13 Family-Friendly Road Trips Under 2 Hours from Calgary to Take this Summer
This summer, get outside of your comfort zone and explore somewhere you’ve never been before with your kids. Road trips and day trips can take a toll on your vacation days, we’re wrapping up some of the best places to explore within 2-hours of Calgary - making it easy to fit in a road trip, and make it back home the same day to sleep in your bed.
13 Family-Friendly Road Trips Under 2 Hours from Calgary to Take this Summer
Hit the River for Rafting in Sundre
Sundre, Alberta
1 h 16 minutes from Calgary
Here’s a great way to cool off and get the adrenaline pumping, this summer. Rafting at Mukway gives you a few options of a traditional whitewater experience, the sampler, or the more-mellow, evening paddle. Whitewater Rafting in Sundre is best suited for older kids, as they must be taller than the paddle to take part in the whitewater rafting experience near Calgary.
Takakkaaw Falls
Banff
1 h 19 minutes from Calgary
Explore Takakkaw falls with the kids - it’s an easy trail to conquer! The trail to the waterfall is an 1.8-km out-and-back trail near Field, British Columbia. It will take about a half hour to complete, and you can spend the rest of the time marvelling at the falls!
Athbasca Falls
Banff
1 h 19 minutes from Calgary
Pack a picnic and find your way to the bottom of the falls for a great way to cool off, as water sprays you from the shore. Kids can toss rocks, play games, and enjoy a view from the bottom of the falls for lunch.
Soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff, Alberta
1 h 26 minutes from Calgary
Plan a trip to Banff Upper Hot Spring and spend the day in the soothing, warm waters. Pair this one with a local hike, a scoop of ice cream from one of the local ice cream shops, and it’s a day out that checks all the boxes during a great summer day: new trail, ice cream and getting wet!
Rowley Ghost Town
Rowley, Alberta
1 h 44 minutes from Calgary
Rowley is a fantastic add-on, side-trip if you’re visiting Drumheller. This ghost town serves up pizza once a month - and it’s worth the hype! You can drive through here, park, and walk and explore. There’s an antique playground, and the storefronts are designed. Your kids are going to love this road trip stop!
Discovery Canyon
Red Deer
1 h 29 minutes from Calgary
Grab a tube and head down the small river for a great way to cool off. This one is best-reserved for the under ten crowd, and features a tubing course perfect for little kids to stay cool, with a small pond that they can wade in at the bottom. It’s a popular spot to cool off, so you’re going to want to get there early to claim your spot!
Blackfalds Abbey Centre Outdoor Pool
Blackfalds, Alberta
1 h 35 minutes from Calgary
We love visiting The Abbey Centre in Blackfalds because it’s one of the best outdoor pools in Alberta - and it’s only $20/family to visit for the whole day.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Badlands
2 h from Calgary
Dinosaur Provincial Park has so many trails to explore - we’ve been a half dozen time and still haven’t exhausted our options here! Take one of the guided tours or experiences into the badlands to experience something unique, or try Geocaching and finding the hidden treasures on the trails near the interpretive centre.
Henderson Outdoor Pool
Lethbridge
2 h from Calgary
Just two hours from Calgary is the best outdoor pool in the province. It’s huge, with waterslides, and a ton of space to cool off, but also lay down a picnic and spend the whole day. Plus, admission for the whole family is so cheap, for the day.
Kinbrook Island Provincial Park
Lake Newell
2 h from Calgary
Lake Newell is one of the largest man made lakes, and is a go-to spot to cool off after a visit to the badlands. Just about a half hour outside of the badlands, it’s refreshing, cold, and has a campground on-site if you want to extend your experience, on the cheap. Bring water shoes for this one! The crushed gravel, shell, base of the lake can be hard on those little toes!
Castle Falls Provincial Park
Castle Falls,
2 h 30 minutes from Calgary
Visit Castle Falls late in the season for a classic, swimming hole experience. Earlier in the year, the falls and swimming hole are too fast to venture in for a swim, but later in the season? It’s a must-do Alberta road trip - for the whole family. Bring a picnic, there are both picnic and BBQ sites available nearby for a lunch!
