11 Amazing Things to Do in Drumheller, Alberta: Our Fall Adventure

Planning a road trip through Alberta and looking for things to do in Drumheller? We're glad you're here!

In mid-October, we decided to take our motorhome on one last adventure before winter. We left Edmonton, stopped in Red Deer, and continued our journey to Drumheller.

We had never heard of Drumheller before, but while working as campground hosts near Edmonton during the summer, several locals recommended that we visit. So, of course, we added it to our list!

In this guide, we'll share the places we visited, the things we enjoyed doing, and a few tips from our two days exploring Drumheller in the fall.

Where is Drumheller, Alberta?

Drumheller is located in Alberta, northeast of Calgary, in the heart of the Canadian Badlands. It's approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Calgary, 3 hours from Edmonton, and 2 hours from Red Deer, making it a great stop on an Alberta road trip.

With a population of around 8,400 people, Drumheller is known as the Dinosaur Capital of the World, thanks to the many dinosaur fossils discovered in the area.

Dinosaurs are everywhere in Drumheller, from the famous Royal Tyrrell Museum to the dinosaur statues you'll find around town.

So, if you're like us and are amazed by the size of these prehistoric creatures, Drumheller is definitely a place you'll want to visit!

Best Things To do In Drumheller, Alberta

There are so many interesting things to do in Drumheller, from exploring the Royal Tyrrell Museum and climbing the World's Largest Dinosaur to discovering the incredible landscapes of the Canadian Badlands.

Here are 11 places and experiences we enjoyed during our visit!

1. Cross the Bleriot Ferry

We arrived in Drumheller in a rather unusual way!

We were driving from Red Deer as part of our Alberta road trip, passing through farmland and fields, when we decided to follow a friend's recommendation and take the Bleriot Ferry.

This small, cable-operated ferry crosses the Red Deer River, about 23 km northwest of Drumheller. It's one of several ferries in Alberta, but definitely not something we expected to find on our road trip!

The ferry operates seasonally, generally from spring until the end of October, and we were lucky to find it still running during the second half of October.

Since we travel in a 24-foot motorhome, we weren't sure whether we'd have any trouble getting across. But everything went smoothly, and we had no issues at all!

The crossing is free, takes only a few minutes, and is operated by a ferry attendant.

If you're driving to Drumheller from the north, we highly recommend considering this route. It's a fun and unusual way to arrive in the Canadian Badlands!

Tip: Check the Alberta ferry schedules before your visit, especially if you're travelling in spring or fall.

2. Visit Horsethief Canyon

After crossing the Bleriot Ferry, we continued along the Dinosaur Trail and made our next stop at Horsethief Canyon, approximately 16 km northwest of Drumheller.

And what a marvelous place!

There's a parking lot near the viewpoint, and as soon as you arrive, you're greeted by incredible views of the Canadian Badlands.

One of the things that impressed us most was seeing the different layers of rock, each with its own colours and patterns. It's amazing to think about how this landscape has changed over millions of years.

During our visit, we found a trail on AllTrails and decided to follow it into the canyon. We completed a loop and absolutely loved seeing the landscape from a different perspective.

However, we later learned that hiking into Horsethief Canyon is not permitted because the canyon is on private property. Travel Drumheller advises visitors to enjoy the views from the designated viewpoint instead.

Even without hiking, we highly recommend stopping here. The views alone make Horsethief Canyon one of our favourite places to visit near Drumheller!

3. Explore the Royal Tyrrell Museum

After visiting Horsethief Canyon, we continued to one of the most popular attractions in Drumheller: the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

And what an incredible place!

The museum is massive and filled with dinosaur fossils, skeletons, and exhibits that take you millions of years into the past.

Adult admission costs CAD $25 per person, and we thought it was totally worth it!

We arrived with only two hours to explore, and honestly, we would have loved to have more time.

One of the things that surprised us most was learning how many dinosaur fossils have been discovered right here in Alberta. We had no idea this province had such a rich prehistoric history!

Even if you're not a huge dinosaur enthusiast, we highly recommend including the Royal Tyrrell Museum on your list of things to do in Drumheller.

Our tip: Set aside at least 2–3 hours for your visit, and consider booking your tickets in advance in high season.

4. Climb the World's Largest Dinosaur

Once you reach downtown Drumheller, one of the first things you'll probably notice is a gigantic green dinosaur towering over the town!

Her name is Tyra, and she's known as the World's Largest Dinosaur.

This is definitely one of the quirkiest things to do in Drumheller, and we're so glad we didn't skip it!

For CAD $5 per person, you can climb 106 stairs inside the dinosaur and reach a viewing platform right inside her mouth.

From there, you'll get a great view of Drumheller and the surrounding valley. It's a fun experience, especially if you're travelling with children.

There's also a gift shop and visitor information centre at the base of the dinosaur, where you can purchase tickets and souvenirs.

One of the advantages of visiting Drumheller in October was that it wasn't busy at all. We climbed the stairs at our own pace and practically had the entire dinosaur to ourselves!

Did you know? The Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will stop operating Tyra when its lease expires in December 2029. However, the dinosaur's future beyond that date is still being discussed, so it's worth checking for updates before planning your visit.

5. Explore Downtown Drumheller

After visiting some of Drumheller's most popular attractions, we decided to spend some time walking around downtown.

One thing we loved was seeing how much the town embraces its dinosaur theme. You'll find colourful dinosaur statues around the streets, and even some roads have dinosaur-inspired names!

But beyond the dinosaurs, Drumheller is also a regular small town where people live, work, and go about their daily lives.

We enjoyed walking around, exploring the streets, and getting a feel for the town beyond its tourist attractions.

If you have some extra time, we recommend taking a walk through downtown Drumheller!

6. Walk the Drumheller River Trails

Something we always try to do when visiting a new destination is explore its walking trails.

Luckily, Drumheller has a network of trails, including paths along the Red Deer River, and we couldn't resist going for a walk!

We followed an easy trail beside the river and enjoyed the beautiful fall colours along the way.

Since we visited in October, the trees were changing colours, and the crisp fall air made the walk even more enjoyable.

It was a lovely way to slow down and enjoy a different side of Drumheller after visiting the dinosaur attractions.

If you're looking for free things to do in Drumheller, we highly recommend exploring some of the walking trails. Just remember to bring warm clothes if you're visiting in the fall!

7. Visit the Drumheller Hoodoos

About an 15-minute drive from downtown Drumheller, you'll find another interesting attraction: the Drumheller Hoodoos!

Hoodoos are unique rock formations with a harder rock cap on top that protects the softer rock underneath from erosion, creating their unusual shapes.

There's no admission fee to visit, and you can walk around the designated viewing area to see these formations up close.

Since this is a protected area, please respect the signs and stay within the designated boundaries to help preserve the hoodoos.

One thing that surprised me was their size! I had seen plenty of photos before visiting and honestly expected them to be much bigger.

They're actually smaller than I imagined, but still worth a stop if you're exploring the area.

If you're looking for free things to do in Drumheller, this is an easy stop to add to your itinerary!

8. Cross the Star Mine Suspension Bridge

On our way back from the Drumheller Hoodoos, we stopped at the Star Mine Suspension Bridge, another interesting place to visit in Drumheller.

The area has a long history of coal mining, and the original bridge was built to help miners cross the Red Deer River on their way to work.

We arrived just around sunset, and it was such a lovely experience walking across the bridge with the beautiful colours of the sky!

Since we visited in October, there were hardly any people around, and once again, we practically had the entire attraction to ourselves.

We highly recommend making a stop here, especially if you're already visiting the hoodoos. It's a fun way to experience a little of Drumheller's mining history while enjoying the views of the river.

9. Stop at the Library and Badlands Community Facility

Looking for something a little different to do in Drumheller?

If you've read some of our other travel guides, you probably know that we love visiting local libraries and community centres wherever we go. And Drumheller was no exception!

We first stopped at the Badlands Community Facility, where we spotted a metallic dinosaur sculpture outside. Of course, another dinosaur!

One of the reasons we visited was to take a shower. Since we travel in our motorhome, we always appreciate finding places where we can use public facilities. You can pay for a day pass to access the facilities or purchase access to the showers.

While we were there, we discovered that the Drumheller Public Library was in the same building, so we decided to spend a few hours working there.

The Wi-Fi was great, and the library was so quiet that we practically had the place to ourselves!

We also purchased a daily parking pass for CAD $20 at the community centre. Since we were travelling in our 24-foot motorhome, having a pass that allowed us to park in different designated areas around town was really convenient.

If you're travelling through Drumheller in an RV, or simply need a quiet place to work or take a break, the library and community centre are worth keeping in mind!

Tip: Check current admission fees, shower availability, and parking pass conditions before your visit, as these may change.

10. Stop at the Drumheller welcome sign

Another fun stop to add to your list of things to do in Drumheller is taking a photo with the town's welcome sign!

We stopped here just before leaving Drumheller and continuing our road trip toward Calgary.

It was close to sunrise, and the surrounding landscape looked gorgeous in the morning light!

It's a quick stop, but a nice way to capture a memory of your visit to Drumheller.

Don't forget to take a photo before you leave!

11. Hike at Horseshoe Canyon

About a 20-minute drive from Drumheller toward Calgary, you'll find Horseshoe Canyon, another incredible place to explore in the Canadian Badlands!

We highly recommend stopping here, especially if you enjoy hiking.

