Overview
Most Americans see Calgary only through an airport window on the way to Banff. That is a missed chance. Alberta's biggest city has a lively riverfront, good museums and the Calgary Stampede, and within a three-hour drive you reach some of the richest dinosaur fossil beds on Earth, a UNESCO-listed buffalo jump used for 6,000 years, and Waterton Lakes, the Canadian half of an international peace park with Montana's Glacier National Park.
Alberta also feels familiar to visitors from the American West: ranch country, the energy industry and wide prairie skies, with the Rockies on the western horizon. Unlike most of Canada, it has no provincial sales tax, so prices at the register are closer to what you see on the tag.
This page covers Calgary, the Stampede, Edmonton and Elk Island, the badlands around Drumheller, Head-Smashed-In, and Waterton. For Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, see the Canadian Rockies.
Calgary: what to see
Calgary is a city of about 1.6 million people where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, at about 3,440 ft (1,045 m). Downtown is compact and walkable, linked by the Plus 15, more than 10 miles (16 km) of enclosed skywalks between buildings that let office workers cross downtown in winter without going outside. Neighborhoods are named by quadrant (NW, NE, SW, SE), and addresses always include one, so check it when you enter a destination into your map.
Calgary Tower
The 1968 tower rises 626 ft (191 m), with a 360-degree observation deck, a glass floor and a revolving restaurant. On a clear day you can see the Rockies about 60 miles (100 km) west. Prices vary by date and do not include GST; book online for the best rate. From September to May it is open 10 am to 9 pm daily.
Studio Bell (National Music Centre)
A striking curved building at 850 4 Street SE that houses the Canadian Music Halls of Fame, the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio and a huge collection of instruments and synthesizers you can play. The 2026 lineup includes an exhibition on Oscar Peterson's centenary. Check studiobell.ca for open days, since it closes some weekdays.
Heritage Park Historical Village
Canada's largest living history village, with costumed staff, a working steam train, a paddlewheeler and an antique midway. The village opens daily in summer and on weekends and holidays in the shoulder seasons. The Gasoline Alley Museum of vintage cars and gas pumps is open year-round, 10 am to 5 pm.
Prince's Island Park and the Bow River
The riverside pathway runs for miles along the Bow, past Prince's Island Park and the red helix of the Peace Bridge. In July and August locals float the Bow on rafts from Bowness to downtown; the city requires life jackets, and the water stays cold.
Inglewood
Calgary's oldest neighborhood, along 9 Avenue SE, with record shops, antique stores, breweries and some of the city's best restaurants. Nearby are the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, the Calgary Zoo across the river, and the site at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow where Fort Calgary was built in 1875.
Kensington
A walkable village of cafés, bookshops and the old Plaza Theatre at 10 Street and Kensington Road NW. Walk across the Peace Bridge from downtown in 15 minutes.
Central Library and Stephen Avenue
The 2018 Central Library is a free architectural landmark. Stephen Avenue (8 Avenue SW) is the pedestrian strip of sandstone buildings, patios and steakhouses. Good Alberta beef is the local specialty.
Watch out
The Glenbow, Calgary's main art and history museum, was still closed for its major "Glenbow Reimagined" renovation in October 2026. Older guides list it as a top sight; check glenbow.org for the reopening date before you plan around it.
Calgary's weather swings hard. Winter chinook winds can lift the temperature from 5°F (-15°C) to 50°F (10°C) in a day, and summer afternoons bring thunderstorms and hail.
The Calgary Stampede
For ten days every July, Calgary turns into a giant rodeo and fair, and many locals, from bankers to bus drivers, wear jeans and cowboy hats to work. The Calgary Stampede calls itself the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, and it draws more than a million visitors. The 2027 Stampede runs July 9–18, 2027.
- The parade opens the Stampede on the morning of the first Friday through downtown. It is free; locals claim curb spots very early, or you can buy grandstand seats.
- The rodeo runs every afternoon at 1:30 pm in the grandstand, with bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, barrel racing and more, building to the finals on the last weekend.
- The Evening Show starts at 7:15 pm nightly with the Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races, relay races and the Grandstand Show, followed by fireworks.
