Bus 81 in Calgary links Chinook LRT Station NB and Chinook LRT Station WB. The route is 10.6 km long with 30 stops, and the official schedule from Calgary Transit puts the full trip at about 33 minutes. On a weekday it runs 29 trips in one direction.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | 81 |
| City | Calgary |
| Transit authority | Calgary Transit |
| Start → end | Chinook LRT Station NB → Chinook LRT Station WB |
| End → start | Chinook LRT Station WB → Chinook LRT Station NB |
| Route length | 10.6 km / 14.1 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 30 / 32 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 33 minutes |
| Trips per day | 29 on weekdays one way |
| Frequency | peak 32 · midday 32 |
| First / last trip from «Chinook LRT Station NB» | 05:33 / 20:30 |
| First / last trip from «Chinook LRT Station WB» | 05:33 / 19:02 |
| Fare | 4.00 $ |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus 81
Outbound: Chinook LRT Station NB → Chinook LRT Station WB
This direction has 30 stops and runs 10.6 km. The route passes NB 1A ST SW @ 60 AV SW, NB 7 ST SE @ N. of 42 AV SE, EB 42 AV SE @ 11 ST SE, WB 58 AV SE @ 9 ST SE. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinook LRT Station NB | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | NB 1A ST SW @ 60 AV SW | 0.3 km | |
| 3 | NB 1A ST SW @ 58 AV SW | 0.5 km | |
| 4 | EB 58 AV SE @ 1 ST SE | 0.9 km | |
| 5 | NB 3 ST SE @ 58 AV SE | 1.4 km | |
| 6 | EB 53 AV SE @ 3 ST SE | 1.8 km | |
| 7 | EB 42 AV SE @ Blackfoot TR | 3.5 km | |
| 8 | NB 7 ST SE @ 42 AV SE | 3.6 km | |
| 9 | NB 7 ST SE @ N. of 42 AV SE | 4.0 km | |
| 10 | NB 7 ST SE @ 34 AV SE | 4.4 km | |
| 11 | EB 34 AV SE @ 8 ST SE | 4.6 km | |
| 12 | SB 9 ST SE @ 34 AV SE | 4.8 km | |
| 13 | SB 9 ST SE @ S. of 34 AV SE | 5.0 km | |
| 14 | SB 9 ST SE @ N. of 42 AV SE | 5.3 km | |
| 15 | EB 42 AV SE @ 9 ST SE | 5.6 km | |
| 16 | EB 42 AV SE @ 11 ST SE | 5.8 km | |
| 17 | SB 12 ST SE @ 42 AV SE | 6.1 km | |
| 18 | SB 12 ST SE @ Hastings CR | 6.2 km | |
| 19 | SB Highfield CR @ 11 ST SE | 6.6 km | |
| 20 | SB 12A ST SE @ Highfield CR | 6.8 km | |
| 21 | SB 11 ST SE @ N. of 58 AV SE | 7.6 km | |
| 22 | WB 58 AV SE @ 11 ST SE | 7.9 km | |
| 23 | WB 58 AV SE @ 9 ST SE | 8.1 km | |
| 24 | WB 58 AV SE @ Burbank RD | 8.4 km | |
| 25 | WB 58 AV SE @ 5 ST SE | 8.8 km | |
| 26 | WB 58 AV SE @ 4 ST SE | 9.0 km | |
| 27 | WB 58 AV SE @ 3 ST SE | 9.2 km | |
| 28 | WB 58 AV SE @ 2 ST SE | 9.4 km | |
| 29 | WB 58 AV S @ Centre ST S | 9.7 km | |
| 30 | Chinook LRT Station WB | 10.6 km | Terminus |
Inbound: Chinook LRT Station WB → Chinook LRT Station NB
This direction has 32 stops and runs 14.1 km. The route passes SB Macleod TR @ S. of 61 AV SW, EB Heritage DR @ Elbow DR SW, Southland LRT Station WB, NB Elbow DR @ Heritage DR SW. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinook LRT Station WB | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | SB Macleod TR @ S. of 61 AV SW | 0.6 km | |
| 3 | SB 4A ST @ 67 AV SW | 1.1 km | |
| 4 | SB 4A ST @ 69 AV SW | 1.3 km | |
