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Major city · Canada

Maple Creek

One night is enough for the town; add a second night only if you are using it as a bed for Cypress Hills or Fort Walsh.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Mar (cold, many seasonal businesses closed)
Airports
YXH · YYC
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Maple Creek is a town of about 2,100 people on the Trans-Canada Highway, 8 km north of the highway turnoff and 40 km north of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. It is the service centre and the practical bed for the Saskatchewan side of the hills. The town itself is a two-hour walk: one main street, a handful of museums, a bakery and a bar. Almost everyone who stays longer than a night is here for the park, Fort Walsh or the ranching country around it.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Maple Creek, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and a bakery itemC$6–12 (≈ US$5–9)
  • Sit-down mealSteak dinner in a cookhouse barC$28–45 (≈ US$25–35)
  • BeerDraught beerC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomC$180 (≈ US$140)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$220 (≈ US$160)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$280 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Gateway to Cypress Hills Interprovincial ParkOld Cowtown Heritage DistrictFort Walsh National Historic SiteSaskatoon berries and ranch country
Airports
YXH Medicine Hat Airport (Nearest scheduled airport, about 103 km northwest by road; small regional service, check current routes.) · YYC Calgary International (Main gateway, about 380 km west on Highway 1; roughly 4 h by car.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Maple Creek: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−4°C

−15°C

7 rd

Feb

−1°C

−12°C

6 rd

Mar

5°C

−7°C

7 rd

Apr

12°C

−1°C

7 rd

May

18°C

4°C

9 rd

Jun

23°C

8°C

10 rd

Jul

27°C

11°C

8 rd

Aug

27°C

10°C

7 rd

Sep

21°C

5°C

7 rd

Oct

13°C

0°C

6 rd

Nov

3°C

−8°C

7 rd

Dec

−3°C

−14°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. The town core is walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end, but Cypress Hills, Fort Walsh, the golf course and Grotto Gardens are all outside town and have no useful public transport. Fuel up in town before heading south; services thin out quickly.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Saskatchewan side)

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive Highway 21 south, about 40 km

The reason most people come. Hiking, viewpoints and dark skies; a park entry pass is required.

Fort Walsh National Historic Site

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive Highway 21 south then park roads, roughly 55 km

Seasonal opening and a winding access road: check hours and road status before setting out.

Grotto Gardens Country Market

go

Door to door: About 5 min

Drive 1.6 km south of town on Highway 21

Saskatoon berry orchard, bakery and lunch café; seasonal.

Great Sandhills near Leader

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive Highway 21 north, about 130 km

Sand dunes on gravel roads; go with a full tank and daylight to spare.

Medicine Hat, Alberta

go

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

Drive Highway 1 west, about 103 km

Biggest town for supplies, hospital and chain hotels.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Jasper Street and the Old Cowtown Heritage District

The walkable core: museums, bakery, gallery and the information centre within a few blocks. Best if you want to park once.

Highway 21 and Highway 1 junctions

Motels and lodges on the edge of town with easy parking and a fast exit toward the park; a 10–15 min walk from the main street.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × C$150C$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Fuel, Calgary to Maple Creek and back1 × C$160 · checkC$160
Cypress Hills park entry, one vehicle, one day1 × C$12 · checkC$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$68
Trip total≈ C$375 per person per day, bed includedC$750≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and park passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a bakery itemC$6–12 (≈ US$5–9)
Burger and fries at a drive-inC$15–22 (≈ US$11–16)
Steak dinner in a cookhouse barC$28–45 (≈ US$25–35)
Draught beerC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Motel double room, summer weekendC$130–220 (≈ US$95–160)
Fuel, per litrecheckC$1.50–1.80 (≈ US$2)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Small-town Saskatchewan is low-crime and the main risks are driving ones: wildlife at dawn and dusk, long empty stretches of Highway 1 and 21, and fast summer storms. Winter cold is serious; check road conditions before any long drive.
  • Distances are long and cell coverage is patchy in the hills: carry water and tell someone your plan.
  • Deer and moose on Highway 1 and Highway 21 at dawn and dusk.
  • Summer thunderstorms and hail arrive fast; winter driving on Highway 1 can close without much warning.
  • Many seasonal businesses shut from October to May: check before you drive out for a specific shop or café.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
RCMP Maple Creek (non-emergency)
306-662-2470
Health advice (HealthLine 811, 24 h)
811

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Maple CreekMaple Creek

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • RCMP Maple Creek (non-emergency)306-662-2470
  • HealthLine 811 (24 h, nurse advice)811

Embassy

No consulates in town. US consulate-general in Calgary; most other countries: embassies in Ottawa or consulates in Calgary and Vancouver.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Fuel, Calgary → Maple Creek (about 380 km): roughly C$60–80 (≈ US$45–60) one way (check)
  • Cypress Hills park entry, one vehicle, one day: about C$12 (≈ US$9) (check)
  • Taxi within town: short hops only; confirm the fare before you get in (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the information centre? — Where is the information centre?
  • Is this open today? — Is this open today?
  • How far is Cypress Hills? — How far is Cypress Hills?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • I need help — I need help

Rural Saskatchewan: card payment is common but a little cash is useful for small seasonal stands.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Maple Creek. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, many seasonal businesses closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YXH and YYC: last sensible arrival, taxi and shuttle fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Jasper Street core, Highway 21 motel strip, golf course and Grotto Gardens.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Jasper Cultural and Historical Centre, SW Sask Old-Timer's Museum, Fort Walsh, Cypress Hills) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources