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Major city · Canada

RussellRussell, Manitoba

One night is enough for the town; add a second only for Asessippi skiing or the June walleye derby. Otherwise pass through on the Yellowhead.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the lake and the derby; Dec–Mar for skiing
avoid Nov and Apr (mud, closed ski hill, little open)
Airports
YWG · YQR
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.

Russell is a farm town of about 1,400 people on the Yellowhead Highway, 15 km from the Saskatchewan border and roughly 340 km northwest of Winnipeg. It is a fuel, food and bed stop for drivers, and the gateway to Asessippi Provincial Park, the Lake of the Prairies and the Inglis grain elevators. The town itself is a 90-minute walk.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Russell, 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.

  • CoffeeC$2–5 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast or diner plateC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
  • Beerpint in a pubC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • Budget bedMotel room (Jolly Lodger), a night, per roomC$90 (≈ US$70)
  • Mid-range bedMotel room (Jolly Lodger), a night, per roomC$120 (≈ US$90)
  • High-end bedMotel room (Jolly Lodger), a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$260 (≈ 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.

Asessippi Ski Area & ResortLake of the PrairiesInglis Grain Elevators National Historic SiteThe Arches of Russell and Arthur the Bull
Airports
YWG Winnipeg Richardson International (About 340 km southeast by PTH 16; roughly 3 h 45 min by car. No scheduled air service at Russell.) · YQR Regina International (Alternative from the west via the Trans-Canada and PTH 16 through Yorkton; check the routing.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Russell: 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

−12°C

−22°C

7 rd

Feb

−9°C

−19°C

6 rd

Mar

−1°C

−11°C

6 rd

Apr

10°C

−2°C

6 rd

May

18°C

4°C

9 rd

Jun

23°C

9°C

11 rd

Jul

25°C

12°C

10 rd

Aug

25°C

11°C

9 rd

Sep

18°C

5°C

8 rd

Oct

10°C

−1°C

7 rd

Nov

−1°C

−9°C

7 rd

Dec

−9°C

−18°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 is small enough to walk end to end in about 20 minutes, but Asessippi park (23 km north) and the Inglis elevators (24 km north) have no useful public transport. Fuel up in town before heading north; the next services are in Roblin or Binscarth.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Asessippi Provincial Park and Lake of the Prairies

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Drive PTH 83 north about 23 km

Camping, boating, fishing and swimming at the south end of the lake; the ski hill is here too.

Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive about 24 km north to Inglis, Railway Ave

A row of five wooden elevators on the old CPR line; check opening times before you go.

Roblin

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive PTH 83 north

Services and a museum; only worth it if you are already heading north.

Yorkton, Saskatchewan

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive PTH 16 west

The nearest bigger town west; useful for fuel and groceries.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

PTH 16 strip (Russell Inn cluster)

The Russell Inn, Jolly Lodger Motel and Cedar House sit together near the PTH 16 and 45 junction; pool, restaurant and pub on site. Best with a car.

Main Street / Asessippi Inn

309 Main St N, a short walk from the cafés and shops; the only in-town option.

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
Hotel double (Russell Inn)1 × 1 night × C$170C$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Fuel, Winnipeg return (about 680 km)1 × C$90C$90
Asessippi lift ticket, one day2 × C$70C$140
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$76
Trip total≈ C$418 per person per day, bed includedC$836≈ US$650

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–5 (≈ US$2–4)
Breakfast or diner plateC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
Burger and friesC$15–22 (≈ US$11–16)
Beer, pint in a pubC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Fuel, per litreC$1.40–1.70 (≈ US$2)
Camping, unserviced site in the parkC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet farm town; the real risks are winter driving, wildlife on the highway at dusk and long gaps between services. Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight.
  • Distances are long and cell coverage thins out on the back roads north of town: carry water and tell someone your route.
  • Winter driving on PTH 16 and 83: blizzards close highways; check Manitoba 511 before you leave.
  • Asessippi Ski Area runs a short season, roughly December to late March: check dates before booking.
  • Many Main Street shops and cafés close by late afternoon and on Sundays.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
RCMP Russell (non-emergency)
204-773-2101
Manitoba highway conditions
511

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.

RussellRussell, Manitoba

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • RCMP Russell (non-emergency)204-773-2101
  • Manitoba highway conditions511

Embassy

No embassies in Russell. US consulate general in Calgary or Winnipeg (check); most other countries: embassies in Ottawa.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Fuel, Winnipeg → Russell, one way: about C$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Asessippi lift ticket, one day: about C$70 (≈ US$55)
  • Camping, unserviced site: C$15–30 (≈ US$11–25) a night

Say or show

  • Thank you / Merci — Thank you
  • Where is the gas station? — Where is the gas station?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is the highway open? — Is the highway open?

Tipping is expected in Canada: 15–20% at restaurants, 10–15% for taxis.

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 Russell. 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 lake and the derby; Dec–Mar for skiing · avoid Nov and Apr (mud, closed ski hill, little open) · 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. 4 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 YWG: last practical departure time, car-hire desks, overnight rung in Winnipeg.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street arches and Arthur the Bull, the visitor centre, the PTH 16 services strip, the lake road.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Asessippi ski hill, Inglis elevators, visitor centre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources