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The 9 best day trips from Calgary
Discover the best day trips from Calgary, from half-day nature escapes to family-friendly and unique scenic adventures. Travel times, tips, and key highlights included.
Calgary is one of Canada’s best bases for quick getaways. Within one to two hours, you can reach the Canadian Rockies, peaceful prairie landscapes, lakes, mountain towns, and winter-friendly attractions. From short half-day escapes to full-day adventures, these day trips from Calgary offer something for every traveller.
This guide highlights nine different places to visit near Calgary, each suited for various scenarios — from family-friendly excursions to unique scenic adventures.
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Quick picks: Where to go from Calgary
Here’s a simple overview of the best day trips from Calgary, with travel times and highlights at a glance.
| Destination | Travel time from downtown Calgary | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park | 35 minutes drive | Bow River views, cycling paths |
| Spruce Meadows | 25 minutes drive | Equestrian shows, seasonal markets |
| Kirk’s Alpaca Farm | 1.5 hours drive | Alpaca encounters, petting area |
| Bragg Creek | 30-40 minutes drive | Creekside cafés, easy trails |
| Dinosaur Provincial Park | 2.5 hours drive | Fossils, badlands landscapes |
| Banff National Park | 1.5 hours drive | Lakes, gondola, iconic viewpoints |
| Highwood Pass | 1.5 hours drive | Rocky Mountain views, wildlife |
| Diamond Valley | 45 minutes drive | Local shops, foothills scenery |
| Glacier National Park, Montana (U.S.) | 3 hours drive | Going-to-the-Sun Road, various hikes |
Best half day trips from Calgary
Not every getaway needs to take a full day. These half day trips from Calgary are ideal if you only have a few hours but still want fresh air, scenery, or a quick change of pace. Each spot is close enough for a morning or afternoon outing, whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, or looking for an easy nature break without a long drive.
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Glenbow Ranch is one of the closest nature getaways to Calgary, perfect for a relaxed morning or an active afternoon. The park’s paved and gravel paths overlook the Bow River valley, making it ideal for walking, jogging, and cycling.
How to get there: About a 35-minute drive from downtown Calgary
What to do: Explore the Bowbend Lookout, cycle the Tiger Lily Loop, or enjoy a quiet picnic with prairie-meets-mountain views.
Ideal for: Travellers wanting a quick, low-effort nature break without leaving the Calgary area.
Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows is known globally for equestrian events, but it’s just as enjoyable for families thanks to markets, seasonal festivals, and open-house days.
How to get there: An easy 25-minute drive south from downtown Calgary.
What to do: Watch show jumping competitions, browse holiday markets, or stroll the beautiful grounds.
Ideal for: Families and event-goers looking for easy, close-to-home activities.
Best day trips from Calgary with kids
Family-friendly travel from Calgary is easier than you might think. These destinations offer hands-on activities, wildlife encounters, gentle hiking, and plenty of space for kids to explore safely. Whether you want animals, nature, or a national park classic, these places to visit near Calgary keep drive times manageable while giving families a full day of fun.
Kirk’s Alpaca Farm
Kirk’s Alpaca Farm is a fun stop for families who enjoy meeting animals up close. The farm sits in the Calgary foothills and offers a relaxed environment where kids can feed and interact with alpacas under staff guidance.
How to get there: About a 1.5-hour drive up north from downtown Calgary
What to do: Feed the alpacas, visit the petting areas, and take fun photos with these friendly animals.
Ideal for: Young families and anyone seeking a relaxed, animal-focused outing.
📌Tips: Bookings may be required on busy weekends.
Bragg Creek
Bragg Creek is great for families because the area offers short, easy trails and open riverside spaces where kids can explore safely. The drive is quick, making it ideal for younger children who don’t do well with long car rides. With picnic areas and gentle nature walks, it’s a low-stress outdoor option for a family day trip.
How to get there: A 30–40-minute drive west from downtown Calgary.
What to do: Try the Bragg Creek Provincial Park paths, grab pastries at local cafés, or explore the popular West Bragg Creek trail network.
Ideal for: Families, beginner hikers, and anyone wanting a relaxed nature day without long driving.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park is a hit with kids for its dinosaur fossils, hands-on learning programs, and dramatic badlands landscapes. Families can join easy guided activities or explore short interpretive trails that keep children engaged.
