Drumheller is one of those places that surprises you and absolutely blows you away! At least that’s the way we feel every time we visit!
Most people think that Drumheller is good for a day trip to visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the World’s Largest Dinosaur and that’s it. But that is far from the reality!
There are so many fun and unique things to do in Drumheller that you can easily spend days here.
The town may be small but it sure packs a punch with all the new businesses in town. Locals work together to bring people like you and us to the city to have an awesome experience.
The Albertan Badlands truly is one of Canada’s hidden gems and we can’t wait to dive into all the fun things there are to do in Drumheller.
From some of the most delicious food you can imagine to one of the most unique hikes we’ve done in Alberta to date to exploring the history of Drumheller on a guided e-bike tour, you’ll never be bored here.
Disclosure: This post has been created in collaboration with Travel Drumheller. Everything in this post is based on our personal opinions and experiences. This post also contains affiliate links which means if you decide to use the links and make a valid purchase, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Enjoy these 25 fun and unique things to do in Drumheller
Over the years Drumheller has become a town you simply can’t miss while exploring Alberta!
From the famous Last Chance Saloon Restaurant to the Atlas Coal Mine and all the delicious restaurants in Drumheller is a must-visit!
If you get the chance to come for longer than a day trip we highly recommend it! We spent 3 nights in Bridgeviews Drumheller and it still felt like we didn’t have enough time to see everything.
Stay a few nights at one of the hotels in Drumheller and enjoy all things Drumheller has to offer.
Catch a concert at the Badlands Amphitheatre, play a round of golf at the Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club, and have a delicious breakfast at the local diner!
Drumheller truly is special and we can’t wait to share the beauty of this town with you and give you some inspiration for planning your trip to the Badlands!
#1 Go on a Bike and Bites Tour of Drumheller
The Bike and Bites tour is one of the best tours you can do in Drumheller. Especially if you love being outside, exploring a new area, and learning a little about Drumheller.
They offer a ton of different e-bike tours and you can see them here on Bike and Bites Drumheller.
If you want to just rent an e-bike and cruise around on your own you can totally do that too.
The bikes are awesome and the landscape around Drumheller is just amazing. It’s so fun biking around, spotting the dinosaurs, checking out the hoodoos, and just enjoying being in the Badlands!
Bike and Bite’s food is absolutely delicious! You can buy it even if you aren’t going on a guided tour with them. Jo and I both had a sandwich, salad, and cookie and it was the bomb!
#2 Grab a delicious burger at Bernie and the Boys
Looking for the best burger and milkshake in town? We got you! Bernie and the Boys serve 100% natural Alberta beef burgers and over 75 different milkshake flavours!
Since they’ve been around Drumheller for a long time it’s safe to say this is one of Drumheller’s gems!
It’s not a hidden gem since all the locals know about it – but it is a gem in the sense that a small town like Drumheller has an absolutely incredible burger joint like this.
From delicious onion rings to all sorts of burgers you will find something for everyone!
It’s such an authentic experience and the food is incredible! It almost takes you back in time – and the story behind the name is pretty fun. When you go there, make sure to ask them about it.
#3 Check out the famous Atlas Coal Mine
We don’t tend to do a bunch of historic tours but visiting Atlas Coal Mine and learning about the history of the mine and Drumheller was incredible.
You can pick between their 3 guided tours or you can simply buy a general admission pass and walk around the public area of the mine.
You can see so much in just a few hours at Atlas Coal Mine and it’s a short (and beautiful) drive just 10-15 minutes from Drumheller!
Read more: Exploring the Historic Atlas Coal Mine Near Drumheller
#4 Listen to live music at the Plaza
Summer at the Plaza! The Plaza is a relatively new place in Drumheller.
During the week it’s a great place to go if you want to sit outside sipping on an iced coffee or just soak up some sun! But the weekends are when Summer at the Plaza comes to life!
You can see the different artists and schedule on Drumheller’s site here.
We got the chance to listen to Mister Bird and it was awesome! You’re right in the heart of Drumheller with the sun setting behind the singer and a bunch of locals coming together to listen to some music.
It’s great especially if you plan to hang around downtown on a Friday or Saturday evening. You can always stop by Valley Brewing before or after the concerts since it’s about 100 meters away.
Please note: The concerts are free but, of course, tips for the artists are always appreciated!
#5 Go for some delicious Indian food at Sam’s Kitchen
Sam’s Kitchen blew us away in every positive way! Never in my right mind would I think of one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve ever been to would be in Drumheller.
Sure, in Edmonton and Calgary, it makes sense that there are delicious Indian Restaurants, but Drumheller? Who would have known?!
If you like Indian food then one of your meals in Drumheller should be spent trying all the delicious food at Sam’s Kitchen.
It’s not flashy by any means but your typical humble Indian Restaurant. And it’s located just a few minutes’ drive from the heart of the city.
The best part is that the portions are very well-sized for what you pay (we had enough food for two meals) and the food is absolutely incredible!
#6 Check out The Sunny Spot
This is the best 3-in-1 activity you can possibly do and we’ll explain exactly what we mean by that!
The Sunny Spot is an awesome outdoor experience in the Drumheller Valley between Drumheller and Atlas Coal Mine.
Between mini golf, a corn maze, and delicious food you can easily spend all afternoon here. That’s what we mean by it being the perfect 3-in-1 activity you can do!
Especially on a nice sunny day, it’s an awesome place to spend the afternoon. You can even visit the Atlas Coal Mine in the morning and then make your way to the Sunny Spot after for lunch and some fun!
Depending on what you’re craving we highly recommend the Taco Salad. Apparently, the burgers are amazing too but we were so satisfied with taco salad that I would probably get that again!
After enjoying some delicious food, you can go play mini-golf at their brand-new course or get lost in the corn maze. Or both!
#7 Stay the night at Bridgeviews Drumheller
There are some great hotels in Drumheller but one of the most unique experiences is staying at Bridgeviews Drumheller! It’s a little glamping site located on the most beautiful plot of land.
There are currently 8 yurts on site, room for tents, and even campers. The best part is that it continues to grow because of its popularity!
You could almost spend a whole weekend hanging out just at the campsite. Enjoying some time in the yurt, reading a book in the Greenhouse, and walking on one of the trails in the area.
You can see a map of Bridgeviews here which will give you an idea of the lay of the land and what the place looks like.
Whether you’re going just for a night in Drumheller or a long weekend it’s the perfect place to stay and soak up the energy of the Badlands!
Also read: Discovering The Badlands: 6 Best Hotels in Drumheller, Alberta
#8 Have lunch at Heller Good Sandwiches
We love a good pun and we love a good sandwich, so we just had to try out Heller Good Sandwiches!
This is hands down one of the best lunch spots in town! Heller Good is awesome because they work with local farmers and meat suppliers to bring the best quality ingredients to the restaurant.
The menu does change monthly so if I said we had something delicious it might not be there when you go. But instead, there may be something else equally as yummy!
It’s a very lively and fun vibe inside where you have a few tables you can sit at. Otherwise, there are some tables right outside where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine.
If you’re looking for a quick, relatively healthy, and delicious bite to eat then this is the place.
You’ll find Heller Good right in the centre of town, and usually, it’s pretty busy since it is one of the locals’ favourite spots to eat.
#9 Watch a movie at the Napier Theatre
Napier Theatre is a locally owned movie theatre in downtown Drumheller. The building itself looks like it could be in some old Western movie or something!
Of course, you can see a movie anywhere but there’s something cool about going to a small locally-owned movie theatre (instead of just going to one of those big chains)!
It may even give you some nostalgia for going to a theatre when there are only 1 or 2 movie options to pick from!
Napier usually plays some of the newest and most popular movies but they also do some throwbacks sometimes and play some classics.
You can check out Napier Theatre’s website here to see what they’re playing when you visit!
#10 Have a coffee at Black Mountain Roasters
Tip: If you’re looking for a gift to bring home from your trip, you can never go wrong with a bag of coffee beans. Coffee beans are a gift we always buy friends and loved ones!
