(*IMPORTANT: All prices I mention in this article are in U.S. dollars. I converted them from Canadian dollars using the current conversion rate. Please note the Moraine Lake Lodge website lists prices in Canadian dollars! This article was updated on 1/2/25.)
Moraine Lake Lodge in Banff National Park, Canada sits on the shores of the majestic and famously photographed Moraine Lake. The rustic luxury lodge and cabins are the premier location to stay when visiting this natural beauty, but the costly price tag leaves many travelers wondering if Moraine Lake Lodge is worth the splurge.
Since the 2023 Moraine Lake Road closure preventing personal vehicles from accessing the lake (you must take a shuttle or public transit to visit), Moraine Lake Lodge became even more exclusive.
If you’re wondering what’s all included in a stay at Moraine Lake Lodge and how it compares to staying elsewhere and just shuttling in for the day, we’ve got you covered. Below we give a comprehensive review of the property, accommodations, amenities, and the pros and cons.
Then, keep reading because we dive even deeper. We break down the cost of the room factoring in all of the free amenities you get as a lodge guest and compare it to alternate lodging – to see if it makes Moraine Lake Lodge worth the splurge.
Moraine Lake Lodge Prices
Deciding whether a night at Moraine Lake Lodge is worth the money depends on your priorities, travel style, and budget. Anyone who is traveling on a strict budget and trying to watch what they spend will likely not consider a stay here. But, if you value spending money occasionally to realize a dream destination or a bucket-list experience this review will be helpful. Plus, a stay at the Lodge comes with added complimentary amenities that must be factored in. We detail them below.
There are multiple room rates at Moraine Lake Lodge. While the cheapest room for 2025 is listed at $830 USD (with tax $925 USD), most of the rooms come in at $1000+ USD. The most expensive room is listed at just over $1,300 USD (with tax roughly $1,465).
Overview of our Stay at Moraine Lake Lodge
My husband Ryan and I do not consider ourselves budget travelers, but we are always prioritizing where to spend our money efficiently. We rarely splurge on lodging but decided to spend the money on Moraine Lake Lodge for two reasons:
1. It was the most convenient and hassle-free way to see Moraine Lake at sunrise due to the road closure. Guests of the lodge have access to the road and receive free parking. And if you’ve seen pictures of Moraine Lake at sunrise, you know it’s a bucket-list experience!
2. We were celebrating a milestone anniversary and decided to just go for it.
(To see our exact Banff National Park itinerary, click here: Best Banff and Jasper itinerary)
We chose one of the cheaper room options: the Wenkchemna Queen. It was separate from the lodge with its own entrance but not completely stand alone. It was connected to other cabin/rooms. Take a look:
According to their website, all rooms are guaranteed a lake view. This was the view from the back patio of our room:
The room we stayed in was rustic and charming, but not luxury. In other surroundings a room like this would not be nearly as expensive. You are definitely paying for the location and convenient access to Moraine Lake.
The Good: Complimentary amenities and perks
Guests of Moraine Lake Lodge enjoy several perks and free amenities included in their stay. Take these things into account when deciding whether lodging at Moraine Lake is worth the cost.
Location
Lodging right on the shores of the brilliantly colored Moraine Lake is a dream. With guaranteed lake views from every room, the lodge offers unparalleled access to one of the most iconic sights in the Canadian Rockies, if not the world. Some consider this benefit alone enough to warrant the splurge.
Convenience
Staying at Moraine Lake Lodge is the most convenient way to get to the lake. You’re able to drive on the road leading up to it and have free parking in the lodge parking lot. This is especially useful for viewing the spectacular sunrise. While other visitors must book a sunrise shuttle or tour, guests of Moraine Lake Lodge can walk out their door and up the Rockpile trail for sunrise in a matter of minutes.
Complimentary breakfast
A hearty breakfast is served in the lodge’s dining room. A combination of cold buffet items and made to order hot entrees was the perfect way to start an active day of hiking.
Light lunch
A soup and sandwich lunch is available free of charge in the lodge’s cozy library. This isn’t listed on their website, so it was a nice (and delicious!) surprise.
Canoeing on Moraine Lake
Paddling among the snowcapped mountains on the serene and stunning turquoise water is a bucket-list experience for many. Visitors must pay by the hour to canoe on Moraine Lake, while guests of the lodge get complimentary canoe rental with no time limit.
