Calgary to Edmonton mileage
 

What is the mileage between Calgary and Edmonton? Any suggestions for things to see and do along the way? We're not interested in museums--prefer shopping and natural beauty. Any suggestions for small specialty womens shops?
Thanks--

I can't give you the actual mileage, I can tell you that it takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Shopping along the way - none. Natural beauty - well that's in the eye of the beholder, if you like bald prairie then you will find it beautiful. You could go through Banff/Jasper but that would take an entire day of driving.

The Alberta official provincial roadmap states that the distance between Calgary and Edmonton is 294K

Both are large cities, so depending on where to where you start and stop there could be a a variance of as much as 40 miles.

As for what to see along the way, there are some places of interest off of the main road.

Let me suggest that you telephone the helpful people at 1.800.ALBERTA and ask for some brochures on that part of the province. In years past the young folks at Travel Alberta have been most willing to send me brochures and to make helpful suggestions. I always call before making a trip to a new area of the province and every time I receive something helpful.

I would not take Route 2 if I wanted to see anything of interest. Alberta's back roads in that part of the province tend to be straight and flat with good surfaces. I don't hesitate to take them.

As for shopping, what is it you need to buy between Calgary and Edmonton?

Thanks for the information. I posted this for a friend and after reading the responses I think she's going to change the plane tickets for another location. Thanks again--your insights "saved" a vacation!

Edmonton and Calgary are the two largest cities in Alberta, but that doesn't mean that there is nothing between them!!
The highway - the Queen E II, is a fast divided highway where most drivers are concerned with getting as fast as possible from one city to the other. But there are many towns along the way, most of them are just off the highway.
The largest is Red Deer, population over 80,000 and about halfway between the two big cities.
The drive from Calgary to Edmonton (not quite 300 km or approx. 180 miles, about two and a half hours) takes you from prairie grassland around Calgary - cattle country - with a wonderful view of the "shining mountains" on the western horizon (especially in clear weather) to Red Deer (where on good days you can still see the mountains to the west), the countryside around Red Deer is starting the transition to aspen parkland (wooded areas interspersed with grasslands) and a more grain-based agriculture, and then through the Red Deer River valley and Battle River valley on to Edmonton.

If you wanted to do some shopping for unique items, I would suggest the farmer's markets, there are lots of them around Alberta, and even in our big cities, especially on weekends, and they offer a lot of items including original jewellery, soaps/lotions, knitted wear, as well as farm produce (including jams and chutneys and such).

If you contact Travel Alberta (Google for info) they will be able to provide you with more specific information.