15 Beautiful Alberta Road Trips

Quite possibly the most varied province in Canada, there are so many incredible Alberta road trips. From the rugged Canadian badlands to the jaw-dropping Rocky Mountains, Alberta has everything you could want. Whether it’s exploring the wide-open prairies or one of Canada’s most photographed lakes, there’s an Alberta road trip for everyone.

Alberta is also the home province of Must Do Canada and we know this place better than anyone. We’ve driven from North to South and from West to East, chronicling many of our experiences on this website and on our Youtube channel. Alberta is our backyard and we love it here.

Whether you’re looking for a summer road trip, a winter road trip, or just a weekend getaway from one of the big cities, we’ve got 15 Alberta road trip itineraries for you to choose from.

15 Amazing Road Trips in Alberta

Alberta is a unique province in Canada. Although it has no access to the ocean, it has almost everything else you could ask for. In the West, you’ll find the world-famous Canadian Rockies, which is home to popular places such as Banff and Jasper. Just east of the mountains is the foothills and the prairies, which are home to Calgary and a variety of western-style small towns. In the north, you’ll find the sprawling Boreal forest and to further southeast of the province is the incredible Canadian Badlands and some of the richest dinosaur fossil discoveries on Earth. Alberta doesn’t have the ocean but it has everything else and the 15 road trips in Alberta mentioned below will showcase the best of the province from all four corners.

Icefields Parkway

When it comes to road trips in Alberta, the most famous of them all is the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper. This world-famous Alberta road trip has been proclaimed as one of the best in the world, so it’s easy to see why it’s often ranked as the best in the province. Starting from Lake Louise and going all the way up Highway 93 to Jasper, you’ll pass towering mountain peaks, turquoise-colored lakes, a variety of glaciers, the Columbia Icefields, and many stunning waterfalls. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Where and How

The Icefields Parkway officially starts near Lake Louise and ends in Jasper, so you can start from either end. We recommend going both ways and deciding which direction you like best. Both are amazing but we tend to like the drive from Jasper to Lake Louise even better.

How Long You Need

The 230-kilometre highway takes three hours without stopping but we’d recommend reserving an entire day. There’s so many scenic pull-outs, viewpoints and natural attractions along the way that you do not want to rush it.

Best Time to Go

The Icefields Parkway is a beautiful drive all year long. The summer and the fall are the most popular times to go as more attractions are open, the roads are generally safer, the weather is nice, and the lakes are beautifully turquoise. However, the winter is also a great time to go. You just need to be more prepared. Not only can the roads be closed due to avalanches and other hazards but it’s also mandatory to have winter or snow-rates tires.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

Parks Pass: The Icefields Parkway is located in both Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. You will need a Parks Pass to enter. These can be purchases at the parks entrance, parks offices, or online. They cost approximately $20 per day or about $140 for the entire year.

Fuel: We highly recommend fuelling up before you begin this drive, either in Lake Louise or in Jasper. There’s only one gas station along the way at Saskatchewan River Crossing, which is the half-way point more or less. However, it’s not open year-round. It’s not a long trip but just to be safe, fill up beforehand.

Want more? Click here to read our guide to the Icefields Parkway!

Calgary to Lake Louise

If we had to pick the Alberta road trip that we’ve done the most, it would be the drive from Calgary to Lake Louise. Since we live in Calgary, we’re always driving out to Banff and Lake Louise to go skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer. Other times we go just to enjoy the beauty of both the town of Banff and the surrounding area. After all, it’s only two hours to go from a major city to a stunning glacial lake.

Where and How

Unless you’re coming from BC, you’ll likely be starting in Calgary and heading out to the national parks. The two-hour journey will take you past the Kananaskis, Canmore, and Banff before arriving in Lake Louise. What’s cool about this road trip is that you really see the contrasts of scenery, going from the flatter foothills of Calgary to the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rockies. There are lots of things you can do along the way to extend this trip from a couple of hours to a few days.

How Long You Need

This 180-kilometre trip takes just two hours without stopping. However, we always recommend stopping along the way. We also recommend taking the Bow Valley Parkway, which we’ll discuss below.

Best Time to Go

This road trip can be done throughout the year. Both Banff and Lake Louise are popular throughout the year. The highest crowds can be found in the summer when temperatures are at their highest. However, the winter is a magical time of year to visit as you’ll find frozen lakes, world-class skiing, and more.

Popular Things to See & Do

Important Notes:

Parks Pass: Banff and Lake Louise are located within Banff National Park, which means you’ll need a parks pass. If you’re going to be spending one week or more in any national parks across the country within a year, we highly recommend buying a Discovery Pass.

Bow Valley Parkway

Although the parkway is currently closed to traffic (won’t reopen until 2022), it’s still a beautiful road trip done by bike! The Bow Valley Parkway is a little side highway next to the Trans-Canada that provides a more scenic and narrower highway through the mountains. We love it in the winter when you’re surrounded by snow-covered trees. It’s also home to the incredible Johnston Canyon, one of the top hikes we recommend.

Where and How

Just past Banff on the way to Lake Louise, you’ll see an exit to Highway 1A, less than 8 kilometers from Banff. If you’re coming from Lake Louise, you’ll want to take Whitehorn Road / Highway 1A East towards the ski hill, turning right onto highway 1A.

How Long You Need

The highway itself is less than 60 kilometres so it really won’t take you more than an hour. However, we highly recommend stopping to hike into Johnston Canyon, or enjoying one of the many other hikes in the area.

Best Time to Go

This is also a popular road trip in both summer and in the winter. Johnston Canyon is equally beautiful in all seasons. However, the road is currently closed to vehicle traffic until 2022.

Popular Things to See & Do

Important Notes

Parks Pass: Again, you’ll need a parks pass, which you should already have by now.

Closure: As mentioned above, the Bow Valley Parkway is currently closed to vehicles until 2022. However, it is open to cyclists and hikers. There are also tours that will take you there and into Johnston Canyon.

David Thompson Highway

Another incredible road trip that we’ve been doing so much lately is the David Thompson Highway between the Cowboy Trail and the Icefields Parkway. It’s an incredibly beautiful part of Alberta and much quieter than Banff and Jasper. In fact, it’s so quiet that there’s barely any accommodation here. However, that, and all the adventures this area holds, are what makes it one of our favourite places in the province.

Where and How

The David Thompson Highway basically starts in Rocky Mountain House (part of the Cowboy Trail) and goes all the way to the Icefields Parkway, not far from Saskatchewan River Crossing. To find highway 11, simply head towards the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site (North on Highway 22/11 from downtown), and then head west on Highway 11.

How Long You Need

The 178-kilometre highway takes about two hours without stopping. The halfway point is the town of Nordegg, a historic mining town with some amenities such as gas, food, lodging, and even a small golf course. As always, we recommend more time to enjoy the many sights along the way, including Abraham Lake and a variety of waterfalls.

Best Time to Go

The David Thompson Highway is beautiful in all seasons. In the summer, you’ll see beautiful turquoise lakes and be able to go hiking, camping, and mountain climbing whereas, in the winter, you’ll be able to see the ice bubbles in Abraham Lake, go ice climbing, or hiking. Helicopter tours are also available year-round.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

There is not a lot of options for accommodation in David Thompson region. There are some cabins as well as a lodge in Nordegg. Other than that, there are a few campgrounds such as crown land camping at Abraham Lake. The next best bet is Rocky Mountain House.

Road to Ram Falls

If you’re up for an adventure, don’t miss the road trip to Ram Falls from David Thompson Country. This place feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, a one-hour one-way dirt road adventure to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Alberta. It’s also a great place for camping in Alberta if you want to pitch a tent and enjoy a slice of nature that very few people see.

Where and How

If you’re already in Nordegg or driving the David Thompson Highway, take highway 40 South. It’s just east of Nordegg. If you’re google-mapping it, head for the Ram Falls Airport. It sounds weird, but yes, there’s a small bush airport out by the falls. When we were there, we saw the military using it, so it’s not totally in the middle of nowhere. From there, you can either return to Nordegg or take Highway 40 all the way to Ghost Lake near Cochrane or back to Rocky Mountain House via Highway 752.

How Long You Need

To get to Ram Falls from the Nordegg turn-off takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes on a 60-kilometre dirt road. From there, you can either return the same way or keep going on a dirt road adventure to the east or to the south.

Best Time to Go

Although the road is open year-round, we recommend going in the summer or in the fall, as the drive can be challenging during snowfall. There is also no cell coverage, which makes it much more dangerous if you were to break down.

Important Notes

Dirt Road: As mentioned, this highway is a dirt road, which means your vehicle should be suitable for the conditions. Pay attention to the weather as rain can cause the roads to be muddy and slippery. Cell service is unlikely.