- Stampede Park itself has a midway, agriculture barns, an Indigenous village called Elbow River Camp, live music and fair food. You pay park admission at the gate; rodeo and evening show tickets are separate.
- Stampede breakfasts are free pancake breakfasts held by churches, businesses and community groups all over the city. Check local listings during the event.
Tickets for the rodeo and Evening Show sell through AXS from the official site, calgarystampede.com. A two-day package combines one rodeo and one Evening Show. Sign up for the Stampede's newsletter to hear when presales open, and buy early for weekend evenings and finals.
Save money
Calgary hotel prices jump sharply during Stampede week, and the best-located rooms sell out early. Book 9–12 months ahead, look at Canmore or Airdrie as alternatives, and use the CTrain: the Red Line stops right at Stampede Park, so you do not need to park.
To dress the part, local stores such as Smithbilt Hats and the Alberta Boot Company sell Western wear year-round. For the national festival calendar, see festivals.
Calgary as a gateway to Banff
Banff is about 80 miles (130 km) from downtown Calgary and 90 miles (145 km) from the airport, roughly 1.5 hours on the Trans-Canada Highway. Many travelers spend a night in Calgary on arrival, especially after a late flight, then drive west in the morning.
- Base in Calgary only if your budget is tight. Hotels are much cheaper than Banff's, but a daily three-hour round trip eats your best mountain hours. Canmore is a better compromise.
- Shuttles: the Banff Airporter and Brewster Express both run from the airport to Canmore and Banff, and Brewster continues to Lake Louise and, in summer, Jasper. Brewster also picks up downtown.
- Car rental: YYC has every major rental company. Book early for July and August.
See the Canadian Rockies for fares, park passes and the Moraine Lake shuttle.
Edmonton and Elk Island
Alberta's capital is 186 miles (300 km) north of Calgary, about three hours on Highway 2. It is a government and university city with a strong arts and festival scene, a long riverfront and the gateway to Jasper and the north.
West Edmonton Mall
The largest mall in North America, with more than 800 stores and services plus an indoor wave pool and waterpark, the Galaxyland amusement park with roller coasters, an NHL-size ice rink, mini golf and an aquarium. Entry to the mall is free; attractions are priced separately. Families love it, especially in winter. The attached Fantasyland Hotel has themed rooms.
North Saskatchewan River valley
A ribbon of parks through the middle of the city with roughly 100 miles (160 km) of maintained trails, one of the largest urban park systems in North America. Rent a bike, take the funicular down from downtown, or ride the summer High Level Bridge Streetcar across the valley.
Royal Alberta Museum and the arts district
The Royal Alberta Museum is the largest museum in western Canada, with strong natural history and Indigenous galleries. The Art Gallery of Alberta is a short walk away, as is the Ice District around the Oilers' arena.
Old Strathcona and Whyte Avenue
Edmonton's nightlife and vintage-shopping strip. In August it hosts the Edmonton Fringe, one of the biggest fringe theater festivals in North America.
Elk Island National Park
About 30 miles (45 km) east of Edmonton on Highway 16, Elk Island is a fenced park of aspen forest and lakes that helped save the plains bison and wood bison from extinction. You will very likely see bison from your car, often next to the road. Stay inside the vehicle; they are fast and dangerous.
- Admission (2026): adult C$10 (about $7), senior C$8.75 (about $6), family/group C$19.50 (about $14). Youth 17 and under are free, and the national Discovery Pass covers it.
- Camping: Astotin Lake campground costs C$31.75 (about $23) a night, and an oTENTik (a tent-cabin hybrid) is C$147.50 (about $105).
- Programs: the Bison Backstage tour costs C$16.50 (about $12) per person.
- Dark skies: the park is inside the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, so it is a good stargazing stop from Edmonton.
From Edmonton, Jasper is about four hours west on Highway 16. See the Rockies. For aurora trips farther north, see the North.
Drumheller and the dinosaur badlands
About 85 miles (135 km) northeast of Calgary, about 1 hour 45 minutes away, the prairie drops suddenly into the Red Deer River valley. The banded hills, hoodoos and coulees here hold an extraordinary record of the late Cretaceous, and the town of Drumheller has leaned into it with dinosaur statues all over town.
Royal Tyrrell Museum
Canada's leading dinosaur museum sits about 4 miles (6 km) northwest of town on Highway 838 in Midland Provincial Park. It holds dozens of mounted skeletons, a working preparation lab where you watch technicians clean fossils, and some of the best-preserved specimens ever found, including an armored nodosaur preserved with its skin and armor in place.
| Royal Tyrrell Museum | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours, May 15–August 31 | Daily 9 am–9 pm (last entry 8 pm) |
| Hours, September 1–May 14 | Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–5 pm (closed most Mondays) |
| Adult | C$25 (about $18) |
| Senior | C$16 (about $11) |
| Youth (7–17) | C$12 (about $9) |
| Child (6 and under) | Free, but needs a ticket |
| Family (2 adults with children, up to 8) | C$55 (about $39) |
Unusually for Canada, these prices include tax. Tickets are timed; buy online at tyrrellmuseum.com for summer weekends, and arrive at your time slot or you may be moved to a later one. Allow three hours.
Around Drumheller
- Horseshoe Canyon: a dramatic badlands viewpoint and short trails right off Highway 9, about 10 miles (17 km) west of town. A good first stop coming from Calgary.
- The Hoodoos: mushroom-shaped rock pillars with a boardwalk, on Highway 10 about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of town.
- Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site: in East Coulee, with tours of the last wooden coal tipple in Canada.
- The World's Largest Dinosaur: an 86-ft (26 m) fiberglass T. rex downtown you can climb inside.
- Dinosaur Trail and the Bleriot Ferry: a loop drive west of town with a small free cable ferry across the river in summer.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
About 2.5 hours southeast of Calgary, near the town of Brooks, Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most productive dinosaur fossil sites in the world. Much of the park is a protected natural preserve you can enter only on a guided tour, such as a bus tour or guided hike into the fossil beds. Tours run in the warm season and fill up, so reserve through Alberta Parks before you go.
The park has a campground and comfort camping cabins, and staying overnight lets you see the badlands at sunset. Summer days can top 95°F (35°C), there is little shade, and prairie rattlesnakes live here. The Alberta Parks page carried a construction advisory in October 2026, so check it for current access.
Insider tip
The Royal Tyrrell and Dinosaur Provincial Park are about 2 hours apart. Do the museum first to understand what you are looking at, then sleep in Brooks or at the park and take a morning tour before the heat builds.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
For about 6,000 years, Plains peoples drove bison herds over this sandstone cliff in the Porcupine Hills, then processed the animals at the camp below. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved buffalo jumps in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interpretive center is built into the cliff itself, and Blackfoot (Niitsitapi) staff and guides tell the story from their own perspective.
- Where: 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Fort Macleod on Highway 785, about 2 hours (110 miles, 175 km) south of Calgary.
- Admission: adult C$18 (about $13), senior C$14 (about $10), youth 7–17 C$11 (about $8), family C$45 (about $32), children 6 and under free.
- Hours: from October 13, 2026 to May 24, 2027, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am–5 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday and on major holidays. It opens daily in summer; check the site for summer hours.
Allow two hours, including the clifftop trail. It pairs naturally with a drive to Waterton, about 1 hour 15 minutes farther southwest. For more on visiting Indigenous sites respectfully, see Indigenous Canada.
Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park, about 3 hours (165 miles, 265 km) south of Calgary, is where the prairie runs straight into the mountains. It is smaller and calmer than Banff, with a walkable townsite, deer on the lawns, and a long glacial lake that crosses the US border. In 1932 Waterton and Montana's Glacier National Park became the world's first international peace park, and the pair is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Prince of Wales Hotel
A gabled 1927 railway-era hotel on a bluff over Upper Waterton Lake. It is seasonal (roughly June to September). Even if you do not stay, have tea in the lobby for the view.
Upper Waterton Lake cruise
A summer boat trip down the lake into Montana to Goat Haunt. Whether passengers can step ashore depends on whether the US port of entry at Goat Haunt is staffed that season; carry your passport either way and check with the operator.
