Drumheller is the kind of place where you can stand at the foot of a 25-metre dinosaur in the morning, hike through 70-million-year-old hoodoos by lunch, and watch pig races before dinner.
It's also where the world's most important Cretaceous fossils are catalogued, where Alberta's coal-rush ghost towns still stand mostly intact, and where the Red Deer River cuts a thousand-foot-deep gash through prairie that looks more like a mini Grand Canyon than Canada.
If you're planning a day trip from Calgary or Edmonton, a long weekend with the kids, or a stop on a bigger Alberta road trip, here's what we'd actually do. We run a working family attraction five minutes west of the Royal Tyrrell Museum, so we see what people come for and what they wish they'd known before arriving.
The Essential One-Day Drumheller Itinerary
For visitors with a full day. This is the highlight reel.
One Day in Drumheller
Open at 9, arrive by 9:30 to beat the morning rush. Allow 2 hours minimum. Their Cretaceous-era hall and the live preparation lab are world-class. Tickets are about $21 for adults, $10 for youth 7-17, kids 6 and under free. Canada Strong Pass: kids 17 and under free June 19 to September 7, 2026. Reservations recommended in summer.
Grab something quick at the museum cafe, or drive 10 minutes back into town for Berta Burritos (fresh, fast, local favourite), Valley Brewing for a brewery lunch and a flight, or Drum Distilling Co. for a tasting room lunch.
Five minutes west of the museum on Highway 838. 30+ activities across the Boneyard, the Barnyard, and Boomtown — the Live Dinosaur Walk, the Bleriot Ferry Flyer Zipline, Mega Slide, petting zoo, Water Wars, mini golf. Plan 3-4 hours here, longer if kids get into it. Day passes are $26.62 online. Open June 13 through October 13 in 2026.
Drive 17 km southeast of town on Highway 10 to the Willow Creek Hoodoos. Twenty-minute photo walk, classic Drumheller shot, no admission. Bring sun protection. The hoodoos are roped off — don't climb. They erode if you touch them.
Valley Brewing for craft beer and pub food, Damoa Sushi for fresh rolls, or the Sunny Spot for something a little more relaxed. All have patios.
Back to your hotel in town, or head back to Calgary if you're day-tripping (1.5 hours, mostly highway).
The Two-Day Family Itinerary
For families with kids who don't want a death march of an itinerary.
Day 1
2-3 hours. Their kids' programming is excellent. Look for the Dinosite Tour ($10 add-on) if your kids are 4+.
If the weather's good. Otherwise back to town.
A full afternoon. Kids burn through energy on the obstacle course, the giant slides, and the dino walk. Adults get a real lunch at the food shack and a bench in Shady Grove.
Climb the 106 steps to the viewing platform inside the T-Rex's mouth. Best at golden hour for photos. $5 per person, kids under 5 free.
Day 2
Pick one for a 45-minute walk. Horseshoe is closer (16 km west). Both are free and unbeatable for kids who want to feel like they're on Mars.
Damoa Sushi for fresh rolls in town, or the Sunny Spot for great burgers and fries.
Operating coal mine until 1979, now a museum 17 km east in East Coulee. Guided underground tours, working tipple, the only one of its kind left in Canada. About 2 hours. Kids tend to find this surprisingly cool, especially the dark tunnel walk.
A 30-minute drive through 11 single-lane bridges (yes, eleven) gets you to a 1913 saloon with original gunshot holes in the wall. Have a burger and a beer, let the kids run on the patio. Drive home before dark — those bridges are tight.
Dinosaur Attractions in Drumheller
Drumheller is the most fossil-rich region in the world. The Cretaceous-era badlands here have produced more complete dinosaur skeletons than anywhere on the planet. Three places turn that into a visit.
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
World-class paleontology research museum. Cretaceous Hall, Dinosaur Hall, preparation lab, fossil-finding programs.
Allow 2-3 hours minimum. Open year-round but expanded summer hours mid-May to early September.
Barney's Adventure Park — Live Dinosaur Walk
Our park's signature dinosaur experience. A mulched path winds through the trees with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. The Boneyard section also has a real dig pit where kids brush sand off cast fossils.
Different from the museum — kid-friendly, hands-on, and you don't need to whisper.
World's Largest Dinosaur
A 25-metre tall fibreglass Tyrannosaurus rex (Tyra) with a viewing platform inside her mouth. Climb 106 steps lined with murals to look out over town. Allow 20-30 minutes.
Drumheller Dinosaur Trail
Not an attraction — a scenic loop drive. 48 km along the north and south banks of the Red Deer River, taking you past Horsethief Canyon, the Bleriot Ferry Crossing (a free cable ferry operating since 1913), and the Orkney Lookout.
Badlands and Outdoor Adventures
The landscape itself is the draw. Easy hikes, photo stops, and short drives that show off the Canadian Badlands.
