brings another saving: no need to purchase a national parks pass – Canmore has access to activities, trails and views that easily rival Banff’s. We’ve got you covered with our recommendations on the best cheap stays in Canmore – all bookable via Culture Trip.

Canmore Hotel Hostel, for live-music lovers

Backpackers at Canmore Hotel Hostel play pool at two tables while others order a drink at the bar

Courtesy of Canmore Hotel Hostel / Expedia

Right on Main Street, this two-story building, dating from 1890, was once one of the town’s grand hotels. Where coal miners and rail workers mingled, the former saloon is now frequented by backpackers and live-music lovers. Upstairs, choose from private rooms and bunk-bed dorms sleeping from four to 10 guests. You’ll have either a private or shared bathroom, a locker and use of the shared kitchen. The uncluttered rooms don’t have much more than the bed, but the wooden walls – restored wherever possible – certainly have stories to tell.

Super 8 by Wyndham Canmore, for views of the Rockies

The ski lodge-esque Super 8 by Wyndham Canmore with mountains behind it

Courtesy of Super 8 by Wyndham Canmore / Expedia

This is the rare Super 8 that feels more like a modern mountain lodge than a budget roadside motel. It’s right by the railroad tracks that run straight through town, 15 minutes on foot to Main Street and even closer to several dining spots. There’s a light breakfast included – if you have a big appetite, stock up at the nearby grocery store and fill your in-room minifridge. (There’s a microwave, too.) The views are upstaged by the large black-and-white photos of snow-clad mountains behind the beds, but you can see the Rockies through your window – even from the large indoor hot tub. Also onsite are a fitness room and laundromat.

Mountain View Inn, for awesome peak panoramas

A traditional room at Mountain View Inn with Canadian trees seen through the three windows

Courtesy of Mountain View Inn / Expedia

This updated inn is in a newish section of town between the Trans-Canada highway and the railroad tracks. You’re just a 15-minute walk to the heart of downtown with plenty of places to eat en route. In Canmore, it’s tough to not have a view given the mountains sound the town. Most rooms look out over them – premium king suites have the best outlooks, and there’s a jetted tub to boot. Ask for a room with a mini-fridge and microwave. Expect, too, convenient electrical outlets to keep gadgets charged, improved wifi, new linens and TVs. Prices are kept lower as there’s no daily housekeeping, but you can pay to have it.

Coast Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre, for a pet-friendly getaway

The lodge-style building of Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre, with the mountains in the distance

Courtesy of Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre / Expedia | Courtesy of Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre / Expedia

The Coast welcomes you with indoor and outdoor lounge space next to fireplaces. Rooms and suites are mostly black, gray and white, with the wall behind the bed evoking the wilderness with images of winter forests, calm ponds or tree rings. Cats and dogs get pet-sized beds, treats and bowls for a small fee. The fitness center has Peloton bikes in addition to an indoor pool and hot tub. You’ll love toasting winter weekends at the firepit with the s’mores kits available from the front desk.

Holiday Inn Canmore, for family affordability

A mountain towers over the large Holiday Inn Canmore hotel

Courtesy of Holiday Inn Canmore / Expedia

This distinctive peak-roofed hotel might be on the far side of the Trans-Canada highway from the main part of town, but you’re also less than 10 minutes (even tromping in snow boots) to a sledding hill and bike-skills park. The lobby welcomes with a fireplace and bowls of fresh fruit and the outdoor hot tub delivers great views of the Three Sisters Mountain. There are 99 rooms and suites, each with a sofa bed, mini-fridge and microwave; the suites also have kitchenettes. More savings? Stays of three or more nights are discounted and two kids under age 11 eat for free when dining with a parent who orders from the main menu at the Trail Restaurant.

Rundle Mountain Lodge, for a cabin-style retreat

A simple cabin-style room at Rundle Mountain Lodge with wooden walls and cosy-looking bed

Courtesy of Rundle Mountain Lodge / Expedia

Near the edge of town (on the Banff – not Calgary – side), this little lodge has a lived-in decor. It also has an indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, playground, barbeques and a firepit. You have a choice of rustic rooms, made to look like log cabins, or more-standard hotel rooms, some with kitchenettes and fireplaces (one has a hot tub just a few steps from the bed). Mini-fridges help keep your food budget down. For the times you want to spend a bit, there are a couple of neighboring dining spots – or walk the 20 minutes to the center of Canmore, calling in at one or more of the several haunts along the way.

Silver Creek Lodge Resort & Spa, for endless amenities

A homely room at Silver Creek Lodge Resort & Spa with a double bed and fire place

Courtesy of Silver Creek Lodge Resort & Spa / Expedia | Courtesy of Silver Creek Lodge Resort & Spa / Expedia

Next door to Rundle Mountain Lodge, this stone four-story has rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites. The look evokes staying at a friend’s ski condo rather than a standard hotel: expect an electric fireplace near your king bed plus a kitchenette; all but one has a soaker tub. Suites have private bedrooms plus a pull-out couch in the living room next to the fireplace, as well as a soaker tub, full kitchen, in-suite laundry and an outdoor patio. Housekeeping is “vacation-style”, meaning you pay extra if you want it. Heated underground parking makes early morning starts much more tolerable. The Asian-fusion bistro is 100 percent gluten-free.

Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn, for a warming bolthole

The lodge-style Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn with rocky peaks behind it

Courtesy of Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn / Expedia

This lodge keeps guests warm and cozy. It has a large wood-burning stone fireplace in the lobby – have a turn at the chessboard, if you can tear your gaze from the view out the two-story windows. There’s also a sauna open 24/7. Rates include continental breakfasts plus an evening wine and cheese reception. Which room is for you? Choose by what you want in it: gas fireplace, hot tub, balcony, patio, kitchenette, microwave… (all have a fridge). Two rooms tailormade for families can sleep up to six, with the sofa bed behind glass doors for a bit more privacy than usual. Drove up in an e-car? There’s an on-site charging station.

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