Crypt Lake trail
A boat shuttle to the trailhead, then about 5.4 miles (8.7 km) one way past waterfalls, up a ladder and through a short rock tunnel to a cirque lake on the border. Fit hikers only, and not for anyone afraid of heights.
Cameron Lake and Red Rock Canyon
Two scenic drives from the townsite: the Akamina Parkway to Cameron Lake with canoe rentals, and the Red Rock Parkway to a small canyon of red and green argillite. Both pass through areas regrowing after the 2017 Kenow wildfire, which now have superb wildflowers.
Park admission is the same as other national parks: C$12.25 (about $9) per adult per day or C$24.50 (about $18) per vehicle. The Townsite Campground costs C$27.75–47.25 (about $20–34) a night.
Crossing to Glacier National Park
The quickest link is the Chief Mountain border crossing on Highway 6, about 45 minutes from the townsite, which leads toward Many Glacier and St. Mary in Montana. It is seasonal. In 2026 it opened May 15 to September 30, from 7 am to 10 pm between June 1 and September 7 and 9 am to 6 pm the rest of the season. Outside those dates, use the Carway–Piegan crossing south of Cardston or the 24-hour Coutts–Sweetgrass crossing on I-15.
- You need a US passport book or card, an enhanced driver's license, or a NEXUS card to return to the US by land. See crossing the border and entry rules.
- Glacier required no vehicle reservations in 2026. Instead it piloted a ticketed shuttle and three-hour timed parking at Logan Pass. Check the NPS site for 2027 rules before you go.
- Glacier charges its own entry fee or takes the America the Beautiful pass; your Parks Canada pass does not work there.
- Do not carry cannabis across in either direction, and declare food such as fresh fruit and meat.
Alberta's taxes and costs
Alberta is the only province with no provincial sales tax and no harmonized sales tax. Shoppers pay only the 5% federal GST, compared with 13% in Ontario and 12% in British Columbia. That makes Alberta a good place for bigger purchases such as outdoor gear, boots or a Stampede hat.
Different from home
Canadian prices are shown before tax, as in most US states. In Alberta the gap is small: add 5% at the register. Hotel bills carry the 5% GST plus a 4% provincial tourism levy, and some Calgary and Banff hotels add a destination marketing fee on top. Tipping is the same as at home, 15–20% in restaurants.
Gas in Alberta is usually among the cheapest in Canada, priced by the liter. Fill up before crossing into BC on the way to Yoho or Kootenay. For daily budgets and card tips, see money, and for what you can bring home duty-free, see shopping and US customs.
Getting there and around
Calgary (YYC) is WestJet's main hub and has nonstops from many US cities on WestJet, Air Canada and the major US airlines. Edmonton (YEG) has fewer US routes. Both airports have US preclearance, so you clear US customs and immigration before you board and arrive at a domestic gate at home. Leave extra time for that on departure. See flights.
- YYC to downtown: about 20–30 minutes by car. Calgary Transit's Route 300 bus runs between the airport and downtown.
- In Calgary: the CTrain light rail is free within the downtown stretch of 7 Avenue and reaches Stampede Park, Kensington (Sunnyside station) and the suburbs.
- Driving from the US: the Coutts–Sweetgrass crossing on I-15 north of Great Falls, Montana, is open 24 hours and about 3 hours from Calgary. See driving in Canada.
Outside the cities, you need a car. Distances are long but roads are straight and well maintained. In winter, watch for black ice, blowing snow on the open prairie, and deer at dusk.
Where to stay
Rates below are typical summer prices for two, before tax, outside Stampede week.
Fairmont Palliser
The 1914 railway hotel next to the Calgary Tower, with a grand lobby and an easy walk to Stephen Avenue.
Beltline and East Village hotels
Boutique options such as Hotel Arts in the Beltline, near 17 Avenue's bars, and newer hotels in the East Village near Studio Bell and the river. Both areas are a short walk or CTrain ride to Stampede Park.