No day is complete without a good coffee from your favourite cafe or roastery in town! In the heart of Drumheller, you can find Black Mountain Roasters!
They have room outside on the main street, otherwise, you can grab a window seat on the second floor and enjoy your nice caffeinated drink!
It’s a great place to stop by in the morning before hitting the town and going on one of the many adventures around Drumheller.
They have some delicious pastries, cakes, and (of course) coffee.
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#11 Drive the 11 Bridges of Wayne
The 11 Bridges of Wayne is one of the coolest and most scenic drives in the Badlands! You do in fact get to drive over 11 truss bridges in a short span of 6 kilometres.
Thanks to the Rosebud River and the way the road twists and turns, you end up driving over 11 of these bridges on your way to the famous town of Wayne, Alberta!
Once you drive over the 11 bridges you’ll see the sign for the ghost town of Wayne with a population of less than 30 people. Back in the day, there used to be over 2000 people living there so it truly is a ghost town!
#12 Visit the Last Chance Saloon
The best part is yet to come! If you haven’t heard of the Last Chance Saloon yet, we’ll tell you all about it!
The Last Chance Saloon is located in Wayne so pair this up with the 11 Bridges Drive and you have a scenic and cultural evening all at once.
The Last Chance Saloon is over 100 years old and it used to be a true saloon back in the day! If you look closely, you can still see bullet holes in the walls!
It’s just a cool spot to check out and have dinner since they have some delicious food! If you’re lucky, they may even have some live music. Just make sure you get there early as they stop serving food around 6:30 / 7:00 pm!
Out of all the things we did in Drumheller this was hands down the most authentic experience we could have asked for!
When we went, there was a local artist named Boots who was playing live country music and it was just the cherry on top. Welcome to rural Alberta!!
#13 Play a round of golf at the Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club
If you’re up for a round of golf at an amazing course with incredible landscapes then this is it.
We spoke with a few locals and people who come to Drumheller yearly and say the course is amazing!
We actually had lunch on the golf course patio and it was so good. The food was great and the views were even better!
You can combine a round of golf with lunch at the course after – or the other way around! Either way, we’re sure you’ll have a great time at the Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club!
#14 Visit the Hoodoo Trail (Life is a Highway song was filmed there)
If you’ve ever heard of Tom Cochrane or the Rascal Flatts and played the song Life is a Highway, this will be cool for you!
Why? Because the music video for Tom Cochrane’s famous song Life is a Highway was filmed along the Hoodoo Trail!
You can watch the Life is a Highway music video here before you see the Hoodoos!
The trail itself is perfect to visit if you plan to go to Atlas Coal Mine or The Sunny Spot since it’s located right in between the two.
We do recommend going when conditions are good though (and not after or during rainfall) because the trail can get super slippery when wet.
Also, if you go here, please stay on the trail. The hoodos are protected and we saw many people go off-trail and onto protected and private land. Please don’t do that!
Tip: It’s best to hike the Hoodoo Trail early in the day or later in the evening when there are fewer people as it does get very busy. Besides the crowds, it’s still one of the places worth checking out in Drumheller!
#15 Go to a concert at the Badlands Amphitheatre
The Badlands Amphitheatre is one of the coolest music venues in Alberta. Located in the heart of the Badlands you’ll find this awesome stage with room for a few thousand fans to sit and enjoy a concert.
It’s best to check the Badlands Amphitheatre website to see what’s going on and who is playing while you’re in town!
Honestly, even if you don’t know the band playing it may be worth going to a concert just because of how unique and special the venue is.
We went to a Johnny Reid concert there back in August. We’d never heard of him before and it was still one of the coolest things we did in Drumheller!
The experience and everything about the event was incredible! We hope you get a chance to experience the magic of the Badlands Amphitheater as well!
#16 Canoe or Kayak down the Red Deer River
We absolutely love outdoor adventures and kayaking down the Red Deer River was another highlight for us!
There’s an awesome company called Red Deer Adventures that’s based out of Drumheller that can take you out on the river.
