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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Canada

Hinton

Stop for one night on the Yellowhead Highway: coffee, the Beaver Boardwalk and a bed, then drive on to Jasper 80 km west.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the boardwalk and park access; Feb–Mar for snow and cheaper rooms
avoid Late Apr–May (mud season, some services closed); wildfire smoke any summer month
Airports
YJP · YEG
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.

Hinton is a working town of about 10,000 in the Athabasca River valley, 80 km east of Jasper National Park on Highway 16. It is not a destination in itself: it is the last full-service town before the park gates, with cheaper beds than Jasper, a free forestry museum and a beaver boardwalk that makes a genuine hour-long leg-stretch. Most travellers use it for one night in each direction, or as a base for Willmore Wilderness trips.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Hinton, 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 pastryC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Sit-down mealChinese main courseC$16–24 (≈ US$12–18)
  • BeerDraught beer in a barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or motel single, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$170 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$280 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$250 (≈ US$190)

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.

Beaver Boardwalk at Maxwell LakeGateway to Jasper National ParkAlberta Forest Service MuseumWild Mountain Music Festival
Airports
YJP Hinton/Jasper-Hinton Airport (19 km southwest on Hwy 16; charter and sightseeing flights, no scheduled airline service) · YEG Edmonton International (About 3 h by car east on Hwy 16; SunDog Tours runs a daily shuttle via Edmonton, Hinton and Jasper)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Hinton: 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

−6°C

−17°C

10 rd

Feb

−2°C

−14°C

8 rd

Mar

4°C

−8°C

9 rd

Apr

11°C

−2°C

8 rd

May

17°C

3°C

11 rd

Jun

20°C

7°C

13 rd

Jul

23°C

9°C

13 rd

Aug

22°C

8°C

12 rd

Sep

17°C

4°C

10 rd

Oct

10°C

−1°C

9 rd

Nov

1°C

−9°C

10 rd

Dec

−5°C

−15°C

10 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. Hinton Transit runs one local route with hourly service, no Sunday or holiday service and reduced summer hours, so it is of little use to visitors. Everything on the highway strip is a 5–10 min drive from the valley. Taxis are limited; book ahead for early departures.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Jasper National Park

go

Door to door: About 1 h to the gates, 1 h 30 min to Jasper townsite

Drive Hwy 16 west, 80 km, about 1 h

Buy the Parks Canada pass at the gate; go early in summer, the lots fill by 10:00.

Grande Cache

go

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

Drive Hwy 40 north, about 130 km

The other staging town for Willmore Wilderness Park; fuel and food, then back.

Willmore Wilderness Park

overnight

Door to door: 2 h+ to a trailhead

Hwy 40 north to a trailhead, then on foot or horseback

No facilities and no road access inside: only with proper gear and a plan.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Highway 16 strip

Motels and fast food on the main road; easiest for one night with a car and bags.

Valley Shopping Centre area

Athabasca Ave and the valley side; walkable to restaurants and the Roxy Theatre.

Hill Shopping Centre

Carmichael Lane and Pembina Ave; a few hotels, a café and a supermarket.

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 or hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$170C$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
SunDog Tours shuttle, Edmonton airport ↔ Hinton2 × C$120 · checkC$240
Hinton Transit day pass2 × C$8 · checkC$16
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$78
Trip total≈ C$427 per person per day, bed includedC$854≈ US$650

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a pastryC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
Pizza, one largeC$22–32 (≈ US$16–25)
Chinese main courseC$16–24 (≈ US$12–18)
Draught beer in a barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
Fuel, 1 L regularC$1.40–1.80 (≈ US$2) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A safe, quiet town; the real risks are the drive (wildlife at dusk, winter ice, wildfire smoke) and long distances between services. Standard Canadian city caution after dark around the bars.
  • Distances are long: Jasper is 80 km west, Edmonton about 300 km east. Fill the tank before either leg.
  • Wildlife on Highway 16, especially elk and deer at dusk. Do not stop on the road to look.
  • Summer wildfire smoke can close Highway 16 and park access with little notice: check Alberta 511 and Parks Canada before driving.
  • Winter driving is real: snow tires or all-weather tires and an emergency kit, temperatures can sit below −20 °C.
  • Cell coverage is patchy west of town toward the park boundary.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Alberta road conditions (511)
511
Health advice (Health Link, 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.

HintonHinton

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Alberta road conditions511
  • Health Link (24 h)811

Embassy

No consulates in Hinton; the US consulate-general is in Calgary, most other countries have missions in Ottawa, Calgary or Vancouver.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Hinton Transit single ride: C$3 (≈ US$3), day pass C$8 (≈ US$6) (check)
  • SunDog Tours, Edmonton airport → Hinton: about C$120 (≈ US$90), several hours (check)
  • Jasper By Air, Calgary → Jasper-Hinton airport: about C$210 (≈ US$160), daily (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the washroom? — Where is the toilet?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • I need help — I need help

English is the working language; French is official but rarely used here.

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 Hinton. 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 for the boardwalk and park access; Feb–Mar for snow and cheaper rooms · avoid Late Apr–May (mud season, some services closed); wildfire smoke any summer month · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YEG and YJP: last SunDog departure field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: the highway strip, the valley centre, and the Beaver Boardwalk.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Northern Rockies Museum, Alberta Forest Service Museum, Beaver Boardwalk) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wildfire and winter-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources