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Major city · Canada

Peace RiverPeace River, Alberta

Give Peace River one night, two if you paddle or hike: the valley viewpoints, museum and riverfront take half a day, the rest is driving country.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (cold, ice on the river), late Mar–Apr (mud and breakup)
Airport
YPE
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.

Peace River is a town of about 7,000 on a river bend 486 km northwest of Edmonton, sitting nearly 300 m below the surrounding farmland. It is a working government and forestry town, not a resort: come for the valley, the fur-trade and steamboat history, and the drive-through position on the way to Grande Prairie or the Mackenzie Highway. Most travellers pass through in a day; one night is enough unless an event is on.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Peace River, 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)
  • Sit-down mealLunch or dinner mainC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Beerdraught in a lounge / can at a liquor storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Budget bedSuite with kitchen (up to 4), a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$130 (≈ US$95)
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$200 (≈ US$150)

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

Peace River valley and riverfrontTwelve Foot Davis and Fort Fork historyPeace River Museum, Archives & Mackenzie CentreSummer jet boat racing and PeaceFest
Airports
YPE Peace River Regional Airport (No scheduled passenger service; nearest scheduled airports are Grande Prairie (about 2 h 30 min by car) and Edmonton (about 5 h).)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Peace River: 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

−10°C

−20°C

10 rd

Feb

−6°C

−17°C

8 rd

Mar

0°C

−12°C

8 rd

Apr

9°C

−3°C

7 rd

May

17°C

3°C

10 rd

Jun

21°C

8°C

12 rd

Jul

23°C

10°C

12 rd

Aug

22°C

8°C

11 rd

Sep

16°C

3°C

10 rd

Oct

8°C

−3°C

8 rd

Nov

−2°C

−12°C

9 rd

Dec

−8°C

−18°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

No public transit in town. Everything central is walkable in 10–20 minutes, but the valley slopes are steep; you need a car for the airport, the Shaftesbury Trail and day trips. Cold Shot runs intercity buses from Edmonton with stops in High Prairie, Slave Lake and Westlock.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Grimshaw

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Highway 2 west, about 25 km

Small town stop; the 29-km Friendship Trail links it to Peace River for cyclists and walkers.

Valleyview

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Highway 49 east, about 100 km

The faster route to Edmonton joins Highway 43 here.

High Prairie

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Highway 2 east, about 120 km

Useful stop on the Cold Shot bus line to Edmonton.

Fairview

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Highway 2 west then Highway 64A, about 120 km

Farm country and the Peace Country's western edge.

Falher

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Highway 2 east then Highway 49, about 100 km

French-Canadian farming town; combine with a Valleyview run.

Grande Prairie

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Highway 2 west, about 198 km

The region's airport and big-box base; too far for a comfortable return day.

High Level

overnight

Door to door: About 5 h 30 min

Highway 35 north (Mackenzie Highway), about 490 km

Gateway to the Northwest Territories; sleep on the way.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Downtown / 100 Street

Walk to the museum, Riverfront Park and most restaurants; the Sawridge Inn and Third Mission Heritage Suites are here.

Highway 2 west / 74 Street

Chateau Nova and Nova Inn: free parking, easy in-and-out by car, a short drive from the centre.

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$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$130C$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Rental car, one day1 × C$90C$90
Fuel, Edmonton–Peace River return1 × C$120C$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$69
Trip total≈ C$380 per person per day, bed includedC$759≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–5 (≈ US$2–4)
Lunch or dinner mainC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)
Beer: draught in a lounge / can at a liquor storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Paddle the Peace community paddle daymid-AugustC$20 (≈ US$15)
PeaceFest single nightsecond Friday and Saturday in JulyC$75 (≈ US$55)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime town. The real risks are winter cold and ice, wildlife and long empty drives on Highway 2 or 35: carry water, fuel up before leaving town, and tell someone your route.
  • No public transit: plan on walking the centre or driving.
  • Winter cold is severe and the river ices over from January to early March; summer brings thunderstorms and occasional small hail.
  • Fog often fills the river valley while the land above is clear; it usually lifts within a few hours.
  • The St. Augustine Mission site sits inside the Peace River Provincial Correctional Centre grounds: check access before driving out.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

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.

Peace RiverPeace River, Alberta

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Peace River; the US consulate-general is in Calgary and most others are in Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver. For passport help, contact your embassy before travelling.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Cold Shot bus, Edmonton → Peace River: check current fare and days; stops in High Prairie, Slave Lake and Westlock
  • Fuel, Peace River → Grande Prairie return: about 400 km round trip (check current pump price)

Say or show

  • Thank you / Merci — Thank you
  • Where is the riverfront? — Where is the riverfront?
  • Is there a bus to Edmonton? — Is there a bus to Edmonton?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Tipping is expected in Canada: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 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 Peace River. 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 Dec–Feb (cold, ice on the river), late Mar–Apr (mud and breakup) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport and bus contract for YPE and the Cold Shot stop: field-checked arrival times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown and the museum, Riverfront Park and Twelve Foot Davis, the Shaftesbury Trail.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (museum, NAR station tourist centre, arboretum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Event fixtures for the jet boat championship, PeaceFest and the pond hockey tournament so date-driven trips can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources