Located just inside Alberta's eastern border, the southern leg of the Trans Canada Highway intersecting its western boundary, Medicine Hat might be considered by many as a "passing through" town.

But travellers who decide to turn off the highway at Medicine Hat will find a prairie city rich in history and with an abundance of green spaces and walking trails.

Topping the list of things to do in Medicine Hat is a visit to Medalta in the Historic Clay District. Located within a converted century-old factory, arts, culture and history mingle to provide a community hub for both visitors and locals. Central to the visitor experience is the Medalta Potteries National Historic Site of Canada. Walk the same floors as past factory workers and learn about one of the industries that put Medicine Hat on the world map.

An historical walking tour of Medicine Hat will take you around the downtown area viewing beautiful old homes and historical buildings. You can't help but notice "the big thing" in Medicine Hat. Perched on a hill alongside the Trans Canada Highway is the Saamis Teepee, the biggest teepee in the world. The native word Saamis loosely translates to English as "medicine man's hat", giving the city its current name. Natural gas was accidentally discovered just west of the town by construction workers building a train brdige across the South Saskatchewan River, the find becoming one of the largest gas fields in North America. Some still refer to Medicine Hat today as "The Gas City".

Those travelling in an RV and looking for a place to stay in Medicine Hat will find a couple of RV Parks close to the city just off the Trans Canada Highway. More camping is available an hour south in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.

Medicine Hat is a 3-hour drive from Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway and 2 hours from Lethbridge on Highway 3.

Top 5 Things to Do

  • Visit the historic Medalta Pottery Factory
  • Take a hike in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
  • Feel dwarfed under the tallest teepee in the world
  • Walk the trails in Strathcona Island Park
  • Camp out at Red Rock Coulee

The Sunniest City in Canada

A sunny welcome from the residents, a sunny outlook for its future and, oh, did we mention ... it is  undeniably the sunniest city weatherwise in Canada!
medicine-hat-town-hall-shutterstock_48750
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Town Hall
medicine-hat-the-hat-shutterstock_531565246
Teepee Medicine Hat, Alberta
medicine-hat-northern-lights-shutterstock_1110185360
Northern Lights over Medicine Hat, Alberta
medicine-hat-alberta-shutterstock_1010177248
Medicine Hat, Alberta

Culture in Medicine Hat

Medalta is a national historic site which has been resurrected as an industrial museum, pottery studio and cultural hub. If the walls could talk, they would tell of a time when a Medalta crock was a household item in homes around the world.
Video courtesy of Medalta in the Historic Clay District

 

One of the more interesting places to visit in Medicine Hat. The pottery factory in the Medalta Historic District gave us an insight into working conditions when the factory was in full operation - give me air conditoning anytime!
Alexander Tilker
Cairns, Australia
Stood under the tallest teepee in the world - views from there were quite nice.
Felix Seator
Scotland

Itineraries that include Alberta

Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 5 days
Canadian Badlands Trail
Sculpted by ancient rivers, the moon-like Badlands were once the domain of the dinosaur. Here, echoes of Alberta's rich history are whispered on prairie winds and mountain breezes. Tour the Canadian prairies in a motorhome, RV or camper from CanaDream RV Rentals and discover two-billion-year-old rocks plus the largest collection of dinosaur skeletons in the world.
Learn more »
Start/End Edmonton / Edmonton
Duration 7 days
Explore Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital city of the province of Alberta and sits along the North Saskatchewan River. To your west are the great Canadian Rocky Mountains and to the east are the rolling wheat fields of the Canadian Prairies. Explore Edmonton and take in the wonders all around this special Canadian city.
Learn more »
Start/End Edmonton / Edmonton
Duration 16 days
Great Northern Circle Route
Travel through the untamed wilderness of BC's north on this 16-20 day RV adventure. On this incredible RV road trip you'll enjoy the serenity of nature and experience the real wilderness of BC's north. Note that a Northern Charge applies to this itinerary when you pick up in a location other than Whitehorse.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 10 days
Hot Springs Adventure
Journey from enchanting hot springs to rugged mountain wilderness on this hot springs adventure. With stops to soak in luxurious mineral-rich pools, this route is easy to travel and offers everything from railway history to outdoor adventure. We even take you on the longest free ferry ride in Canada.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Whitehorse
Duration 14 days
The Land of the Gold Rush
An incredible journey through the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the land of the gold rush, this road trip from Calgary to Whitehorse offers you a truly unique Canadian holiday with the promise of vast mountain ranges, delicious cinnamon buns and secret hot springs. Please note that this itinerary requires a northern surcharge fee to be paid with your booking.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 8 days
Kootenay Escape
A leisurely drive through stunning mountain scenery, historic towns and opportunities for a hot soak in natural springs. The Kootenay Escape is ideal for those wishing to get bang for their buck without travelling too far from Calgary.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Vancouver
Duration 14 days
Peak to Sea Discovery
An incredible and must-visit route through the Rocky Mountains and beautiful British Columbia to the coast, there’s no doubt you’ll enjoy this jaw-dropping adventure through some of western Canada’s most spectacular mountain passes, glacier-fed lakes and abundant vineyards and orchards.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 21 days
Rocky Mountains Expedition
This is the trip of national parks and incredible Rocky Mountain wonder. You’ll cover some serious miles, but also have the opportunity to play, adventure and relax in the mountains of Alberta, Wyoming and Montana. Please note that this itinerary requires payment of the US Driving Fee.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 8 days
The Brokeback Mountain Tour
Immerse yourself in the spectacular mountain scenery featured in the movie Brokeback Mountain. If you haven't yet seen the movie, pick up a copy to watch on your trip and recognize places and scenes from the movie. Don't be confused! The actual movie is set in Wyoming, however the filming was done in Alberta, Canada. Follow the Brokeback Mountain trail in an RV rental from CanaDream and have the vacation of a lifetime in Southern Alberta's uncrowded wilderness.
Learn more »
Start/End Edmonton / Edmonton
Duration 14 days
The Deh Cho Connection
The Deh Cho links the Mackenzie, Liard and Alaska Highways through three different regions: Northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Northern British Columbia. These are un-crowded highways, well-maintained roads to adventure that take you along the historic corridors travelled by traders and explorers who came north centuries ago. Deh Cho is the Aboriginal name of the Mackenzie, the broad river that sweeps north from Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean, carrying waters from a quarter of Canada—the bigger-than-life lands drained by the Slave, Peace, Liard, Athabasca and a hundred more untamed waterways. This is the world of the Deh Cho Travel Connection, true wilderness where big rivers rule. Please note that this itinerary requires payment of the northern surcharge fee.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 12 days
The Grand Adventure
See history and geography up close. Explore Alberta's Cowboy Trail and the majestic Canadian Rockies with CanaDream. Officially, the 640-kilometre-long Cowboy Trail stretches the entire distance of Highway 22 from Mayerthorpe (northwest of Edmonton) south to Pincher Creek. It then jogs south on Highway 6 and east on Highway 5, ending in Cardston, a nudge above Montana, USA.
Learn more »
Start/End Calgary / Calgary
Duration 14 days
The Powder Trail
The Powder Trail - it's your road to winter. Alberta and British Columbia are renowned for ski destinations with long runs and plentiful amounts of snow-especially powder. Consider a holiday to different ski resorts to experience the incredible terrain and white gold for yourself.
Learn more »

Latest Stories

See All »
Loading
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to browse our site you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.