| 5 | EB 71 AV SE @ SB 4a ST SW | 1.5 km | |
| 6 | WB 75 AV @ 4A ST SW | 2.3 km | |
| 7 | SB Elbow DR @ 75 AV SW | 2.9 km | |
| 8 | SB Elbow DR @ 80 AV SW | 3.4 km | |
| 9 | EB Heritage DR @ Elbow DR SW | 3.6 km | |
| 10 | EB Heritage DR @ 5 ST SW | 3.9 km | |
| 11 | Heritage LRT Station NB | 4.3 km | |
| 12 | SB Macleod TR @ Hull AV SW | 5.0 km | |
| 13 | SB Macleod TR @ 90 AV SE | 5.3 km | |
| 14 | SB Macleod TR @ 96 AV SW | 5.7 km | |
| 15 | WB Southland DR @ Macleod TR S | 6.1 km | |
| 16 | Southland LRT Station WB | 6.9 km | |
| 17 | NB Macleod TR @ Southland DR SE | 7.6 km | |
| 18 | NB Macleod TR @ 94 AV SE | 8.0 km | |
| 19 | NB Macleod TR @ 90 AV SE | 8.4 km | |
| 20 | NB Macleod TR @ 86 AV SE | 8.8 km | |
| 21 | Heritage LRT Station | 9.7 km | |
| 22 | WB Heritage DR @ 5 ST SW | 10.2 km | |
| 23 | NB Elbow DR @ Heritage DR SW | 10.5 km | |
| 24 | NB Elbow DR @ 80 AV SW | 10.8 km | |
| 25 | NB Elbow DR @ 75 AV SW | 11.1 km | |
| 26 | EB 75 AV @ 4A ST SW | 11.7 km | |
| 27 | NB 4A ST @ 71 AV SW | 12.6 km | |
| 28 | NB 4A ST @ 69 AV SW | 12.8 km | |
| 29 | NB 4A ST @ 67 AV SW | 13.0 km | |
| 30 | NB Macleod TR @ S. of 61 AV SW | 13.5 km | |
| 31 | EB 61 AV SW @ 3 ST SW | 13.8 km | |
| 32 | Chinook LRT Station NB | 14.1 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Calgary Transit, the route runs 29 trips in one direction on a weekday.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Chinook LRT Station NB» | 05:33 — 20:30 | — — — |
| From «Chinook LRT Station WB» | 05:33 — 19:02 | — — — |
Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 32 minutes; midday every 32 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 32–36.
Fare and payment
A single ride costs 4.00 $. The same fare applies to CTrain and buses in Calgary.
An adult cash fare is $4.00 and is valid for 90 minutes, transfers included. Youth and students pay $2.65; children 12 and under ride free. A day pass is $12.65, an adult monthly pass $126.00. Transfers within 90 minutes are free. The cash fare itself covers 90 minutes of travel, so transfers within that window cost nothing extra. An unlimited monthly pass costs $126.00.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ride on bus 81 cost?
4.00 $ for a single ride.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Chinook LRT Station NB the first is at 05:33 and the last at 20:30. From Chinook LRT Station WB they are 05:33 and 19:02.
How long does the trip from Chinook LRT Station NB to Chinook LRT Station WB take?
About 33 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
30 outbound and 32 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus 81 run on weekends?
Yes, the route runs every day, with a separate weekend schedule.
Every route number with its termini, operating hours and travel time is collected in the Calgary buses overview.
Data current as of August 22, 2026. Schedule and termini — Calgary Transit. Fares — Calgary Transit, Fares & passes. Stop list, schedule and route geometry come from the official GTFS feed (City of Calgary Open Data).