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Major city · Canada

Bonnyville

One night is enough: museum, Jessie Lake birding, then push on to Cold Lake 51 km northeast. Two nights only if you fish or golf at Moose Lake.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Mar (cold, snow, short days)
Airports
YBY · 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.

Bonnyville is a town of about 6,000 in the Lakeland district of east-central Alberta, on the north shore of Jessie Lake between St. Paul and Cold Lake. It is an oil and farm service town with a small museum, a lakefront birding stop and campgrounds at Moose and Muriel lakes. Most travellers use it as a bed and a fuel stop on Highway 28, not as a destination in itself.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bonnyville, 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$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfastC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
  • BeerPub draught beerC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–40 (≈ US$11–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry, adultcheckC$5 (≈ US$4)
  • Budget bedCampsite at Moose or Muriel Lake, a night, per roomC$30 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedOlder downtown motel room, a night, per roomC$95 (≈ US$70)
  • High-end bedOlder downtown motel room, a night, per roomC$130 (≈ US$95)

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.

Jessie Lake birdwatchingBonnyville & District MuseumMoose Lake Provincial ParkOil-patch and farming country
Airports
YBY Bonnyville Airport (Small field; Northern Air charter service from Calgary (check schedules and seats)) · YEG Edmonton International (Main gateway; about 2 h 30 min by car on Highway 28)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bonnyville: 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

8 rd

Feb

−7°C

−18°C

6 rd

Mar

1°C

−11°C

6 rd

Apr

10°C

−2°C

6 rd

May

17°C

4°C

8 rd

Jun

21°C

9°C

10 rd

Jul

23°C

11°C

10 rd

Aug

22°C

10°C

9 rd

Sep

16°C

5°C

8 rd

Oct

9°C

−1°C

6 rd

Nov

−1°C

−9°C

7 rd

Dec

−8°C

−17°C

8 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

A car is the practical choice: sights, lakes and campgrounds sit 5–20 km out of town and there is no local transit. Two taxi firms cover the town itself. Highway 28 runs west to Edmonton and east to Cold Lake; Highway 41 heads north and south.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cold Lake

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive northeast on Highway 28, about 51 km

Bigger lake, air base and more places to eat; the natural next stop.

Elk Point

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive south on Highway 41

Small town on the North Saskatchewan River; combine with a museum stop.

St. Paul

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive west on Highway 28 and 29

Cathedral and Ukrainian heritage sites; good half-day.

Lac La Biche

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive northwest on Highway 55 and 36

Doable as a day trip but better as an overnight on a Lakeland loop.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Highway 28 strip (Lakeland Road)

Chain hotels with parking and breakfast; easiest with a car.

Downtown 50 Avenue

Older motels and pubs within walking distance of the museum and shops.

Moose Lake and Muriel Lake campgrounds

Seasonal; 5–20 km west or 11 km south of town. Book ahead for summer weekends.

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
Chain hotel room (breakfast included)1 × 1 night × C$160C$160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Museum entry, adult2 × C$5 · checkC$10
Taxi across town1 × C$15 · checkC$15
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$53
Trip total≈ C$289 per person per day, bed includedC$578≈ US$450

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

Prices of common things

Coffee and a bakery itemC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
Diner breakfastC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
Pizza or donair mealC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
Pub draught beerC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Museum entry, adultcheckC$5 (≈ US$4)
Campsite, one nightcheckC$30–55 (≈ US$25–40)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–40 (≈ US$11–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small, quiet town; the real risks are winter driving, long empty stretches of highway and wildlife on the road at dusk. Violent crime is rare; lock the car and use normal care around the pubs at closing time.
  • Winter runs from November to March with deep cold and icy roads: check highway conditions before driving.
  • Distances between services are long; fill the tank in town.
  • Summer weekends fill the lake campgrounds: reserve ahead.
  • Alcohol and gaming venues are 18+; carry ID.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Bonnyville RCMP (non-emergency)
780-826-3358

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.

BonnyvilleBonnyville

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Bonnyville RCMP (non-emergency)780-826-3358

Embassy

No consulates in town; the nearest are in Edmonton. US: US Consulate General, Edmonton (check the address). UK and Australia: consulates in Edmonton or Calgary; embassies in Ottawa.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi across town: about C$10–18 (≈ US$8–14) (check)
  • Drive Bonnyville → Cold Lake: 51 km, about 45 min
  • Drive Bonnyville → Edmonton: about 2 h 30 min on Highway 28

Say or show

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

English is the working language here; French is rare outside services.

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 Bonnyville. 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, snow, short days) · 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. 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 YBY and YEG: charter and drive times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown 50 Avenue, the museum and Centennial Centre, Jessie Lake shore.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Bonnyville & District Museum, Moose Lake Provincial Park, golf club) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and hostile-road fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources