Drumheller

Drumheller is a town of roughly 8,000 people (2016) set deep in the Red Deer River valley, where the flat prairie of Southern Alberta suddenly drops away into a dramatic "badlands" landscape of eroded buttes, coulees, and hoodoos. The town owes its existence to coal — the mines that opened early in the 20th century are long abandoned — but today it is famous worldwide for something far older: the extraordinarily rich fossil beds exposed in the surrounding rock. Drumheller bills itself as the dinosaur capital of the region and is one of the most important centres for palaeontology in Canada, anchored by the Royal Tyrrell Museum just outside town.

The valley itself is the main event. The badlands are visible from almost everywhere, and the town sits low among them, threaded by the river. A good orientation point is the highway bridge where the routes cross the Red Deer River: beside it stand the Visitor Information Centre and an 86-foot (26 m) sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex — the "World's Largest Dinosaur." Downtown Drumheller lies just south and east of this bridge and is small and walkable. Local tourist information is even broadcast on FM 94.5.

Tourism here is intensely seasonal. The town draws hundreds of thousands of visitors between May and September, then quiets dramatically — many attractions close or cut to limited hours from October through April. Summers are hot, often climbing above 30°C (85°F), and the valley breeds plenty of mosquitoes, so pack repellent. The ideal window is late spring through early autumn, when attractions, ferries, and trails are all fully open; come outside that window and expect a much sleepier town with reduced services.

By Plane

The nearest major airport is Calgary International Airport (YYC), roughly 140 km to the southwest — about a 1.5-hour drive. There is no commercial airport in Drumheller and no scheduled airport bus directly to the town, so most fly-in visitors rent a car at YYC. Travellers based in Calgary without a vehicle can instead join an organised day tour (see Get Around and Do).

By Train

By Car / Road

Drumheller sits at the convergence of provincial highways 9, 10, 56, 575, and 576, and a car is the practical way to arrive.

• From Calgary (140 km / 87 mi northeast, about 1 hr 45 min): drive east on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) to Highway 9, which runs north and east into Drumheller. An alternate route goes north on Highway 2, then east on Highway 72 (exit 295), joining Highway 9 at the small town of Beiseker.
• From the east: take Highway 9 (which continues as Saskatchewan Highway 7) from the Saskatoon direction, or come via the Trans-Canada from Regina and turn north on Highway 56.

Roads are paved, generally good two-lane highways; watch for wildlife and slow-moving farm traffic in rural stretches.

Tours and shuttles: Several tour companies run day trips to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the wider Drumheller Valley — the museum can advise on operators. Visitors staying in Calgary without a car often book the Canadian Badlands Day Trip from Calgary, which typically takes in the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Horseshoe Canyon, the Atlas Coal Mine, and the hoodoos. Note that dinosaur enthusiasts may find the museum portion of such tours rushed.

Drumheller is a small, rural town and its downtown core is compact and easily walkable. Beyond the centre, however, the attractions are spread along the valley and you will need a car to reach the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the hoodoos, the canyons, and the Dinosaur Trail loop. Cycling is possible and the scenery rewards it, but summer heat is intense and the highways lack good bike lanes, so ride prepared. There is no local public transit or metro; ride-hailing and taxi availability is limited, so most visitors self-drive or join a guided tour.

The badlands landscape is the headline sight, visible all around the valley. The Horseshoe and Horsethief canyons (see Go Next) are excellent viewpoints, but the best introduction to the geology is arguably the trail network at the Royal Tyrrell Museum: free to access, well-marked and graded, with interpretive signs, and good for about two hours of wandering. Be aware there are considerable steps, so the trails require moderate fitness.

Museums & attractions

• The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology — Highway 838 (from the Railway Ave S / Hwy 575 and Bridge St / Hwy 56 / Hwy 9 intersection, go north on Bridge St 1.2 km across the river, turn left/west onto Dinosaur Trail / Hwy 838 for 5.2 km, then right/north onto the museum road). ☏ +1 403-823-7707; toll-free +1-888-440-4240; [email protected]. The region's premier attraction — a spectacular sweep of exhibits from dinosaurs to fossil pollen, engaging even for non-enthusiasts, plus moderate guided fossil hikes in summer. Hours: spring/summer (week before Victoria Day to week before Labour Day) daily 9AM–9PM; fall/winter (Labour Day weekend to mid-May) Tu–Su 10AM–5PM, plus Mondays in September. Admission: adults $19, seniors (65+) $14, youth $10, children 6 and under free; family (two adults + up to 6 children aged 7–17) $46; two-day tickets at 1.5× the single-day price; group discounts for 15+ (call ahead). All prices CAD.
• Drumheller Visitor Information Centre & World's Largest Dinosaur — 60 – 1 Avenue West, on Riverside Drive at 1 St W. Toll-free +1-866-823-8100; [email protected]. Hours: daily 10AM–5:30PM; 9AM–9PM in July and August. Free maps and advice, a gift shop, and a board for checking same-night hotel availability and rates. The centre sits beneath the World's Largest Dinosaur, an 86-foot-tall, 151-foot-long T. rex sculpture (four times life size) — for $5 you can climb up inside and look out over the badlands. (updated Jun 2023)
• Homestead Antique Museum — 901 North Dinosaur Trail. ☏ +1 403 823-2600. Hours: daily 10AM–5PM (May–Oct), extended in summer, closed after Thanksgiving. Over 10,000 Victorian- and Edwardian-era artifacts, including a two-headed calf and a complete house ordered from an Eaton's catalogue. Admission: $5/person, $3/senior or youth.
• Midland Provincial Park — Highway 838, near the Royal Tyrrell Museum. ☏ +1 403-823-1749. Set on a former coal-mine site (the land that hosts the museum), with day-use areas at McMullen Island and Mine Sites 1, 2, and 3. Washrooms available; no camping.

Trails & natural features

• Hoodoos Trail — an easy 500-m loop leading to a cluster of about 10 fantastical capped stone columns, 16 km southwest of town: take Highway 56 to Highway 10 toward East Coulee and follow the signs.

• Suspension Bridge — a pedestrian river crossing near the old Star Mine site, a short and easy walk worth combining with a downtown stroll.

• Mountain View Helicopters — ☏ +1 403 334-4354. Sightseeing flights over Horseshoe Canyon and the badlands; about $40/person for parties of 2–3.

• Fossil World — 1381 Dinosaur Trail North, on the way to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. ☏ +1 403 823-6666. A hands-on attraction where you can dig up and take home your own fossils — good for families.

• Drive the Dinosaur Trail — a 48-km (30-mi) scenic loop out of town (see Go Next), taking in canyon viewpoints, the museum, and the cable-guided Bleriot Ferry across the Red Deer River.

• Day-trip the Hoodoo Trail — combine the hoodoos, the historic Atlas Coal Mine at East Coulee, and the Willow Creek Hoodoos interpretive trail at Cambria into a half-day badlands circuit.

• Catch a show in Rosebud — the Rosebud Theatre (106 Martin Avenue, Rosebud; ☏ +1-403-677-2001, toll-free +1-800-267-7553), 35 km southwest, is a well-known dinner-theatre destination worth building an evening around.

Drumheller's dining is casual and family-oriented, heavy on diner classics, pub fare, and Canadian-Chinese buffets that cater to the tour-bus trade, with a couple of pleasant surprises at the upper end. A spread across price tiers:

• Vietnamese Noodle House — 2 St W at A Ave W. Tu–F 11AM–9PM; Sa–Su noon–8PM. Unpretentious spot for Vietnamese noodles, ice cream, and everyday fare. (Budget)
• Triumph Cafe — 100 S Railway Ave. ☏ +1 403 823-4543. Long hours (6AM–10PM), handy for an early breakfast or late bite. (Budget)
• Bernie and the Boys Bistro — 305-4 Street W. ☏ +1 403 823-3318. Tu–Su 11AM–9PM. A local favourite for burgers, subs, salads, pasta, and pizza. (Budget–mid)
• Sizzling House — 160 Centre St. ☏ +1 403 823-8098. Canadian-Chinese with a weekday buffet lunch; buses welcome. (Mid)
• Fred & Barney's Family Restaurant — Highway 9 S, across from the Jurassic Inn. ☏ +1 403 823-2803. Chinese and Western buffet; bus tours welcome. (Mid)
• Sublime — 109 Centre Street, across from the arena. ☏ +1 403-823-2344. Tu–Su 5PM–9PM. Fine dining from Red Seal chef Dennis Standage and one of the best small restaurants in Alberta; mains roughly $15–40. (Upscale)

Vegetarians will find the most flexibility at the Vietnamese and buffet-style spots; for specific dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, halal), call ahead, as dedicated options are limited in a town this size.

Drumheller's nightlife is low-key and centred on a couple of pub-style taprooms downtown rather than a bar district:

• The Recovery Tap House — 30 Railway Avenue West, downtown. ☏ +1 403 823-2340. Open 11AM–2AM. Pub food done well — steaks, sandwiches, and daily lunch specials — in the $10–20 range, with the latest closing time in town. (updated Nov 2016)
• The Vintage Tap House — a second downtown option for a casual drink. (updated May 2019)

Tap water is municipally treated and safe to drink throughout Drumheller. On hot summer days in the valley, carry water for hikes and canyon walks, where there is little shade.

Accommodation skews toward dependable motels and family hotels; book well ahead for summer weekends, when rooms fill and rates rise. Rates below are rough, in-season guidance in CAD — confirm current pricing directly, and note the Visitor Information Centre keeps a same-night availability board.

Budget

• Rivergrove Campground — across the river from the World's Largest Dinosaur. ☏ +1 403 823-6655, fax +1 403 823-3132. Riverside campground just across from downtown with cabins, full-service facilities, washrooms and showers, an RV waste dump, and laundry. Tent and RV sites typically run roughly CAD $30–55; cabins more. (Budget / camping)
• Super 8 Motel — 800 – 680 2nd St SE. ☏ +1 403 823-8887, toll-free +1-888-823-8882. Reliable chain motel with a waterslide, guest laundry, high-speed internet, and family and kitchen suites. Expect roughly CAD $100–150 in summer. (Budget–mid)

Mid-range

• Best Western Jurassic Inn — 1103 9 Hwy S. ☏ +1 403-823-7700. Pool, hot tub, guest laundry, and high-speed internet; a comfortable, well-run mid-range standby. Roughly CAD $140–190 in season. (Mid-range)
• The Drumheller Inn — 100 S Railway Ave. ☏ +1 403 823-8400, fax +1 403 823-5020. Air-conditioned rooms, indoor pool, and whirlpool; advertised as "Drumheller's only full-service hotel." Roughly CAD $130–180 in season. (Mid-range)

Upscale / heritage

Shopping in Drumheller is practical rather than boutique. The main retail hub is the Greentree Mall (Highway 10 East; ☏ +1 403 823-5555, open daily), with a mix of food, fuel, auto service, clothing, and other everyday shops. For souvenirs, expect plenty of dinosaur- and fossil-themed gifts — the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Visitor Information Centre both run gift shops with quality palaeontology-themed books, replicas, and keepsakes. Prices are fixed; haggling is not a local custom.

• Horseshoe Canyon (23 km / 14 mi southwest on Highway 9) — striking badlands geology with good hiking when the rock isn't rain-slicked; said by some to be haunted.
• Horsethief Canyon (17 km / 11 mi northwest on North Dinosaur Trail / Hwy 838, past the Royal Tyrrell Museum) — another sweeping canyon viewpoint over the layered badlands.
• East Coulee & the Atlas Coal Mine (20 km / 12 mi southeast via the Hoodoo Trail, Hwy 10) — a National Historic Site preserving Canada's last wooden coal tipple; pass the Willow Creek Hoodoos at Cambria en route.
• Rosebud (35 km / 22 mi southwest via Hwy 9) — a tiny hamlet famous for the Rosebud Theatre's professional dinner-theatre productions.
• Bleriot Ferry & the Dinosaur Trail (on Hwy 838 over the Red Deer River) — a free, seasonal cable ferry (roughly May to late October) and centrepiece of the 48-km Dinosaur Trail scenic loop.
• Dinosaur Provincial Park (177 km / about 2 hr 15 min southeast, near Brooks) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose fossil exhibits complement the Royal Tyrrell Museum; allow at least three days to do both justice.