Camping: If you want to camp, Ram Falls is a provincial park. However, there are also lots of opportunities in this area for free crown land camping.

Cowboy Trail

At roughly 700 kilometres long, the full Cowboy Trail takes you all the way from east of Edmonton to Cardston, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump from the US border. With Alberta’s western-cowboy history, this is an iconic road trip for the province, taking road trippers through many western-style towns, historic sites, prairies, foothills, and mountains. Expect to see lots of ranches, beautiful scenery, and small towns.

Where and How

If you want to do the entire Cowboy Trail, you’ll want to start in Mayerthorpe (east of Edmonton), going south along the Highway 22 until you reach Cardston. You can also do it in reverse. To truly enjoy this trip, you’d want to take a few days at the very least, but you can also do the trip in chunks. Our favourite part of the Cowboy Trail is from Turney Valley down to Lundbreck Falls.

How Long You Need

At 700-kilometres in length, it would take about 7.5 hours without stopping. To really appreciate it, you’d want to spend a couple of nights in Rocky Mountain House or Sundre, followed by maybe Cochrane, Calgary, or Turney Valley, and then somewhere south such as Cardston, Waterton Lakes National Park, or the Crowsnest Pass. We often do this trip in pieces, such as Rocky Mountain House to Cochrane or from Turney Valley to Lundbreck Falls.

Best Time to Go

The Cowboy Trail can be driven at any time of year. However, there are more things to do during the summer months, such as horseback riding and visiting sites such as Bar U Ranch. For that reason, we recommend going in the summer or in the fall.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

Many of the road trips mentioned on this page are connected in one way or another. For example, the David Thompson Highway links Rocky Mountain House with the Icefields Parkway and there’s an excellent road trip from Sundre to Ya Ha Tinda, which we’ll get into below. There’s also the Crowsnest Pass, which starts around Lundbreck Falls and many more.

Sundre to Ya Ha Tinda

If you’re in Sundre or enjoying the Cowboy Trail and wanting to get into the backcountry for an epic adventure, take the road from Sundre to Ya Ha Tinda, a massive 4,000-hectare Historic Parks Canada ranch. Not does this backcountry dirt road provide some beautiful and isolated scenery, but it’s also a good opportunity to spot wild horses or indulge in some adventure, such as white water rafting and horseback riding.

Where and How

From Sundre, take Highway 584 west and turn south on Township Road 324A. It can be easy to miss so either keep a good eye out for the turnoff or use Google Maps to find it. Ya Ha Tinda Road is accessible from Highway 40, otherwise known as Forestry Trunk Road.

How Long You Need

The dirt road from Sundre to Ya Ha Tinda is about 85 km, which takes about 1.5 hours one-way. If you’re just going to see the ranch, allow 5 hours for the return trip. If you’re going rafting or horseback riding, consider spending the night in a cabin.

Best Time to Go

Due to both highway conditions and the fact that all the attractions are closed during the winter, this trip is best in the late spring, summer, or early fall. Rafting is often best in the spring or early summer.

Popular Things to See & Do

Important Notes

As mentioned, this is a gravel road, which means it can get rough and dirty. On a dry summer day, allow a lot of distance between any vehicle in front of you as the dust will impair your vision. Cell reception is also next to non-existent so don’t expect to be able to use your phone.

Crowsnest Pass

If you like the idea of blending stunning Rocky Mountain scenery with history, adventure, and small-town charm, then the Crowsnest Pass should be on your Alberta Bucket List. This beautiful slice of southern Alberta was once home to some of the biggest tragedies in Canada, including Canada’s deadliest landslide in Frank. It’s now a great place to learn about coal mining and rum-running, as well as natural attractions such as hiking and biking.

Where and How

Although the Crowsnest Pass Highway technically goes all the way to Medicine Hat, the road trip technically starts at Lundbreck Falls or the famous Burmis Tree (reportedly, the most photographed tree in Canada) you’ll see on the north side of the highway as you begin the drive. This Limber Pine is now a heritage symbol of the area and is upwards of 700 years old. Stop by, snap a photo, and then begin the adventure. It ends just past the historic town of Coleman in Crowsnest.

How Long You Need

Even though the Crowsnest Highway goes much further than this road trip entails, the main drive from Lundbreck to Crowsnest is only 45-kilometres and takes just 35 minutes to drive. We recommend spending at least one full day enjoying the towns and attractions along the way. Even better, stay a couple of nights or go camping. We spend three nights when we did our video about the region and that was a good amount of time to see the main things.

