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Travelling from Calgary to Edmonton: Your Savvy Guide for a Hassle-Free Journey!
- What to Expect in Calgary
- What to Expect in Edmonton
- How to Get from Calgary to Edmonton
- Step 1: Get ready and pack for your trip
- Step 2: Start your drive to Edmonton
- Step 3: Check out cool driving stops along the way
- CrossIron Mills
- Where On Earth... Antique Mall and Vintage Market
- World Famous Gopher Hole Museum
- The Donut Mill
- Reynolds-Alberta Museum
- University of Alberta Botanic Garden
- Edmonton Corn Maze
- Step 4: Arrive in Edmonton
- What are the other modes of transportation from Calgary to Edmonton?
- By Bus
- By Private Transfer
- By Plane
Isn’t it cool that the two biggest cities in Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton, are so close to each other? You can hop in your car and reach the capital city in just a few hours.
But what if you made a wrong turn, and instead of reaching Edmonton, you’re lost somewhere in Alberta? Yikes! That’s a spooky situation waiting to happen!
Fear not! We’ve got you covered with helpful tips, cool driving stops, and other ways to get there! Check out our handy dandy guide that will show you all the essential information for a stress-free journey!
What to Expect in Calgary
Calgary, the largest city in Alberta, is a multicultural place that doesn’t get boring. It has a booming population, being the 3rd most diverse major city in Canada, with people of over 240 different ethnic origins.
You’ll experience a laid-back lifestyle without compromising the perks of city life. You can have a suburban way of life in the family-friendly neighbourhoods or you can live in the high-rises downtown.
The city has many tourist destinations (like the Calgary Tower and the Calgary Stampede), a lively culinary scene, a vibrant nightlife, and a thriving real estate market. Its location in the prairies also means you’re close to nature.
Calgary has four seasons, and you can enjoy the sunshine 333 days a year. But once the winter comes, it’s way colder than other Canadian cities, with the average temperature going down to the negatives.
What to Expect in Edmonton
Edmonton is Alberta’s capital city. It’s a place that has many things to offer due to it being a large entertainment and sports hub.
You can enjoy the many benefits of urban living but still have the advantage of being within driving distance of nature attractions. The downtown core is full of life because there’s a rich arts and culture scene, as well as a bright local culinary community.
Both locals and tourists will always have something to look forward to because Edmonton has a love affair with fun events. It hosts over 50 festivals a year!
When it comes to the weather, expect dry summers, but you’ll still get cool days under the sun. But bundle up in the winter, which can be long and harsh, with temperatures dropping to -7°C to -15°C.
How to Get from Calgary to Edmonton
| Distance | 300 km |
| Estimated Travel Time | By Car: 3 hrs (without stops)By Plane: 1 hr |
| Main Driving Road | Queen Elizabeth II Highway |
To get from Calgary to Edmonton, drive on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway for 300 km, approximately taking 3 hours without stops and with the usual traffic. If you want a faster travel time, a plane only takes 1 hour.
The drive does get pretty boring at times, so the best option is to check out scenic destinations along the way. It’s also an excuse to have a fun road trip since these places are already on the way.
If you want to ensure you get a hassle-free trip, check our step-by-step guide when going from Calgary to Edmonton!
Step 1: Get ready and pack for your trip
Media credit: tourismcalgary
Plan your schedule ahead so you know what to bring. Are you going on a day trip or staying for the weekend? Are you going in the summer or do you need to bundle up for the cold weather?
Calgary and Edmonton have lots of similarities, so you can easily purchase essentials in case you forget some things. Check out the list below to make sure you have the essentials covered:
- Spring
Bring light clothing, but also pack for cooler days. These are the days when the snow melts and the weather starts getting warmer, so bring jackets and pants to keep you warm on cool nights.
- Summer
Pack light clothing, such as shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops. Bring comfortable sneakers, sandals, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and a light jacket for cool nights.
- Fall
The weather starts to get cold, especially once November starts (the temperature can reach 0°C). Bring a thick jacket and long johns.