You can admire the landscape from the viewpoints near the parking lot or, if you're feeling adventurous, follow one of the trails down into the canyon.

We visited in October, and surprisingly, it was still quite warm! Since there isn't much shade along the trails, we recommend bringing plenty of water, comfortable shoes, and sun protection.

During the summer months, temperatures can get very hot, so it's best to plan your hike for early in the morning, ideally before 10 a.m., to avoid the midday heat.

We loved exploring Horseshoe Canyon on foot. Seeing the incredible rock formations and layers of the Badlands up close was such a memorable way to finish our visit to Drumheller.

If you're travelling between Drumheller and Calgary, don't skip this stop!

How Many Days Do You Need in Drumheller?

We recommend spending at least two days in Drumheller to have enough time to explore the main attractions without feeling rushed.

You can spend your first day arriving via the Bleriot Ferry, stopping at Horsethief Canyon, and exploring downtown Drumheller.

On your second day, we recommend setting aside at least 2–3 hours for the Royal Tyrrell Museum, followed by a visit to the Drumheller Hoodoos and the Star Mine Suspension Bridge.

During our visit, we tried to fit the Royal Tyrrell Museum into our first day, and honestly, we felt a little rushed. Since we visited in October, the museum closed at 5 p.m., and we wished we had arrived earlier to spend more time exploring.

If you're visiting Drumheller in the fall or during the off-season, keep in mind that some attractions have shorter opening hours, and daylight hours are limited.

With a little planning, two days should give you enough time to enjoy the best things to do in Drumheller without having to rush from one attraction to the next!

Where to Stay in Drumheller (Including RV Options)

If you're travelling in an RV like us, there are a few options worth considering.

During our visit, we used iOverlander to find a place to spend the night.

We ended up staying overnight in the parking lot of Freson Bros., a local supermarket. By the way, we were pleasantly surprised by its selection of groceries and prepared foods!

If you're travelling around Canada in an RV, we highly recommend downloading iOverlander. It's one of the apps we regularly use to find potential overnight parking spots and useful services along our route.

Just remember to check recent reviews and confirm that overnight parking is still permitted before arriving.

Hotels in Drumheller

If you're visiting Drumheller by car or prefer staying in a hotel, there are several accommodation options to consider.

Here are three hotels you can explore:

• Ramada by Wyndham Drumheller: An option close to downtown Drumheller, convenient for exploring the town and nearby attractions.
• Canalta Jurassic Hotel Drumheller: Another option to consider if you're looking for accommodation in town.
• Best Western Diamond Inn: A centrally located option for exploring Drumheller and the surrounding Canadian Badlands.

We haven't personally stayed at these hotels, so we recommend checking recent guest reviews, prices, and availability before booking, especially during the summer months.

Tips for Visiting Drumheller, Alberta

If you're planning a trip and looking for things to do in Drumheller, here are a few tips based on our experience:

• Check seasonal opening hours: If you're visiting during the off-season, make sure to check the opening hours of the attractions you want to visit. Some have reduced hours or close completely for the season. For example, we would have loved to visit the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, but it was already closed when we arrived in October.
• Dress for the weather: If you're visiting in fall or winter, bring warm clothes, especially if you plan to spend time outdoors. It can get quite windy, and having a warm jacket, beanie, and gloves can make your walks much more enjoyable.
• Plan your parking: Parking in Drumheller can be a little tricky, especially if you're travelling in an RV like us. There are several paid parking areas, but you can also purchase a daily parking pass. During our visit in October, we paid CAD $20 for a day pass at the community centre. We displayed it on our rearview mirror, which allowed us to park in designated paid parking areas throughout town for the day. Make sure to check the current rates and parking restrictions before your visit.

Is Drumheller Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! After spending two days exploring the area, we definitely think Drumheller is worth visiting.

We had never heard of this destination before locals recommended it to us, and we're so glad we decided to include it in our Alberta road trip!

From exploring the Royal Tyrrell Museum and seeing dinosaur fossils up close to walking through the incredible landscapes of the Canadian Badlands, there were so many things to do in Drumheller that we genuinely enjoyed.

We learned so much about Alberta's prehistoric history, and the landscapes surprised us just as much as the dinosaur attractions.

If you're planning a road trip through Alberta, we highly recommend visiting Drumheller at least once. It's such a unique place!

Conclusion

When planning an Alberta road trip, Banff and Jasper are probably the first destinations that come to mind. But after spending two days exploring Drumheller, we can confidently say that this place deserves a spot on your itinerary too!
From dinosaur fossils and museums to incredible canyons and unique landscapes, there are so many things to do in Drumheller that make it worth visiting.

We arrived not knowing what to expect and left so glad we had listened to the locals who recommended it to us.
So, if you're planning an Alberta road trip, don't overlook Drumheller. We highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. You won't be disappointed!

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