The Hoodoos
The classic Drumheller shot. Mushroom-shaped sandstone pillars formed by 70 million years of erosion. The most photographed site is the Willow Creek Hoodoos on Highway 10, 17 km southeast of Drumheller. Twenty-minute walk on a boardwalk.
Horseshoe Canyon
A multi-million-year-old canyon you can walk into. 16 km west of Drumheller on Highway 9. Easy to moderate trails. The light here at golden hour is unreal.
Horsethief Canyon
On the Dinosaur Trail loop. Deeper and quieter than Horseshoe. The viewing platform alone is worth the stop. Trails run down into the canyon for confident hikers.
Star Mine Suspension Bridge
A 117-metre-long pedestrian suspension bridge crossing the Red Deer River, originally built in 1931 to access a coal mine. The walk across is short but the view is spectacular.
Bleriot Ferry
Free cable ferry crossing the Red Deer River. In operation since 1913, still running. Eight minutes to cross. A piece of Alberta history that locals use as a regular shortcut. Fun stop on the Dinosaur Trail.
Coal Mining History
Before the dinosaurs put Drumheller on the world map, coal did. Between 1911 and 1979, 139 coal mines operated in the Drumheller Valley. The boom drew thousands of immigrant miners and built half the towns in the valley. Several of those sites are now museums.
Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site
A complete coal mine left as it was when operations ended in 1979, plus the only remaining wooden tipple in Canada. Guided tours into the mine, train rides, ghost tours after dark.
Last Chance Saloon, Wayne
A 1913 saloon with the original bar, the original gunshot holes in the wall, and rooms upstairs you can still book for the night. Burgers, beer, atmosphere. 30 minutes from Drumheller via 11 single-lane bridges — the bridges are part of the experience.
Drumheller Historical Walking Tour
A self-guided walk through downtown Drumheller with QR-coded plaques telling the coal-rush story. Pick up a map at the visitor centre or download from drumheller.ca.
Rosedale Suspension Bridge
A shorter, lesser-known sister to the Star Mine bridge. Less photographed but still a great quick stop.
Things to Do in Drumheller with Kids
Drumheller is a great kids' destination but it can be too much in a single day. Pace yourselves. The best kids' itinerary is half a day at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, lunch in town, and an afternoon at Barney's Adventure Park where they can run and burn off the morning's brain energy.
Under 4 free at Barney's. Barney's Barnyard (baby goats, sheep, sunflower patch, gentle play areas), Royal Tyrrell's kids' interactive section, World's Largest Dinosaur.
Barney's full park (dino dig, corn maze, pig races, Water Wars, obstacle course, candy and pumpkin cannons), Royal Tyrrell, Hoodoos, Suspension Bridge.
Barney's Boomtown obstacle course, Water Wars, Morse Gemstone Mine, hoodoos for photos, the historical sites in Wayne and East Coulee.
Atlas Coal Mine ghost tour, Last Chance Saloon, Drum Distilling Co. tastings, golden-hour hoodoo photography.
Most families with kids 3 to 14 get the most out of two days here. One day is doable but tight.
Food, Drink, and Shopping
Drumheller's restaurant scene punches above its weight for a town of 8,000.
- BertaBurritos Fast, fresh, locally loved food truck. The kind of spot you stop at once and remember on the drive home.
- Damoa Sushi Sushi in the badlands. Fresh, surprising, and a local favourite.
- Valley Brewing Drumheller's craft brewery. Taproom, pub food, patio. The kind of place that makes a town feel like a town.
- Valley Ice Cream Shoppe Hand-scooped cones for the inevitable post-park request.
- Lois & Ani A relaxed sit-down spot worth the visit.
- Heller Good Sandwiches Sandwiches done right. The pun stays, the bread is fresh.
- Cafe Ole A local fixture worth stopping in for.
- Black Mountain Roasters Drumheller's coffee roaster. Beans, pour-overs, a quiet spot to plan your day.
- The Sunny Spot Easy-going food in town, popular for a no-fuss lunch or dinner.
- Drum Distilling Co. Local distillery and tasting room. 180 3 Ave W. Vodka, gin, whisky, cocktails. Kid-friendly during the day if you sit on the patio.
- The Whif Bakery and breakfast spot. Open early.
- Last Chance Saloon, Wayne Burgers and beer in a 1913 saloon. Worth the drive.
For groceries, picnic supplies, and last-minute essentials, Freson Bros is the local recommendation (the Co-op has closed). There's also a Tim Hortons, Subway, and McDonald's in town for the unadventurous.
LodgingWhere to Stay in Drumheller
Drumheller has hotels, motels, and several B&Bs in town, plus campgrounds and bed-and-breakfasts in the surrounding valley. For families, the in-town hotels are the easiest. For couples, the valley B&Bs are quieter and more scenic.
In-town hotel options include the Canalta Drumheller (right downtown, hot breakfast included, indoor pool and waterslide for kids), the Ramada Drumheller, and the SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western. These three put you within walking distance of restaurants and the river.
For something more rustic, the Heartwood Inn & Spa is a popular badlands-themed boutique B&B about 15 minutes west of town. River Grove Campground and Dinosaur Trail RV Resort are the main local campground options.
TravelHow to Get to Drumheller
Drumheller is small and not on a major highway, which is part of its charm. The drive is the warmup.
| From | Distance | Drive time | Best route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | 138 km | 1 hr 30 min | Hwy 1 east to Hwy 9 north |
| Calgary Airport (YYC) | 134 km | 1 hr 25 min | Hwy 2 to Hwy 72/9 east |
| Edmonton | 284 km | 3 hr | Hwy 21 south to Hwy 9 east |
| Red Deer | 158 km | 1 hr 50 min | Hwy 21 south to Hwy 9 east |
| Lethbridge | 250 km | 2 hr 45 min | Hwy 23 north to Hwy 9 east |
| Banff | 280 km | 3 hr | Trans-Canada Hwy 1 east to Hwy 9 |
There's no train and no commercial flights to Drumheller. If you're flying in to Calgary, rent a car at the airport.
SeasonalityWhen to Visit Drumheller
Most attractions are seasonal. Here's the rough calendar.
Mid-May to early September
Royal Tyrrell Museum on extended summer hours. All outdoor attractions in peak form.
June 13 to October 13
Barney's Adventure Park 2026 season. Family attraction, weekends in June and September, daily July and August.
Mid-May to early October
Atlas Coal Mine, Last Chance Saloon, most badlands trails accessible.
November to April
Royal Tyrrell still open with reduced hours. Most outdoor attractions closed or weather-dependent. Quiet season for visitors, beautiful for photographers who don't mind cold.
Best month to visit: Late June through August for kids and full attraction lineup. September if you want quieter trails and warm-but-not-hot weather. Early October for the autumn light on the badlands.
Worst time to visit: Long weekends in July and August are when crowds peak. Book accommodation and Royal Tyrrell tickets weeks ahead. Or come on a Tuesday in late June, same attractions, half the people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drumheller
Is Drumheller worth visiting?
Yes, especially with kids, dinosaur enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to see Alberta beyond the Rockies. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is one of the most important paleontology museums in the world, the badlands landscape is genuinely unique in Canada, and the small-town pace is part of the appeal. Most visitors plan a day and end up wishing they'd booked two.
How long should I spend in Drumheller?
One day for the highlights, two days to do it without rushing, three days if you want to explore the smaller historic sites and have time to enjoy the food and drink. For families with kids 4-12, two days is the sweet spot.
What is Drumheller known for?
Dinosaurs (Royal Tyrrell Museum, badlands fossils), coal mining history (1911-1979), the hoodoos, the World's Largest Dinosaur statue, and the Drumheller Valley itself, a thousand-foot-deep canyon cut into the Alberta prairie that looks more like the mini Grand Canyon than Canada.
Is Drumheller a day trip from Calgary?
Yes, it's 90 minutes from Calgary and works as a day trip if you're willing to keep moving. Royal Tyrrell in the morning, Barney's Adventure Park or the hoodoos in the afternoon, drive home in the evening. For a more relaxed visit, stay overnight.
Can you see the badlands without hiking?
Yes. The viewpoint at Horseshoe Canyon, the Hoodoos boardwalk, the Bleriot Ferry crossing, and the Drumheller Suspension Bridge are all accessible without hiking. The Dinosaur Trail scenic drive (48 km loop) shows off the badlands entirely from the car.
Are there rattlesnakes in Drumheller?
Yes, Prairie Rattlesnakes live in the area. Encounters are rare and they avoid people. Stick to maintained trails, watch where you put your hands and feet, and you'll be fine. Don't try to handle them, bites are serious. Local emergency services are 10 minutes away.
Is Drumheller wheelchair accessible?
Partially. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is fully accessible. The World's Largest Dinosaur is partially accessible (you can see it from the base, but the climb inside isn't). Barney's Adventure Park has a gravel path from parking to gate and mulched paths within, manageable but not paved (see our accessibility info). The hoodoos boardwalk is accessible. Horseshoe Canyon viewing platform is accessible; the trails into the canyon are not.
Where can I see dinosaurs in Drumheller?
Three main places: the Royal Tyrrell Museum (real fossils, indoor), Barney's Adventure Park (life-sized animatronic dinosaur walk, kid-friendly), and the World's Largest Dinosaur statue downtown. For an outdoor fossil-finding experience, the museum's Day Digs program runs in summer. You can also spot them when you drive around on benches, buildings, corners and more!
Plan Your Drumheller Visit
If you're stopping at Barney's during your visit, check our hours, grab your day or season passes online to skip the line, and find us on the map — five minutes west of the Royal Tyrrell Museum on Highway 838.