- Winter
Bring layers of clothing, such as thermal undergarments, a thick winter jacket, a toque, gloves, gloves and mittens (if the gloves are thin enough, you can wear the mitts over it), a scarf, and extra layers.
For the road, bring snacks and water. The drive is only 3 hours, but can get up to 4 hours with traffic.
Remember to fill up your gas tank. In case you forget, you’ll see gas stations along Highway 2 (or Queen Elizabeth II Highway) since it is a major highway.
Step 2: Start your drive to Edmonton
Media credit: tourismcalgary
Your drive from Calgary to Edmonton is 300 km, taking approximately 3 hours on the road. With traffic, the drive can take 3.5 to 4 hours.
Take Deerfoot Trail NE going to Queen Elizabeth II Highway. The drive is pretty straightforward since there’s not a lot of twists and turns.
Continue to Gateway Boulevard NW until you reach your destination in Edmonton unless you want to check out some stopovers along the way.
Step 3: Check out cool driving stops along the way
Media credit: cityofedmonton
If you’re not planning a quick day trip to Edmonton, you can check out some cool places on the way. You’ll be passing by several towns during your drive, which gives you the opportunity to see more of Alberta!
Check out our favourite driving stops that are sure to make your journey memorable! But before heading out, make sure you check the business hours since some are open on a seasonal basis.
CrossIron Mills
Media credit: crossiron_mills
Time to Spend: 1 – 2 hours
Distance from Edmonton: 277 km
If you love shopping, you’ll have a grand time at CrossIron Mills. It’s an outlet mall located in Rocky View, just 20 minutes away from Downtown Calgary.
You’ll find many high-end brands, from clothing to jewellery, perfect if you’re visiting family and friends in Edmonton and need a last-minute gift idea. And if you’re driving an electric car, you can charge up here—there are EV and Tesla charging stations.
This shopping centre opens at 10:00 am, which is pretty late if you’re travelling. We suggest stopping by only if you’re not doing an Edmonton day trip so you can spend more time browsing the shops.
Where On Earth… Antique Mall and Vintage Market
Media credit: whereonearthantiques
Time to Spend: 1 – 2 hours
Distance from Edmonton: 267 km
This vintage and antique marketplace is one of those cool places you can check out in Airdrie. It’s only 25 minutes from Calgary and 8 minutes from CrossIron Mills.
It’s a 15,000 sq ft place that has over 60 vendors selling unique products you won’t find in a regular mall! You’ll find books from the 1900s, vintage cookware and dinnerware, antique furniture, vinyl records, and random bits and bobs.
World Famous Gopher Hole Museum
Media credit: worldfamousgophers
Time to Spend: 15 – 30 minutes
Distance from Edmonton: 224 km
If you’re going to Edmonton in the summer, you have to stop by a museum so strange, you’ll think you’re going nuts! The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum is home to stuffed gophers of Torrington dressed in tiny clothes (they’re actually ground squirrels).
Yes, the ground squirrels are actually taxidermied. You’ll find them posed doing various things, like fishing, hunting, camping, vacationing, and robbing a bank!
The admission is by donation, with the suggested amount of $5 to $10 (but it’s up to you how much you want to donate).
The Donut Mill
Media credit: the.donut.mill
Time to Spend: 15 – 20 minutes
Distance from Edmonton: 161 km
When you pass by Red Deer, you have to try The Donut Mill. This place is a popular stopover for fresh donuts in Alberta (they have a drive-thru!).
You can order half a dozen for your trip or a dozen if you’re meeting friends and family in Edmonton. There’s a bunch of flavours to choose from, like the classic Honey Dip, the fan favourite Oreo, the unique Apple Pie, and the bite-sized Mill Bites!
If you miss this stop, you can still find irresistibly good donuts in Edmonton.
Reynolds-Alberta Museum
Media credit: reynoldsalbertamuseum
Time to Spend: 2 hours
Distance from Edmonton: 72.9 km
If you have extra time, you can take a little detour to Highway 13 and visit the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. It’s home to a collection of artefacts used for transportation, aviation, agriculture, and industrial equipment.
There’s no shortage of cool vehicles and machines you can admire, and some you can even sit on! It’s like an adult playground if you love cars and motorcycles and feel like you’ve been transported to a different era!
If you’re in a rush, you can skip this one and just visit on your drive back to Calgary. It’s only an hour from Edmonton anyway. But if you want to stop by, it’s also ideal for a quick bite since there’s a restaurant on site.
University of Alberta Botanic Garden
Media credit: uabotanicgarden
Time to Spend: 1 – 2 hours
Distance from Edmonton: 34.3 km
For people who love all things beautiful, a visit to the University of Alberta Botanic Garden is a must. It has themed gardens, beautiful landscapes, nature trails, colourful blossoms, and lush trees.
This 240-acre lot has 3 indoor showhouses and thousands of plant and floral varieties to see. It’s open from May to early fall, so plan your schedule if you want to drop by on your way to Edmonton.
Want to learn more about the U of A Botanic Garden? Check this out!
Edmonton Corn Maze
Media credit: yegcornmaze
Time to Spend: 1 hour
Distance from Edmonton: 30.2 km
A fun last stop before you officially reach Edmonton is the corn maze! You can visit this in the fall, the perfect time for a little adventure, getting lost, and finding your way out of the maze!
This is a family-friendly stop as well. Kids can meet farm animals, ride the Corn Cob Express, eat corn harvested from the farm, and snack on delicious popcorn!
Step 4: Arrive in Edmonton
Media credit: cityofedmonton
Remember to input your final stop on the GPS to avoid wrong turns in Edmonton, which can be a hassle during peak hours (traffic does get bad in the city). You’ll want to avoid busy road hours if possible.
Now that you’ve finally arrived in Edmonton, you can finally check in to your hotel and unpack! If you aren’t sure where to stay yet, check out our favourite Edmonton hotels.
But the best thing to do is to explore the city (start in the area where you’re staying). If you’re booking a hotel, we suggest asking the front desk where the good places are—ask for local spots and festivals happening around town.
What are the other modes of transportation from Calgary to Edmonton?
While driving your car is the common way to travel from Calgary to Edmonton due to its close location, there are other ways too. Check out your options below:
By Bus
Media credit: redarrowebus
Pricing: $
Travel Time: 3.5 – 4 hours
If you want to avoid driving on your own, Red Arrow will take you from Calgary to Edmonton by bus. You can choose from different pick-up locations, including their downtown ticket office and the YYC Calgary International Airport.
Choosing this means you cannot stop at various destinations along the way, but it is convenient since you can just sit back and relax. They have daily schedules for Calgary to Edmonton and the other way around.
The bus offers complimentary Wi-Fi, reclining seats, fold-down tray tables, on-board entertainment, and snacks.
By Private Transfer
Media credit: limotogo
Pricing: $$$
Travel Time: 3.5 – 4 hours (depending on pick-up and drop-off locations)
If you’re willing to splurge, booking a private transfer is a convenient way to travel from Calgary to Edmonton. You can pick your own time, stop by attractions along the way, and you don’t have to drive.
It is a pricey option, though. Limo To Go and Quest Limos offer private transfers, with rates depending on the type of vehicle you choose. It can start at $600 for a sedan.
By Plane
Media credit: fly_yeg
Pricing: $$
Travel Time: 1 hour
The fastest mode of transportation is by plane since a non-stop flight is only 1 hour. You have to start at the YYC Calgary International Airport and land at YEG Edmonton International Airport.
This is cheaper than a private transfer—Air Canada offers economy flights starting at $126. However, you should know that the prices will depend on the dates, so expect peak seasons to have higher rates.
There is the hassle of airport checks, luggage limitations, and transportation from the airport to your accommodation. You also have to be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight, which does add more time to your journey.
