The ultimate road trip through northern Alberta, Canada

30.08.2024 - 14:12 / lonelyplanet.com / Rocky Mountains

Aug 30, 2024 • 9 min read

When it comes to Canadian road trips, few are as iconic as Alberta’s Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper through the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains. But it’s far from the only road trip worth doing in Alberta.

The prairie province boasts a diverse range of landscapes – from badlands rich with dinosaur bones to dense boreal forests – and unique cultural heritage. And perhaps nothing reflects this better than a road trip through Alberta’s Ukrainian Bloc, just northeast of Edmonton. It’s the region of Canada where I grew up and one of my favorite places to take visitors – which is why I wrote about it for Lonely Planet’s Offbeat North America.

From 1891 to roughly 1930, the Ukrainian Bloc was home to the largest colony of Ukrainian settlers in Canada – and for centuries before that, it’s where Indigenous people (including Cree and Métis people) gathered, lived and hunted. Today, this collision of cultures lives on in the area’s communities, culinary offerings and outrageous roadside attractions.

There are no strictly defined boundaries for the Ukrainian Bloc, but its attractions and historic communities can be found stretching along Hwys 16 and 28, east and northeast of Edmonton.

It’s possible to visit some of the Ukrainian Bloc’s top attractions on a day trip from Edmonton, but this offbeat region deserves a full weekend or more.

We’ve designed this loop road trip (with almost no backtracking!) to be done over an extra long weekend, with 660km (410 miles) of driving spread over four days. However, it could just as easily be done in three days.

Northeastern Alberta is best visited during the summer months (June to August), when it doesn’t get dark until after 10pm. Long summer days lend themselves to road trips, with more time for exploration. Just watch out for deer on the roads at twilight.

Otherwise, head here before snow hits the road. The autumn months of September and October offer the best combo of good road conditions with a higher chance of seeing the northern lights.

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is situated 31.5km (19.5 miles) south of Edmonton’s downtown, with daily direct flights arriving from many major Canadian and American airports including Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles.

All major rental car operators – including Budget and Enterprise – have outlets at the airport. Make sure you have insurance. This road trip is almost entirely on paved roads, but windshield chips are common in rural Alberta.

The vibes: Some consider Edmonton the underdog in its long-standing rivalry with Calgary. But if that’s even vaguely true, Edmonton is putting up a solid fight with a newly redeveloped downtown core, top-notch restaurants, and an incredible performing arts scene.