Overview

Sculpted by ancient rivers, the moon-like Badlands were once the domain of the dinosaur. Here, echoes of Alberta's rich history are whispered on prairie winds and mountain breezes. Tour the Canadian prairies in a motorhome, RV or camper from CanaDream RV Rentals and discover two-billion-year-old rocks plus the largest collection of dinosaur skeletons in the world.
Duration
5 DAYS
Distance
846km / 526mi
Start / End
Calgary / Calgary
Region
Alberta
Print Page

Route - 846 km / 526 mi

Day Location Distance Duration
01 Calgary to Drumheller 216 km / 134 mi Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
02 Drumheller
03 Drumheller to Medicine Hat 247 km / 153 mi Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes
04 Medicine Hat to Lethbridge 166 km / 103 mi Approx. 1 hour 55 minutes
05 Lethbridge to Calgary 216 km / 134 mi Approx. 2 hours

Trip Details

Today you’re on your way to Drumheller, known as the dinosaur capital of the world. Just an hour and a half from Calgary, you’ll have lots of time to explore the badlands of Alberta.

Depending on the time of year, see if you can take in a musical at the acclaimed Rosebud Theatre in the tiny town of Rosebud, near Drumheller. Or explore and enjoy the many walking and hiking trails in the area.

CanaDream Club Partners

Just seven kilometres west of Drumheller, on Highway 838, is the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, arguably the finest dinosaur museum in the world. The Tyrrell is devoted to dinosaurs and was named after Joseph Tyrrell, who in 1884 discovered an Albertosaurus, the first of hundreds of complete dinosaur skeletons, since removed from Alberta's Badlands.

Today the museum has more than 80,000 specimens and 35 complete skeletons, more than any other museum in the world. All are strikingly and imaginatively presented with the crowd-pleasers being the original Albertosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as more unusual creatures such as the Xiphactinus. The museum alone is worth several hours, but you can spend a full day here by tacking on a short hike, guided May thru September, or on your own anytime.

CanaDream Club Partners

Heading out on the Dinosaur Trail, drive west from Drumheller, along the Red Deer River Valley. The road then climbs steeply out of the valley onto the prairie benchland. Then, head to Horsethief Canyon Lookout where there are spectacular views of the Badlands and the multicoloured walls of the canyons. The road continues along the top of the valley to Orkney Hill Lookout for more panoramic views across the Badlands and the lush valley floor below.

Getting back on Highway 1, continue heading east. Visit the city of Medicine Hat, where visitors flock to the world's tallest teepee, bask under Medicine Hat's endless skies or tour the Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic Site and the Medalta Potteries National Historic Site.

The most convenient campground for your overnight stay in this city is the Gas City Campground, operated by the City of Medicine Hat.

Continue your southwesterly journey, turning onto Highway 887 at Seven Persons and take a side trip into Red Rock Coulee - a beautiful chunk of priairie landscape covered with spheroid rock formations. These are the best examples of these formations in Alberta, some measuring up to 2.5 metres across.

Canadian and Albertan history is evident in the Lethbridge buildings that still stand from the boom in the early 1900s, including the town's first public library. Lethbridge's population passed the 100,000 mark in 2019, nudging Red Deer out of its place as the 3rd largest city in Alberta. Among the top attractions here are the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, symboling friendship between Canada and Japan. Here visitors can take part in tea ceremonies or just walk the paths and experience au authentic Japanese-Albertan experience.

CanaDream Club Partners

Take your time as you head back to Calgary today, perhaps taking Highway 2 and stopping in Nanton. Nanton is a quaint little town known for being the place to look for antiques and old memorabilia. Alternatively, from Lethbridge continue west on Highway 3 to the junction with Highway 22 and follow the Cowboy Trail back to Calgary.

If you're continuing on to the Rockies after completing this tour, head west when you reach the Trans Canada Highway. If you're travelling back to Calgary, our recommended campground in Calgary is Calgary West Campground close to Canada Olympic Park. Download our CanaDream app to take advantage of our partner discounts.

CanaDream Club Partners 

Land of the Dinosaurs

No visit to the Alberta Badlands in Drumheller would be complete without including the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology - displaying one of the world's largest collections of dinosaurs with specimens sourced mainly from around the province.  It is Canada's only museum dedicated to the science of palaeontology.  The museum's 10 galleries feature 40 complete dinosaur skeletons and more the 130,000 fossils.

Video courtesy of Travel Alberta

Other Itineraries in Alberta