(Read about other stunning Banff lakes you can canoe on in this article: 15 Tips for Seeing Banff Lakes)
Guided hikes
Moraine Lake Lodge offers free Naturalist-guided hikes on one of the popular area trails. These informative group hikes teach you facts about the natural surroundings while taking you to some of the best viewpoints. (Occasionally there are even hiking restrictions around Moraine Lake requiring hiking in groups of at least four people. Guided hikes are especially useful at that time.)
The Not-So-Good: Inconveniences to consider
Besides cost, there are other considerations to staying at Moraine Lake Lodge. While nestled among some of the most beautiful surroundings in the world, the seclusion and remoteness of the lodge can present some challenges.
No choice in dining options
Moraine Lake Lodge has a small deli/café open during the day for guests and visitors, but it closes at 5 p.m. Your only option for a sit-down dinner is the lodge’s fine dining restaurant. Serving steak, seafood, and pasta entrées ranging from $30-60 each, the high price tag adds to an already expensive stay.
No nearby shops, bars, or grocery stores
There is a gift shop onsite, but if you need something more or want to go to a grocery store, shop, or bar, you’ll have to drive 20 minutes into Lake Louise Village.
Few activities to do if hiking’s not your thing
If you’re not into a lot of hiking or photography, there aren’t many other activities to participate in around the lodge. Plus, if it downpours, you may be stuck in your room with no television and very spotty wi-fi.
A Cost Breakdown
If the Moraine Lake Lodge prices give you sticker shock, you’re not alone. The lodge’s nightly rate of $1,000+ is much higher than the roughly $375 you’d pay on average in Lake Louise – the nearest community to Moraine Lake. However, remember the lodge’s high cost includes amenities you’d likely pay for separately if you stayed elsewhere. We estimated the value of these amenities and inserted them into the comparison table below:
*For our calculations, we assumed you would be shuttling in for the famous Moraine Lake sunrise. And remember, we converted the amounts into U.S. dollars.
| Moraine Lake Lodge | Other lodging (closest is Lake Louise) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Cost of room w/tax | $1,075 | $375 |
| Sunrise shuttle for 2 people | n/a | $150 |
| Canoe rental | included | $105 |
| Guided hike for 2 people | included | $100 |
| Hearty breakfast for 2 | included | $40 |
| Light lunch w/coffee, tea for 2 | included | $30 |
| $1,075 | $800 |
After factoring in the value of these amenities, the true difference in cost between a night at Moraine Lake Lodge versus an average night in Lake Louise is $275.
Is Moraine Lake Lodge Worth the Splurge?
There’s no sugarcoating it, Moraine Lake Lodge is expensive. You’re paying a premium for the unbeatable location and exclusivity. Only you can decide if the extra $275 is worth it to you for the experience you get by lodging on the shores of Moraine Lake.
Our take
We valued the exclusive access at Moraine Lake Lodge. Unlike day trippers who shuttle in with the masses, we enjoyed the lake in peace and quiet during the early mornings and evenings. The tranquil and turquoise Moraine Lake is known throughout the world. A day spent with crowds of other tourists does not allow for a relaxed, unrushed experience. Overnighting at Moraine Lake Lodge lets you soak it all in and have a very different type of adventure.
Plus, we had as much time as we wanted for some breathtaking hikes and canoeing on Moraine Lake. We weren’t bound by shuttle times and departures – which is especially important if you’re doing any long hikes. Then, you must gauge when you’ll be back from your hike to choose the correct shuttle departure time.
Seeing the sunrise is very convenient as a guest at Moraine Lake Lodge. We didn’t have to get up extra early to catch a shuttle. (The sunrise is early enough as it is!) We just walked out our door to the Rockpile where you get the most iconic Moraine Lake views – mere minutes away. In fact, we hiked the convenient Rockpile Trail three times during our 1-night stay. We ventured to the top on the afternoon we arrived, again after dinner during dusk (and had it almost all to ourselves!), and the next morning for sunrise.
A magical experience either way
Whether you stay overnight at Moraine Lake Lodge or come for the day, you’re in for a treat. Witnessing the majestic Moraine Lake and surrounding mountain vistas is truly a magical experience.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT MORAINE LAKE LODGE.
Hi, this itinerary is so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I will be traveling to this area this early summer or Midsummer with my two children. They are 12 and 15 and very eager for adventure. I am looking to splurge and spend one night at Lake Moraine Lodge. It’s been incredibly difficult to book a room there? Do you know when, they start accepting reservations? When I try to call the front desk, it has a busy signal.
Thank you
Nichole
Hi Nichole, Go to their website and click the “Book Now” button. That is the best way to reserve a room. You can email them, too, if you have questions and they will respond. They are only open for guests from June 1 through Sept. 30. Hope you have a great time!