Enjoy 90 minutes of heaven while your feet soak in a tub of merlot and includes a special cabernet scrub and a Grenache spray. Dine in the vintage-inspired caf, where you can choose from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. For even more ideas, see my guide to 40 things to do in Red Deer. See my recommended Banff itinerary, things to do in Banff with kids, and guide to Banff in winter. And we cant miss the T-Rex Discovery Center in Eastend, which houses the worlds largest T-Rex skeleton! It involves driving directly east of Edmonton to Lloydminster on the border with Saskatchewan. Theres also dinosaur themed mini golf, a playground and a sandbox where kids can dig for dino bones and fossils. You could even stay overnight at the Village Creek Country Inn, which made the list for the top romantic getaways in Alberta. And if its going to be a clear night, stay for the star gazing. Try the locally sourced menu items like buffalo or walleye but the wine selection and charcuterie boards are always a hit. Read Next: Why Agritourism Should Be Part of Your Next Weekend Getaway in Alberta. For a couple places that arent too far from Edmonton but feel like a world away, head east for about 45 minutes. If youre bored of the Albertas Largest roadside attractions road trips, this list provides a new set of ideas for you to check out. I hope you find some good ideas for planning your next road trip out of Edmonton. Upon entering, youre swept away to a Victorian past, among the original brick and woodwork and collection of vintage decor and antiques. Copyright 2022 Like Where You're Going | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, 55 Best Drinks to Order at An All Inclusive Resort (Mexico & Caribbean), What to Do at an All Inclusive Resort When it Rains: 8 Ideas, 17 Banff Hidden Gems That Locals Dont Even Know About, Lussier Hot Springs Visitors Guide 2022: Know Overview & Travel Tips, 3 Natural Hot Springs in BC That You Can Visit in One Road Trip, Follow this wine & wellness road trip from Edmonton (itinerary here), You Can Go on a Wine & Wellness Road Trip Through Alberta This Summer: Heres the Itinerary, 13 Unique Calgary Day Trips (fresh ideas + mini itineraries), 35 Unique Things to Do in Alberta (+hidden gems and secret spots), 23 Best Things to do in and Around Drumheller, 27 Things to Do in Alberta That Are Bucket List Worthy. Continue onwards to Sunnybrook to visit a flower farm Farm Fresh Florals, where you can u-pick your own flower bouquet! Our comment section is a place to promote self-expression, freedom of speech and positivity. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Sure, Edmonton is great, but you're bound to get bored quickly if you spend all your time there, doing the same old things every day. If youre headed to Jasper, stopping at the waterfalls or the Apex brewery is a great way to break up the drive. There are often events happening all summer long, so check the website for more info! If you cant go very far from the city this summer, any of these trips would make for the perfect cheap vacation from Edmonton! After your treatments, enjoy light snack and a glass of wine in the tea room or on the garden patio. There are few stops of interest until you reach the turnoff for Gregoire Lake, a very popular spot among locals. Finally, after descending into the Alberta badlands landscape, we arrive at DNA Gardens which has everything you could want in a country getaway a farm store, caf, trail walks, greenhouses, the friendliest and most hospitable staff and a winery! 31 Things to Do in Invermere/East Kootenays in the Summer (free + low cost)! For more information on the area, here are the most beautiful lakes in Kananaskis, the best hikes in Kananaskis, and other things to do in Kananaskis. Visit the Bower Ponds and enjoy the scenic trails, have a picnic with your goodies from the bakery or even rent a paddle boat and get out on the water. If youre not that hungry, not to worry. This cabin is located in your own private, forested oasis. An optional side trip would be to visit the Alberta side of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, around Elkwater. Wherever your travels take you, I'll help make sure you like where you're going! Some essential stops include the Western-style town of Longview, Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, and Lundbreck Falls. The Northern Lights can be seen super clearly from Elk Island, which always makes for a great show. In the warmer months, you can spend the day beaching and soaking up the sun, and in the cooler months, you can enjoy the gorgeous views. Start this one early! This quaint country setting is aptly named and looks like youre entering a scene from the Notebook. Heres my full guide to the best things to do in Waterton. I recommend booking a vino therapy treatment! First and last names will appear with each comment and the use of pseudonyms is prohibited. Im a sucker for small town mainstreets, and Stettler fits the bill. From here, you can head into Red Deer and start to make your way back north. If youre visiting with kids, we recommend staying at Sheraton Cavalier (see on Booking / Tripadvisor / Agoda) or Best Western Port O Call (see