Best Time to Go

Generally speaking, the best time to go is in the summer or in the fall when the weather is at its best and more attractions are open. However, this road trip can also be done in the winter as many of the star attractions are still open, such as the Frank Slide Interpretative centre and the Bellevue Coal Mine tour, as well as winter activities such as skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

Perhaps it’s not important but we do highly recommend grabbing a cinnamon bun from the Cinnamon Bear Cafe.

Smith Dorrien Trail

Not far from Canmore is an adventurous 70-km gravel road up through the mountains of the Kananaskis, taking you past incredible hiking trails, the Three Sisters mountains, beautiful Spray Lake Reservoir, and one of our favourite camping spots. It’s also a great spot for a romantic getaway in Alberta.

Where and How

The trail starts near the “back” of Canmore, going up the mountain towards the popular Ha Ling Peak hiking trail. This road is open in both the winter and in the summer, but how you return depends on the season. You can also return the same way you came in, which is what we do, but in the winter, you can also continue on towards the Highwood Pass, but heading north towards Kananaskis Village. In the summer, however, you can continue to the Highwood Pass and go to Longview and the Cowboy Trail, which we mention below.

How Long You Need

The Smith Dorrien Trail takes upwards of two hours if you’re just doing it for the drive, but as always, we recommend taking the time to do some hikes, relish in the beautiful views, or spend a few nights camping or staying at Mount Engadine Lodge.

Best Time to Go

This road is open year-round but the best time to go would be in the summer when you can enjoy the lake, go camping, or do some of the best hikes in Kananaskis Country. However, the winter can also be a beautiful time to go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

There are no fuel services in the area and cell reception can be spotty. As mentioned, the road is gravel, which means it can get dirty and rough. Keep your distance from other vehicles to avoid all the dust and rocks.

Highwood Pass

As the highest paved pass in Canada, Highwood Pass is home to stunning Rocky Mountain views. Connecting Highway 22 (the Cowboy Trail) to the Kananaskis, this short road trip is like a paved scenic ride into the backcountry. It provides a great chance to see wildlife and connected to both Kananaskis Village and the Smith Dorren Trail.

Where and How

From Longview, simply take Highway 541, which will then connect with Highway 40. From here you will head through the Kananaskis Trail and connect with the Trans-Canada Highway (just west of Calgary). It is also possible to go from Canmore, take the Smith Dorrien Trail, and meet up with the Highwood Pass heading towards Longview.

How Long You Need

The Kananaskis Trail is about 150-km long, so you should budget about two hours for the drive itself.

Best Time to Go

The Highwood Pass is closed from Dec 1st to June 15th to protect bighorn sheep migration. We recommend going in the summer or fall because that is the only time you can go.

Important Notes

Keep an eye out for wildlife as this place is known for many.

Sheep River Kananaskis

This is a road trip that we created ourselves and we call it the Sheep River Kananaskis. It combines some western prairie towns as well as beautiful mountain scenery and a gorgeous waterfall as the final destination. Along this route, you’ll enjoy some popular southern Alberta towns such as High River and Okotoks, as well as the Cowboy Trail towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley, before entering two stunning provincial parks.

Where and How

If you’re doing the entire road trip, you’ll want to start in High River. From there, you’ll continue down Highway 2A, which turns into Highway 7 as you go by Okotoks. From Turner Valley, you’ll take Highway 546 for the rest of the way. It literally ends with a loop, so there’s no way you can go any further. If you’re short on time, you could also start from Okotoks or from Turney Valley if you don’t want to see the towns.

How Long you Need

The entire road trip is roughly 75-kilometres and takes just over an hour one-way. However, if you’re planning to see the towns, eat at some of the restaurants or breweries, and actually enjoy the sights, then you’ll want an entire day. You can also spend the night in any of the towns along the way or go camping in the towns and/or Sheep River Provincial Park.

Best Time to Go

All the towns can be visited year round but Sheep River Provincial Park is closed during the winter months. For this reason, we recommend both the summer and the fall.

Popular Things to Do & See

Dinosaur Trail & Hoodoo Drive

One of the things that make Alberta unique is that the province is also home to the Canadian Badlands. Not only will you find beautiful canyons and odd geological formations, but also the dinosaur capital of the world, which includes the incredible world-famous Royal Tyrell Museum.