Motel Village and airport hotels
Chain hotels cluster along 16 Avenue NW near the university and around the airport, with free parking and quick access to the highway to Banff. The Marriott inside the YYC terminal suits early flights.
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
A 1915 château-style hotel on the edge of the river valley, often cheaper than Calgary's equivalent.
Fantasyland Hotel
Themed rooms (igloo, truck, Roman) attached to the mall. Fun with kids; book a standard room if you just want a bed.
Drumheller and Brooks
Mostly chain hotels and independent motels, plus campgrounds in the valley. Book ahead for summer weekends, when Calgary families fill the town.
Waterton townsite
A handful of inns and lodges, the Prince of Wales Hotel and the Townsite Campground. Most close from fall to spring. Pincher Creek and Cardston, 40 minutes away, have cheaper rooms.
For Stampede week, book Calgary rooms 9–12 months out. For summer in Waterton, book 4–6 months ahead. Parks Canada campground reservations open in winter. See where to stay for booking strategies.
When to go
- June: green prairie, long days, wildflowers in Waterton, rainy spells. Heritage Park and seasonal attractions are in full swing.
- July: Stampede (July 9–18, 2027), hot days often around 77°F to 86°F (25°C to 30°C) and evening storms. The busiest and priciest month.
- August: the Edmonton Fringe and folk festivals, warm weather, and the occasional week of wildfire smoke.
- September: the best overall month, with golden aspens, harvest colors and lower prices. Chief Mountain stays open through the end of the month.
- October–April: cold and dry, with chinook thaws in Calgary. West Edmonton Mall, the museums and skiing near Banff carry the season; many Waterton businesses close. The Royal Tyrrell stays open, though it closes most Mondays.
For seasons across Canada and holiday weekends to avoid, see when to go.
Itineraries
3 days: Calgary and the dinosaurs
- Day 1
Calgary
Calgary Tower in the morning, Stephen Avenue for lunch, Studio Bell in the afternoon, dinner in Inglewood.
- Day 2
Drumheller
Leave by 8 am, stop at Horseshoe Canyon, then the Royal Tyrrell at opening. Afternoon at the Hoodoos and the Atlas Coal Mine. Return to Calgary or sleep in Drumheller.
- Day 3
River and neighborhoods
Bike or walk the Bow River pathway to Prince's Island and across the Peace Bridge to Kensington. Spend the afternoon at Heritage Park, or head to Banff.
5 days: Southern Alberta loop
- Day 1
Calgary
See the city highlights above.
- Day 2
Head-Smashed-In to Waterton
Drive 2 hours south to the buffalo jump, then about 75 minutes on to Waterton. Evening walk to the Prince of Wales Hotel bluff.
- Day 3
Waterton
Lake cruise in the morning, the Akamina Parkway to Cameron Lake in the afternoon, or the Crypt Lake hike if you are fit.
- Day 4
Glacier day trip (June to September)
Cross at Chief Mountain to Many Glacier or St. Mary in Montana, then return the same way before the crossing closes for the night. Otherwise, hike Bear's Hump and drive the Red Rock Parkway.
- Day 5
Back to Calgary
Three hours north. Stop in Longview or Black Diamond in the foothills for lunch.
7 days: Calgary to Edmonton, or the full province
- Days 1–2
Calgary
City sights on Day 1; Heritage Park and Canada Olympic Park, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, on Day 2.
- Day 3
Drumheller
Royal Tyrrell and the badlands; sleep in Drumheller.
- Day 4
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Drive 2 hours to the park for a booked guided tour; camp or sleep in Brooks. To save a day, go straight north to Edmonton instead.
- Day 5
To Edmonton
About 5 hours from the park. Evening on Whyte Avenue.
- Day 6
Edmonton
River valley in the morning, Royal Alberta Museum, then West Edmonton Mall in the evening.
- Day 7
Elk Island, then home or Jasper
Early drive to Elk Island to see bison, then fly home from Edmonton or continue 4 hours west to Jasper to start a Rockies trip.
To combine this with Banff and Jasper, see the Rockies itineraries, road trips, or ask about a custom plan.
Add it to a route in the trip builder, or ask us to plan the hotels, trains and guides for you.