on Booking / Tripadvisor / Agoda) by the Calgary International Airport, both of which have indoor waterparks with waterslides. Its not located on the lakeshore, but the patio is big and the beers are crushable! Head southwest to the hamlet of Calmar, and go straight to the Calmar Bakery. If you liked these ideas, be sure to subscribe to be notified for new posts. A budget friendly hotel with hot tub that we like in Canmore town is Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge (see on Booking / TripAdvisor / Agoda). For more details about the route, including a map, see my guide to the Giants of the Alberta Prairies. For this article, Ive put together 10 tried-and-tested Edmonton road trip ideas. I hope you enjoy your time discovering more of Alberta dont forget to pack your road trip essentials for a smooth ride. If you want to continue your day outside, a little further east is the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Outdoor Recreation Area with lots of hiking trails. Its located inside an old train station and at the start of a beautiful municipal park where you can stroll around and enjoy the sunshine. Make a weekend out of it and stay in a tiny house cabin in the middle of the woods nearby. To break up the 14-hour drive to Fort Smith (the main access point to Wood Buffalo), youll probably want to overnight somewhere along the way. trending stories every day. Why you should go: Jasper has so much to offer, from hiking waterfalls to lakes, admire the views and take lots of pictures to keep your Instagram followers envious of your adventures. I had to try the Albertan layered brisket, bacon, cheddar, mozzarella and caramelized onions Im still dreaming about this 2 weeks later. Continue east of Edmonton toward New Sarepta, home to Albertas newest mead winery Old Station Honey and Mead. I only share information about places, products and services I know, love and trust. Continuing past Red Deer, families with kids will love DINOS Centre in Innisfail, while mom and dad may prefer a stop at Field & Forge Brewery. You can also bring a packed lunch and enjoy a picnic onsite. After Abraham Lake, you can continue on to Saskatchewan Crossing, where the highway meets the Icefields Parkway. Its tucked away in the woodlands, but makes for a delightful patio experience (and you can bring your dog to this one). In order to make this possible, we monitor comments to keep spam, hate speech, violence, and vulgarity off our pages. Although the two cities aren't that different, they definitely have different things to offer in terms of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. We left with too many bottles to mention. Canmore is the main access point to Kananaskis and one of my favorite places in Alberta. This day spa is located within a cozy historic home built in 1906 and has kept all of its vintage charm. Canmore is a convenient base for exploring either one as day trips. If you visit at dusk youll have a better chance to see bison and other wildlife! Many Edmontonians have a habit of bypassing Red Deer on road trips to the south, or only stopping in Gasoline Alley for a pee, gas, and snack break. The vast region north of Edmonton is sparsely populated, with few notable attractions. Alberta has a budding wine industry, and the fruit wine grown here, from the onsite Delidais Estate Winery is an exceptional showcase of our provinces bountiful produce. Stay tuned Ill be updating this list with more ideas as I travel around Alberta! From there, head north for Jasper National Park, and complete a loop back to Edmonton, or south for Banff National Park or Canmore and Kananaskis follow the relevant road trip itineraries above to complete your return trip. Take a peak and then visit my list of 40 of Albertas hidden gems and most unique things to do. If its hot out, the local ice cream shack at Mirror Lake is the best way to beat the heat. Make one more stop in Lacombe at Blindman Brewing which always has a ton of unique beers on tap, and theyve got a great big patio area complete with couches. This cafe, bakery and bistro has kept the vintage charm of its early years and now serves the perfect cup of coffee, breakfast plates and light lunches. After a few nights in Jasper, make your way south down the epic Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), with some of the best waterfalls near Edmonton, to Banff National Park, stopping at Athabasca Glacier and some of the most beautiful lakes in Banff. On this adventure, youll find some of the best kid-friendly places to visit near Edmonton. Of course, you can still visit without your furry friend, but these ones are dog friendly. Check out their site to find loads of activities besides the couple road trips I mention below. Once you get on Highway 63, the highway speed limit picks up to 110 for the remaining cruise to Fort Mac. Lloyd has the tallest border markers in the world and a cool museum. Fort Assiniboine is home to some super interesting landmarks, such as the world's largest Wagon Wheel and Pick Axe. Try something like the vino pedicure. Also see this super detailed post about how to make the best of GoogleMaps for planning your road trip. Why you should go: If you don't mind driving a bit further south, why not head to Drumheller for the day? Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you. Continue your road trip by heading north to the Jurassic Forest. For more info, here are my favorite things to do in Drumheller. The section from there to Great Slave Lake is known as the Waterfalls Route; dont miss Louise Falls and Alexandra Falls. Giants of the Prairies (1 day to 1 week), 10. When Albertas Highway 35 crosses the 60th parallel into NWT, it becomes Highway 1. This one is perfect for a girls getaway or even a fun way to celebrate a low-key bachelorette party. Older kids and adults may prefer to go tubing on Red Deer River Fort Normandeau is the perfect launching point. Also, we Edmontonians often assume that Jasper is the closest to us, but we forget that Canmore and Jasper townsite are a similar distance from Edmonton, and Kananaskis Nakiska Ski Area is actually a slightly shorter drive than Marmot Basin in Jasper! Well, according to Go East of Edmonton, a whole website devoted to the area, yes! Along the way, consider making stops around Edson (Rocky Mountain Big Horn Distillery and Apex Predator Brewing are great, when open), Hinton (Beaver Boardwalk, Athabasca Riverfront Park), the excellent William A. Switzer Provincial Park (where fine campgrounds abound), Whitehorse Lake, and the outstanding Folding Mountain brewery just before the Jasper National Park gates. Its an easy 5-minute hike and then some stairs which take you down into the canyon bed and waterfall. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Im Aly - a former Tourism Development Officer who now makes fun and easy to follow travel itineraries for your next trip. Only an hour south of Edmonton is a cute tourist destination known as the Village at Pigeon Lake. For those who dont have a consider, use this Canada train guide to plan trips by train from Edmonton! Next, you can either return to Edmonton via Calgary (4.5 hours), or base yourself in Canmore to explore the greater Kananaskis area (see next entry). To extend your trip, you can also venture into Glacier National Park in the United States, or take Crowsnest Pass into southern British Columbia. After spending a few days in Calgary town to enjoy its numerous art galleries, restaurants, breweries, and scenic walks, you can venture into Banff National Park to the north, or explore vast Kananaskis country to the south. Some major highlights include the expansive Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark Science Centre, Heritage Park Historical Village, Glenbow Museum, and Calaway Park. In Fort McMurray, some of the top attractions are Heritage Village, Oil Sands Discovery Center (an excellent museum covering local history and mining), and Macdonald Island Park. There are a couple historic farmhouses, flower gardens, interpretive signage and a tranquil boardwalk through the trees. Next, make your way to Medicine Hat, where you can see the worlds largest teepee, the excellent Medalta Potery Historic Site, and explore beautiful green space likes Strathcona Island Park, Police Point Park, and Echo Dale Regional Park. Our next stop was Stettler known as the heart of Alberta. From here, you could head to Regina for a few days, but I plan to bypass it and head further south to spend a few days camping in Grasslands National Park and a few more in the Saskatchewan side of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Heres my guide to when and how to see ice bubbles at Abraham Lake. Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel is a budget-friendly retreat, Kananaskis Mountain Lodge features a Nordic Spa, while Mount Engadine Lodge is perfect for really getting away from it all. Here are some of my favorite things to do in Canmore and easy hikes in Canmore. If you want to stay up to date, get behind the scenes content, or connect with me directly you can follow my YouTube channel, Facebook Page, Instagram or Twitch channel! Why you should go: If you're looking for quirky, small-town Alberta vibes, head here. After a few days in Medicine Hat, travel south to remote Red Rock Coulee, then make your way to the impressive Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Here, you can explore 40 acres of trails that pass by life size animatronic dinosaurs in the bushes. What it does have, however, is a whole lot of lakes and excellent campgrounds, as well as possibilities for hunting and fishing. If you want to spend a whole day in the area, spend some time at the rural attractions nearby. You could also explore the Stampede Grounds, check out the view of downtown from Rotary Park, see the medicine wheel at Nose Hill Park, walk across iconic Peace Bridge, get a gelato sample tray at Righteous Gelato, go to the original Peters Drive In, or stop in at some of Canadas best breweries, according to the Canadian Brewing Awards. Its a gorgeous spot to play in the water on a hot summer day. Then, head south on Highway 32 for one of the nicest drives around Edmonton. This is an Edmonton road trip that I have yet to do, but Im planning it for next summer. We loved Sawback Brewing and Troubled Monk. Not into beer? Narcity Media has the right to remove comments, ban or suspend