Getting to Lethbridge and Around the City
Getting to Lethbridge is easy! Here is everything you need to know about how to get here and around the city. Also, we’ve included the top travelling tips for RVers, EV charging stations, cyclist info and more.
Driving to Lethbridge
There are plenty of options when driving to Lethbridge, depending on where you are coming from.
Before hitting the road, be sure to check out road conditions on Alberta 511 – especially if you’re heading from the mountains or driving in winter.
Now, let’s see where these open Alberta highways will take you!
Popular Routes and Highways to Lethbridge
Calgary to Lethbridge
Driving from Calgary to Lethbridge takes about two hours and is approximately 210 km from centre to centre. The route is made easy by following Highway 2 south until the highway ends; then, take Highway 3 eastbound straight into Lethbridge.
Along the way, popular rest points include Nanton, Claresholm, and Fort Macleod.
Medicine Hat to Lethbridge
Driving from Medicine Hat to Lethbridge takes approximately two hours and is about 170 km. The quickest route is straightforward, following Highway 3 right from Medicine Hat into Lethbridge.
Along the way, popular rest points include Taber and Coaldale.
Highway #3 — West to East
Highway 3 through the Crowsnest Pass is the southern route between British Columbia and Alberta.
Notable points along the way to Lethbridge from British Columbia following Highway 3 include:
- BC Border — 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Crowsnest Pass (Frank Slide) — 1.5 hours
- Castle Mountain Resort (via Highway #507) — 1.5 hours
- Fort Macleod — 45 minutes
Highway 5 — The Cowboy Trail
Highway 5 heads southwest to the Canadian Rockies. Follow it past prairie vistas to mountain views (and literally through the hamlet of Mountain View)!
Notable spots along the way include:
- Cardston — under 1 hour
- Waterton Lakes National Park — 1 hour 45 minutes
- Del Bonita border crossing — approximately 1 hour (access via HWY 62)
- Carway border crossing — approximately 1 hour via HWY 2
Highway 4 — South
Highway 4 heads southeast to the border crossing at Coutts, turning into the I-15 after Sweetgrass. At Milk River, we highly recommend a detour to one of the 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in our region: Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park.
Popular points along the way include:
- Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park — An hour and 30 minutes
- Coutts Border Crossing — 1 hour
Taking a Bus to Lethbridge
If you are considering a bus to Lethbridge, there are a couple of options:
Red Arrow
Red Arrow offers bus service from Calgary to Lethbridge, running from multiple locations in Calgary, including Calgary International Airport (YYC). There is a minimum of one bus per day, and it costs around $70 CAD. The journey takes approximately 3 hours.
FlixBus
FlixBus is all about low cost, comfy seats, and free Wi-Fi. They offer a bus to Lethbridge from Calgary once per day for around $25, and the journey takes about three hours.
Flying to Lethbridge
Lethbridge is serviced by the Lethbridge International Airport (YQL) and is located on the south side of the city. From here, it is a quick 15-minute drive into downtown. The airport has recently been renovated, and checking in or collecting your bags is very fast and easy. Currently, the only available destination from Lethbridge is flying to Calgary via WestJet.
Getting Around Lethbridge
Getting around Lethbridge is easy as the city is divided into four main quadrants (west side, south side, north side, and downtown). Downtown is easily walkable to most locations, but if you need to leave the downtown, transportation is most likely required.
The easiest and most convenient means of getting around Lethbridge is by driving. If you don’t have a vehicle, it is possible to rent one, and these local car rental companies are here to help:
- National Car Rental — offers pickup at Lethbridge Airport (reservation and arrangement required)
- Enterprise
<image> Driving in LethbridgeIf you don’t want to drive, there are plenty of alternative means for getting around town to consider:
If you don’t want to drive, there are plenty of alternative means for getting around town to consider:
Lethbridge Public Transportation
The city of Lethbridge is well connected by its public transportation. Buses run often to most points around the city.
The Lethbridge Regional Park and Ride Parkade is the main hub for public transportation in the city. It's also a great place to park to explore Downtown Lethbridge.
For transit information on your phone, download the Lethbridge Transit app or visit the Lethbridge Transit website.
Taxis and Uber in Lethbridge
There are plenty of taxis available for hire in Lethbridge. Popular taxi companies include:
Uber is also available in Lethbridge and can be accessed via the Uber app.
Scooters and Cycling in Lethbridge
Lethbridge has some superb cycling opportunities. There are plenty of bike paths throughout the city and great parks to exercise your pedal power.
Check out our in-depth blog post and related videos about bikes and cycling: Cycle in Lethbridge.
And you can also “scoot” your way around town via electric scooters. Download the Bird app to get started or check out this eScooters in Lethbridge post for more information.
Other Important Information About Travelling to Lethbridge
Electric Vehicles
The Peaks to Prairies initiative connects the Rocky Mountains to the prairies along Highway 3. With wind and solar energy, Southern Alberta is the heartland of alternative energy, and Lethbridge is at its hub. Learn More
Border Crossings Near Lethbridge
There are three main border crossings en route from the USA to Lethbridge: Del Bonita, Carway, and Chief Mountain border crossing.
Be aware that certain items can not come into Canada. Review our border-crossing guide for more information. Learn More
Travelling by RV
Did you know that Lethbridge, Alberta is the first city you'll hit when you cross the US-CAN border from Montana into Canada? Lethbridge is not only a great place to refuel your vehicle and your supplies but also to pitch your RV and stay a while! Lethbridge is the perfect (and largest) hub to explore southern Alberta. Learn More