How to get there: Around a 2.5-hour drive east from downtown Calgary.
What to do: Join fossil tours, walk the self-guided interpretive trails, and paddle the Red Deer River.
Ideal for: Kids who love dinosaurs, history lovers, and families seeking a memorable educational day trip.
Banff National Park
Banff National Park remains one of the best day trips from Calgary. It works well for families because many sights, such as lakes, viewpoints, and short trails, are easily accessible without long hikes. Kids can enjoy wildlife spotting, gentle walks, and fun stops in Banff town for food or museums.
How to get there: About a 1.5-hour drive west from downtown Calgary.
What to do: Ride the Banff Gondola, walk around Bow Falls, picnic by Two Jack Lake, or explore Banff Avenue’s shops.
Ideal for: First-time visitors to Alberta, families, and anyone wanting to experience the Rockies.
Best unique day trips from Calgary
Looking for something different? These spots offer memorable scenery, quieter roads, and less-visited landscapes, great for unique day trips from Calgary.
Highwood Pass
Highwood Pass offers one of the most scenic mountain drives near Calgary, with sweeping alpine views right from the road. It’s a great option for travellers who want dramatic landscapes without committing to long hikes. Wildlife viewing, roadside stops, and short trails make it an easy but memorable day trip.
How to get there: About a 1.5-hour drive southwest from downtown Calgary.
What to do: Hike the Ptarmigan Cirque Trail, stop for wildlife viewing, or enjoy scenic pullouts ideal for photography.
Ideal for: Road trip lovers, fall colour seekers, and travellers wanting quieter mountain scenery.
Diamond Valley
Diamond Valley is a relaxed small-town escape with quirky shops, local eateries, and foothills scenery. It’s ideal for travellers who want a slower-paced day trip with simple walking routes and plenty of places to browse or grab a coffee. The short drive makes it a convenient choice for a low-key outing.
How to get there: A 45-minute drive south from downtown calgary.
What to do: Visit local markets, explore boutique shops, or drive scenic backroads with rolling foothills views.
Ideal for: Travellers wanting a relaxed, cultural, small-town experience.
Glacier National Park, Montana (US)
Glacier National Park offers big mountain scenery, wildlife viewing, and iconic drives just across the border, making it an exciting full-day adventure from Calgary.
Before heading south, it’s useful to review Canada to the US travel requirement and check data options like the eSIM for America to stay connected on the road.
If you’re planning a longer road trip, guides on traveling from Canada to the US can also help you plan a smoother border crossing.
How to get there: A 3-hour drive south from downtown Calgary.
What to do: Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road (seasonal), visit Lake McDonald, or choose short family-friendly trails.
Ideal for: Travellers seeking a full-day cross-border adventure with world-class scenery.
What to prepare before you go?
A little planning goes a long way, especially when day-tripping around Alberta or crossing into the US. Here are a few essentials to help make your trip smoother, safer, and more comfortable.
- Transportation: If you’re renting a car or using a car-share, double-check whether cross-border travel is allowed.
- Weather basics: Mountain conditions can shift quickly, so pack layers, waterproof gear, and sturdy shoes.
- Road and mountain safety: Carry bear spray in wild areas, check trail or avalanche advisories, and keep an eye on road conditions.
- Navigation: Download offline maps before you lose signal in remote stretches.
- Data planning: If you’re unsure how much mobile data you need on the road, this guide on how much data for travel is a helpful starting point.
- RV and trailer travelers: If you’re travelling by camper, resources on internet travel trailers in Canada can help you stay connected in remote regions.
- Bookings: Some destinations, like alpaca farms, seasonal attractions, or museums, require advance reservations, especially on weekends.
- Connectivity: A Holafly eSIM for Canada or the US keeps your data running smoothly without switching between physical SIM cards.
Stay connected on your day trips from Calgary with Holafly
Whether you’re planning a short hike or driving all the way to Glacier National Park, reliable data makes every trip easier. Holafly eSIMs features instant activation, unlimited data, and multiple plan options including a North America plan that covers both Canada and the US.
With no physical SIM swapping and 24/7 customer support, it’s a simple, stress-free way to stay online wherever your Calgary day trip takes you.
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