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Major city · Canada

Slave Lake

Give Slave Lake one full day and one night: the beach and bird centre are the reason to come, and there is no second day of town sights.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Aug; late May and early Sep for the bird centre
avoid Nov–Mar (deep cold, snow, short days)
Airport
YZH
Nights
1–2
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.

Slave Lake is a small northern Alberta town of about 6,650 people on the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake, 281 km north of Edmonton by Highway 44 and Highway 2. It works as a one-night stop on the Edmonton–Peace River run or as a weekend base for the lake, the provincial park beaches and the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation. Two nights is the practical maximum unless you fish or hike seriously.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Slave Lake, 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$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Sit-down mealPizza or a main courseC$15–28 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast in a hotel restaurantC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
  • BeerDraught beer in a barC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
  • Mid-range bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomC$220 (≈ US$160)

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.

Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park beachesBoreal Centre for Bird ConservationWalleye and northern pike fishingMarten Mountain and the Pelican Mountain range
Airports
YZH Slave Lake Airport (Charter flights only; the nearest scheduled gateway is Edmonton (YEG), 281 km south by road.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Slave Lake: 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

−9°C

−20°C

10 rd

Feb

−6°C

−17°C

8 rd

Mar

1°C

−11°C

8 rd

Apr

9°C

−3°C

7 rd

May

16°C

3°C

10 rd

Jun

19°C

8°C

13 rd

Jul

21°C

10°C

14 rd

Aug

20°C

9°C

12 rd

Sep

15°C

4°C

11 rd

Oct

9°C

−1°C

9 rd

Nov

−2°C

−10°C

10 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

You need a car. The town is spread along Highway 2 and the lake is 15–20 min north; there is no useful public transit. Two local taxi firms cover short hops in town. Fuel up in town before heading to the park or Highway 88.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park and Devonshire Beach

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive north on Hwy 88 and park roads, about 15–20 min from town

The 7 km sand beach is the main reason people stop here; go in the morning for calm water.

Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Drive 19 km north of town off Hwy 88

Open late May to early Sep daily, then reduced weekday hours; check before a winter drive.

Marten Mountain and the Pelican Mountain range

caution

Door to door: About 40–60 min

Drive northeast from town on gravel roads

Rough roads and no services; go with a full tank and daylight.

Westlock

skip

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive south on Hwy 44, about 2 h

A fuel-and-food stop on the way to Edmonton, not a day out.

Athabasca

skip

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Drive via Hwy 2 and Hwy 44, about 2 h 30 min

Better as an overnight on a different loop.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Main Street South / Highway 2

The hotel strip: Slave Lake Inn and Conference Centre, Lakeview Inns & Suites and Holiday Inn Express are all here, walkable to food and drink.

Town centre (2 Ave)

Smaller motels and the main eating cluster; quieter, a short drive from the highway.

Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park

Campground near the beach, 15–20 min drive north 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 double room1 × 1 night × C$150C$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Fuel, Edmonton return (about 560 km)1 × C$90 · checkC$90
Boat launch or park day fee1 × C$15 · checkC$15
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$61
Trip total≈ C$333 per person per day, bed includedC$666≈ US$500

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

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Breakfast in a hotel restaurantC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
Pizza or a main courseC$15–28 (≈ US$11–25)
Draught beer in a barC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Hotel double room, summer weekendC$105–220 (≈ US$80–160)
Fuel, per litreC$1.40–1.70 (≈ US$2) (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Slave Lake is a small, quiet town and violent crime against visitors is rare. The real risks are driving: 281 km of highway from Edmonton, moose and deer at dusk, ice and snow from Oct, and wildfire closures in summer.
  • Distances are long and cell coverage thins on Highway 88 north of town: carry water and a spare tyre.
  • Wildfire season (roughly May–Sep) can close highways and force evacuations; check Alberta wildfire and highway status before driving north.
  • Winter runs to −20 °C and below with snow from Oct; drive for ice and watch for moose and deer at dusk.
  • Many kitchens close by 21:00 and some places shut early on Sundays: eat before 20:00.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Slave Lake RCMP (non-emergency)
780-849-3045
Health Link Alberta (24 h nurse line)
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.

Slave LakeSlave Lake

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Health Link Alberta (24 h nurse line)811
  • Slave Lake RCMP (non-emergency)780-849-3045

Embassy

No consulates in Slave Lake. The nearest US consulate is in Calgary; most other countries have embassies in Ottawa or consulates in Edmonton and Calgary.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi across town: C$10–20 (≈ US$8–15) (check)
  • Edmonton → Slave Lake by Cold Shot bus: about 4 h, fare check with the operator
  • Fuel, Edmonton return: about C$90 (≈ US$70) (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Is there a table for two? — Is there a table for two?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Tipping is expected: 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 Slave Lake. 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–Aug; late May and early Sep for the bird centre · avoid Nov–Mar (deep cold, snow, short days) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 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 YEG: last bus and shuttle options field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street South hotels, 2 Ave eating strip, the provincial park beach, the bird centre.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (bird centre, beach, boat launch, campground) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wildfire and winter-storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources