Car Rental Calgary - Exploring Calgary

There are many excellent opportunities for those wishing to check out more of the surrounding area by car. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a 90-minute drive south of Calgary along Highway 2. The attraction takes its name from the story of a 19th-century Blackfoot who met his end by watching the jump from the base of the cliff, directly under the falling animals.

Visitors can also include a stop at Waterton Lakes National Park or any of the attractions along the Cowboy Trail. Banff National Park, located two hours west of Calgary, is both Canada’s first and most popular national park. It offers a spectacular array of alpine beauty and backcountry walks. The park has 6641 sq kilometres of mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, glaciers and hot springs, and is home to wolves, mountain goats, eagles and grizzly bears, along with the notorious elk. Further west from the idyllic town of Canmore is the town of Banff itself, a friendly and picturesque village housing bars, restaurants, shops and the most famous man-made addition to the area, the luxurious Banff Springs Hotel, completed in 1888.

Further west is Lake Louise. A popular ski area in the winter, Lake Louise offers superb alpine views in the summer months. Although it is possible to reach Banff by coach from Calgary’s Downtown and from Calgary Airport, a car is recommended as it allows visitors to explore the park as they choose. About 140km east of Calgary lie the Alberta Badlands. Formed by the waters of the last Ice Age, the Badlands are fascinating in their own right but what makes the area unmissable is the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. With over 50 full-size dinosaur skeletons, the museum boasts the world’s largest collection. Transportation by car is recommended via Highway 9 and 72 – the museum is six kilometres northwest of Drumheller.