They offer everything from guided tours to kayak and canoe rentals and even drop-offs and pick-ups.
One of the coolest things about Red Deer Adventures was how Andy, the owner, went above and beyond to ensure we had a good trip!
On our way to the starting point, we even stopped at one of the best viewpoints in Drumheller overlooking the valley and the area just because Andy and his cousin wanted us to see it.
The kayak trip itself was amazing too! We went on a guided tour with Andy (the owner of the company) and the amount of knowledge he has about the area, landscape, and wildlife was incredible.
#17 Have a few beers at Valley Brewing
Beers!! If you like beers then we have a place for you to visit. Right downtown Drumheller you can find Valley Brewing, A local brewery that makes some delicious beers!
During the summer weekends, Munchie Park (which is located right next to the brewery) is used in addition to the patio at Valley Brewing. This gives even more outdoor space for beer lovers to enjoy a nice cold one in the sun!
They have a variety of delicious beers and each beer has a different story to tell! We recommend getting a flight (4 smaller beers to taste for $10) so you can try a nice variety of what they offer.
PS: They sell all their beers in cans as well, so this is another awesome gift to bring back home for family and friends that are 18+. The art on the cans is really cool too!
#18 Hike the Epic Horseshoe Canyon near Drumheller
Horseshoe Canyon Loop Trail is located just a short 15-minute drive from Drumheller and is one of the coolest hikes you can do in the Badlands!
This 4.5-kilometre hike takes you down into the coulees where the landscape and flora is completely different to anywhere else in Alberta! We even saw cacti as we hiked the trail.
In a fun way, it feels very prehistoric and so different to hiking in Kananaskis, Banff, and Jasper.
It’s one of the most unique hikes we’ve ever done and really recommend it if you want to get out and explore around Drumheller!
Also read: Hiking the Epic Horseshoe Canyon Loop Trail Near Drumheller
#19 Check out the Little Church
The Little Church is one of those things you can drive by, check out, and see in just a few minutes!
Originally, the church was built in 1968 and then later reconstructed in 1991 so it’s in pretty good shape.
We’re not sure if it’s 100% true but we were told that it’s the smallest church in Alberta! Can you guess how many fit in there at once? 6 people!
Next to the church, there’s a tiny 2-3 minute long trail you can hike up to get a view of the Badlands which is what you see in the picture above.
As we were taking pictures, we actually saw a coyote run across the road down below. Pretty cool!
#20 Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum
The Royal Tyrrell Museum is probably the most popular thing to do in Drumheller and what most people know Drumheller for.
This museum is famous for a reason though as it’s one of the places in the world where you can see the biggest variety of (real) dinosaur bones!
It’s a fascinating museum packed with facts, information, and dinosaur bones. You can easily spend hours getting lost in all the different rooms!
There are so many other great things to do in Drumheller that we didn’t want to start with the museum on this list – but it is awesome and definitely worth a visit!
If by chance you get caught in bad weather and it’s raining all day while you’re in Drum, this is a great indoor activity to do!
#21 Have breakfast at WHIFS Flapjack House
Welcome to Drumheller’s best breakfast diner that brings you straight back to the 1980s! (We weren’t alive then but we’re using our imagination a little bit.)
This rustic but homie breakfast diner serves delicious breakfasts with all-you-can-drink coffee refills. Yup, you’re welcome, coffee lovers!
But honestly, from the friendly staff to the miniature train going around the ceiling on the track, WHIFS is a place you have to experience.
We were only planning on going once but it was so good we went back for a second breakfast a few days later!
#22 Go on a self-guided Ghost Tour
If you’re looking for something a little spooky to do one evening as you’re hanging out in Drumheller you can download the Ghosts of Drumheller self-guided tour.
You’ll learn all about Drumheller’s spookiest locations and learn a little history about the town, the mining industry, and of course the ghosts that live here!
#23 Walk around town and check out the dinos
If you’ve never been to Drumheller before this may be a bit of a surprise to you but there are dinosaur sculptures everywhere!
Some people have dinosaurs on their lawns, some are painted in ways to represent businesses, some are on the streetlights, and some streets are even named after dinosaurs.
There are so many dinosaurs around town and some of them are really cool!
The best thing you can do is walk around town and see how many you can find! You can follow the Drumheller Dino Walk, explore on your own, or go on one of the Bike and Bites tours to see them.
As you’ve probably noticed by now, dinosaurs are special to Drumheller since they are one of the main attractions. You’ll also see plenty of murals around town with awesome dinosaur art and fun dino footprints on the sidewalk!
It’s just another reason why Drumheller is so special!
#24 Race around the go-kart track
If you’re looking to cruise around and race with a few friends, the go-kart track in Drumheller is awesome!
Cruising around the Cactus Coulee racetrack makes you feel like you’re in a Mario Kart game racing around a track.
There’s plenty of room to cruise around and catch your friends along the straight sections – and there’s still enough bends and turns to make it fun!
Once you’re done racing around the track you can grab some ice cream, play mini golf, or even try out their eurobungy!
It’s a great place to spend a few hours outdoors in the sun!
#25 Visit the World’s Largest Dinosaur
It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 years old or in your late 20s like us – do not miss out on the World’s Largest Dinosaur!
Tyra, as they named her, is one of the most iconic things to do in Drumheller. This 86 ft (25 meters) stands tall and proud in the heart of the town and can be seen from almost anywhere.
The World’s Largest Dinosaur is 4.5 times bigger than a real T-rex and it cost over $1 million to build her!
You can actually walk inside of Tyra and up into her mouth. It costs $5 per person and you’ll have to walk up 106 stairs to get to the mouth. From there, you get one of the best views of Drumheller!
You may also like…
- Hiking the Epic Horseshoe Canyon Loop Trail Near Drumheller
- 11 Best Cafes & Restaurants in Drumheller Worth Visiting
- Exploring the Historic Atlas Coal Mine Near Drumheller
- 3 Days in Drumheller: The Perfect Itinerary for The Badlands
- Discovering The Badlands: 6 Best Hotels in Drumheller, Alberta
Recap of all the different fun things to do in Drumheller
For being a small town in the middle of the Badlands there sure is lots to do in Drumheller.
At first, we thought Drumheller was mostly just known for the Royal Tyrrell Museum, but after doing some research and spending 4 days in Drumheller, we realized just how much there is to do!
The amount of delicious places to eat, outdoor activities, and just unique things to do really makes Drumheller an awesome place to visit.
It definitely won’t be the last time we visit Drumheller!
If you’re looking to spend a few days in Drum as well (which we highly recommend), you can check out our blog post with the 6 Best Hotels in Drumheller, Alberta here.
And if you have any questions related to Drumheller, feel free to leave a comment below or DM us on Instagram and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Enjoy Drumheller and all the fun things to do there!
Definitely saving this for our next trip!
Thank you, Mandy! Happy to hear you found the article helpful 🙂
– Jo
Such a comprehensive list! I love the coal mine idea!! 😍 so many fun things to do there
The coal mine was actually super fun! Not something we normally would do but it was a really great experience 🙂
– Jo
The Horseshoe Canyon Loop Trail looks amazing! Definitely adding this destination to my list. Very well-written and thorough, as always!
Hey Alexys,
That’s awesome and thank you for the feedback! It’s a stunning hike just outside of Drum!
-Dom
Drumheller is going on my bucket list! Dinos, biking, hiking, breweries, food, concerts!! What’s not to love?
Literally such a fun place!! You should go! 🙂
Hello Dom and Jo , we are travelling to Drumheller next week with our 5 year grandson from Edmonton . Its been 30 years since we’ve been there. Great article and lots of tips and advise . Thanks so much as this just made my trip planning so much easier and fulfilling . I also read your 3 days in Drumheller which was really informing .
Hey Len,
No way! This made our day and we love that this gave you some inspiration on what to do there and what you can expect. I’m sure it’s changed a lot in the last 30 years and you’re in for a positive surprise!
-Dom