Where and How

This is a short road trip that takes you through some of the badland’s stunning scenery. The Dinosaur Trail begins at the intersection of South Railway and 2nd St. NW and loops around to Hwy 9 and 56 in Drumheller. You can start or end from either point as well as continue down to Hoodoo Drive to do the short must-do hike. In addition, you could board the Bleriot Ferry, a unique cable-operated ferry that carries cars across the Red Deer River.

How Long You Need

This route is less than 60 kilometres and takes an hour to complete. However, you’ll want to stop along the way and admire the cool and unique sights.

Best Time to Go

Summer and fall are the best times to visit. In the winter, the ferry and many other things are closed. You can still go and enjoy the museum and the snow-dusted landscapes, but to truly experience the place, you’ll want to visit in the warmer months.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

The Bleriot ferry only runs from April until November.

Canadian Badlands Tour

If you just can’t get enough of the badlands and want to extend your Dinosaur Trail tour, do the whole Alberta Badlands tour and continue east! This road trip will take you by the beautiful Hoodoo Trail and out to Dinosaur Provincial Park. You could even continue further and go south to Medicine Hat!

Where and How

You can either start from Calgary and go straight to Dinosaur Provincial Park or you can go to Drumheller first and continue on. That’s what we recommend for the ultimate Canadian badlands experience.

How Long You Need

If you do the loop from Calgary, including Drumheller, it takes about 6 hours to drive the 500-kilometre route without stopping. Obviously, you should take at-least 2-3 nights and enjoy all the things that make this region stand out.

Best Time to Go

Late spring to fall is the best time to go. While the winter can present dramatic views, many attractions are closed.

Popular Things to Do & See

Boomtown Trail

The drive from Calgary to Edmonton is the busiest highway in Alberta, linking up the two major cities. But if you’re looking for a road trip, get off busy Highway 2 and visit the small boomtowns of Camrose, Donalda, Stettler, Erskine, Delburne, and Trochu. Although this is no longer an “official road trip”, there’s no reason you can’t do it! Along the way, you’ll find small towns and museums, beautiful natural areas, opportunities for camping, and the chance to go skydiving.

Where and How

If you’re starting from Calgary, go north on Highway 2 and than take exit 340A and head east on Highway27 toward Trochu. If you’re coming from Edmonton, take exit 66 from Anthony Henday heading towards Camrose and Wainwright. Alternatively, you could stay on highway 2 and visit Sylvan Lake instead.

How Long You Need

The drive itself takes about 4 hours, but that’s without stopping. If you’re doing this as a road trip, you’ll want to actually stop and enjoy some of the sights. I would recommend budgeting in the entire day at least, enjoying stops in all the small towns, as well as Dry Island Buffalo Jump and Buffalo Lake.

Best Time to Go

This trip can be done year-round but the highway is certainly safer during the summer and in the fall as the winter can bring snow storms and slipper conditions. In addition, the small towns and sights along the way are better during the summer months.

Popular Things to Do & See

Important Notes

When driving highway 2, just be cautious. People tend to speed quite a bit and the highway is busy.

Iron Horse Road

This is a unique road trip in that it can be done by car on the highways or much of it can be done by riding a bike, walking, or even using an ATV or snowmobile. The Iron Horse Trail comprises over 300 kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail, including an old railway right-of-way from Waskatenau to Cold Lake. Like the Cowboy Trail, we’ve done this road trip in smaller pieces throughout the years but never the whole thing as one big adventure.

Where and How

This “trail” is a little harder to describe when it comes to starting and ending. If you’re looking to ride a horse, a bike, or an ATV, there are 4 staging areas as well as 3 rest stops. For driving, you can look at it as a fork. You can either start or end in Cold Lake, Waskatenau, or Heinsburg.

How Long You Need

If you’re driving the highways to see the sights, such as Metis Crossing and Cold Lake, it’s best to budget for an entire day or more. If you’re using the trails by other means of transport, it’s best to visit the Iron Horse Trail website and figure out the logistics.

Best Time to Go

For most people, the summer and fall is the best time to go. However, if snowmobiling is your thing, then December to April is best.

Popular Things to Do & See

What Road Trip in Alberta Will You Do Next?

Whether it’s one of the 11 road trips featured above or another one we haven’t featured yet, there’s lots of options for an epic Alberta road trip. The question is: Which one will you take next? Let us know in the comments?

For more things to do, check out these articles below:

• Best Canada Road Trips
• The Ultimate 150-day Road Trip in Canada
• Interesting Facts about Canada
• Interesting Facts about Alberta