any user without notice, or close a storys comment section at any time. The ranch is located near Ardrossan, about 30 minutes east of Edmonton. The most obvious (and probably most popular) road trip from Edmonton is to Jasper National Park, 3.5 hours to the west. Dont miss Horseshoe and Horsethief Canyons, the hoodoos, the Worlds Largest Dinosaur, Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, Little Church, and Royal Tyrrell Museum. The lake is 5 minutes away if you want to check out the beach, have a picnic by the water and then go play mini golf at Blackstone. Why you should go: 'Tis the season for pumpkins, corn mazes, and all things fall. I wont cover road trips to BC here because there are just too many possibilities; well save that for another article! Just the opposite soft, fresh, gooey and just sweet enough one might say the perfect donut. Time: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Ellis Bird Farm deserves a visit, where you can stroll through the trails, butterfly gardens and ponds, admire the large collection of bird houses and enjoy a coffee or snack at the tea house. Some possible stops or scenic detours on this trip after Calgary include Okotoks erratic, the colorful grain elevators and amazing candy store in Nanton, and the impressive Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Historic Site. It is the largest national park in Canada and second largest in the entire world! Start at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, an outdoor living museum that tells the important history of the Ukrainian settlers to this area from the late 1800s to the 1930s. It could be an add-on to your Banff trip, or you could even stay there as a cheaper and less touristy base for exploring Banff. If you cant bring yourself to buy half a dozen, the cream johns are their signature treat. Sign up for our newsletter and get a curated list of the top Waterton Lakes National Park & Cowboy Trail (35 days), 3. Our main mission though was to pay a visit to Blokes Bakery, a Stettler staple. This road is almost a copycat of the scenic David Thompson Highway (but with no cars). For information on things to do in Jasper, see my guides to visiting Jasper with kids, Jasper in winter, and the best lakes in Jasper. From there, its a 3 hr 15 min drive east on Highway 5 to Fort Smith, and youll drive through a section of Wood Buffalo along the way, including stops to see huge sinkholes. (If youre stuck in the city in winter, here are my favourite Edmonton winter activities!). Also think about stopping to buy fancy gouda at Sylvan Star Cheese! Approaching Calgary, make a stop at Nose Creek Park in Airdrie, a lovely pond-side green space with an off-leash area, playground, and a collection of large Korean totem poles. On the way back to Edmonton, make a stop at the Vulcan Starship Monument, one of the best Giants of the Prairies (well cover more of those in the Edmonton road trips to the north section below). Drumheller Medicine Hat Lethbridge Loop (1 2 weeks), 9. Comments are moderated according to our Community Guidelines. The Jimmy Jock Boardwalk is perfectly quirky and offers fudge, pie and ice cream if you havent had enough sugar yet. Its got a massive beach and is perfect for swimming or catching some rays. The main thing that stops a lot of people from doing this is that its a real long drivelonger even than driving to Vancouver. All the buildings remind you of cape cod style architecture and the community has a cute little park in the middle of the shops. The classic giants of the prairies road trip from Edmonton can be done in a single, long day. When youre ready for a big meal to finish the day, its time to head to the Unwind Bar & Grill in Andrew, Alberta home of the revved up drinks! If we'rebeing honest,as much as we wouldall like to plan a weekend road trip getaway to somewhere super awesome, and far, far away from the responsibilities of adulthoodwith all of our friends, it's definitely not alwaysrealistic, or easy. Most notably is the flatiron building which is the oldest in Alberta and now home to the visitor centre. But if you havent been, youre seriously missing out! You can access the 22 via numerous smaller highways north or south of Calgary. Canmore would certainly serve as an excellent base for a mountain-focused road trip from Edmonton. Why you should go: St. Paul was chosen as the home of the World's First UFO Landing Pad, so if extraterrestrials are your thing, you'll definitely enjoy this place. Local art adorns each wall and antique furniture finishes off the charm of this bistro. If youre a fan of fancy breakfasts, try the brioche French toast stuffed with cheesecake filling! Tip take a look at these other ideas in this local guidebook titled Best Day Trips from Edmonton. Tastings are conducted in an old renovated fire hall youll love the story of how this winery came about. This unique day trip north of Edmonton includes trains, dinosaurs and an adventure farm. If you prefer to stroll through some parks, Mirror Lake is stunning in the summer time, where you can watch Trumpeter Swans glide through the water. It has the best and cheapest range of accommodations in the region. For a classy stay in a hotel voted one of the best in the world, try The Malcolm Hotel (see on Booking / TripAdvisor / Agoda). Just south of Lamont is the north entrance to Elk Island National Park. After that, make a quick stop at Great Slave Lake to say youve been there. As inhabitants of Canadas northernmost city of over 1 million, we Edmontonians have every inclination to go south. 12 Road Trips To Go On That Are 1, 2, And 3 Hours Away From Edmonton. This post contains some affiliate links, I may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase. While there are certainly loads of things to do in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, sometimes you just want to get out of town. If youre feeling thirsty or peckish on your way back to Edmonton, make a stop in the Village of Pigeon Lake at Familia Brewing, just opened in 2022. Why you should go: Gull Lake is another versatile spot that's good for visiting any time of the year. When Im not writing or compulsively planning every detail of our next family trip, Im most likely playing dinosaur games with Sage and Lavender, my two kids, Spiritual Travels is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. On this day trip youll discover donuts, antique shopping, a flower farm and maybe more wine or a brewery! Stop in for a tour and tasting, where youll sample both whites and reds made from rhubarb and raspberries. Round out your floral day trip from Edmonton with a visit to the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, just north of Devon. You can book this cozy guest house for the perfect weekend getaway from Edmonton. After passing Calgary, Highway 2 eventually turns into the 810, and a few others. Heads up that there is a whole lot of driving through farmland to be done between the giants, so bring good music, snacks, and/or a friend to chat with. From Rocky Mountain House (directly west of Red Deer), the David Thompson Highway (Highway 11) provides access to the areathe regions is sometimes also called David Thompson country. Why you should go: If you're the kind of person who thrives in the cold, you'll love this place. Unexpectedly, this fruit wine was dry and crisp, on par with something youd find along the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. By commenting, you acknowledge that Narcity Media has the right to use & distribute your content across our properties. And if you time it right, you can visit on an evening where you can reserve a picnic in the garden during evening twilight hours. While Kananaskis country is a favorite playground for Calgarians, as it is only an hour away from them, Edmontonians tend to be less frequent visitors. Everyone has different work schedules, time commitments, financial situations, interests, etc. The prize at the end is Abraham Lake, a stunningly beautiful water reservoir where you can camp for free, and with several excellent hikes starting near its shores. Reaching Banff, spend a few nights there, basing yourself in one of the many accommodations in town. Stop in at the Apex Predator Brewery just north of Edson. Once youre ready for some more country scenery, make your way to the historic community of Camrose. Ive been, and I can attest that there are enough sights to make a worthwhile road trip from Edmonton. After years of backpacking, I now call two places home: Edmonton, Canada and Taipei, Taiwan. But is it worth taking a road trip from Edmonton further east? We've all been stuck in that situation, the one where your phone is blowing up with messages from your group chat, yet again, trying (but definitely struggling) to figure out what to do this weekend. I order the one that comes with a bit of everything dry ribs, cactus cut potatoes, jalapeno poppers, fried pickles, onion rings and who knows what else was on there! Thats where road trips come in! The bison roam wild throughout the park, and sometimes theyll come right up to your car! Think we will try a few of the routes to the North. Down the street, youve got to stop by the worlds biggest sausage! Make your way east for some wine tasting, historic main streets and sweets. Plan to spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours here! A great place for photography, picnic and a road trip pit stop. Why you should go: If you're looking for a big city-esque getaway, head to YYC for the day. High River is a logical halfway point with a few decent hotels, with the pick of the bunch being the Super 8 (see on Booking / TripAdvisor / Agoda), complete with pool and waterslide. All the buildings in this establishment are real houses, businesses and churches that were donated and moved to the museum to be restored for visitors to enjoy. On your next day off, venture out and try one of these super cool, quick road trips: Why you should go: Sylvan Lake is ideal, no matter what time of year. Be sure to book in advance because this is popular! For Waterton Lakes National Park, budget a minimum of two nights, or more if you can, to enjoy the parks many impressive hiking trails, water sports, and other outdoor activities. Top sights include the serene Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Fort Whoop-Up, and watching trains cross the expansive Lethbridge High Level Bridge.