5 Spring Break Road Trips from Calgary: Best Cars to Take You There

Spring break in Alberta is not about take a break but go out there and explore. And when you begin your road trip around the Rocky Mountains that is your spring break in Calgary, then you already have the perfect jump pad. The spectacular Rocky Mountains to the west are beckoning with snow-white caps and warm mountain villages. In a direction eastward, there lie wide open prairies reaching as far as the eye can see. And between there are calm lakes, small towns that are charming and rich in their hidden treasures, which make Alberta one of the best places to go as a spring getaway in Canada.

The right car is all you need when it comes to planning your spring break road trip. You want something to match your plans whether you are going into the mountains, going on a scenic drive in the cowboy country or just chasing the sunshine and open roads. That is where Mr. Rent a Car comes in.

Mr. Rent a Car makes your road trip during the spring break easy and hassle free with great choice of clean and dependable vehicles and friendly and personal service. Need to dream about skiing or hiking in a mountain? Get a strong SUV – it will be able to manage those wavy alpine roads. Have an easy time on the prairie mountainous Alberta or a Day road. A spacious sedan or crossover makes things convenient, efficient and pocket-friendly. And when adventure is seeking out of the way lakeside or driving along the quiet shaded lanes, there always is something rough in the line which will get you there, and back again, without thoughts of a thing.

The ultimate advantage of a Calgary road trip during spring break is that one can enjoy freedom. You can wake up with mountains around you and spend your evening with a peaceful lake or an energetic town with local restaurants and music. At Mr. Rent a Car, you have the freedom to do things in your own time, stop whenever you want to see something beautiful, drive longer, or simply have fun during the trip.

That is why, when you are packing your bags and grabbing your playlist, do not forget about the proper wheels to your adventure. In the case of Mr. Rent a Car, all things begin easy and end with tales that you will continue to relate even after the spring break is long gone.

We shall now look at some of the best spring break road trip spots that can be driven to in Calgary, and the most suitable rentals to take you there.

1. Banff and Lake Louise – The Classic Mountain Escape

The legendary Banff and Lake Louise have to be listed as the first point of the list of the best spring break road trip destinations of Calgary. It is only around 90-minute away, and this is the sort of place that will make you fall in love with road trips once again. In the depths of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, there are Banff and Lake Louise, all of what you expect to hear when you think of mountain magic, snow-white peaks, glittering lakes, and rustic lodges that were meant to be occupied during lazy mornings and star-filled nights.

During the months of March and April, the place is a combination of both winter and early spring. It still may have lots of snow to both ski and snowboard at such world-leading resorts as Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Nor quay, yet the days are longer, the air is a little warmer and even the sunlight seems slightly warmer. You may spend your mornings cutting down hill and sunlit slopes and afternoons taking hot chocolate in log cabin cafe or shopping in the cute stores of Banff Avenue.

Banff Upper Hot Springs will make you forget that you are rushing somewhere and instead you have to rest. Imagine as you sink into the natural hot water, steam floating around you and snow covered mountains in the background, it is the simple thing to do. And the lovers of adventure should not miss the frozen falls of Johnston Canyon or the quiet walks through the trails of the lake Louise which make a perfect picture.

Banff and Lake Louise have the right amount of both adventure and relaxation whether it is your powder-filled road trip to the mountains, an escape to the hot springs, or just a breath of that fresh alpine air. It is a spot that freshens you up – where with each bend of the street you feel as though you were looking at a new postcard that you are about to take a snapshot of.

Best Car for the Trip: SUV Rental

Calgary SUV rental will give you the key to freedom, flexibility, and pure comfort in its purest form the ideal accessory to a spring break getaway in the mountains. It is something about being raised just a bit higher on the road, as the Rockies are rolling out in front you, that makes the drive itself part of the adventure. When you have an SUV, it is not merely a matter of one place to another, but you are traveling with lots of assurance, style and space to breathe.

Sending away on a mountain vacation? No problem. Having a large cargo area, you can pack in all the essentials you require and you will find it easy to pack in ski boots and hiking gear, also a cooler filled with road-trip snacks and those additional layers that you will appreciate as soon as the mountain air gets chilly. With all that, there is yet ample legroom to allow the stretch and rest of all those.

The reason why an SUV rental in Calgary is particularly optimal is because it is versatile. You can feel the difference in the handling and stability whether you are driving leisurely through the Trans-Canada Highway, or you are offroad to Kananaskis Country or backroads on your way to Banff or Canmore. The majority of the SUVs that Mr. Rent a Car has to offer are all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles, allowing you to have the traction and control you require in the ever-changing Canadian road conditions, including wet spring roads to light mountain snow.

Put yourself into a situation when you are driving across the twisting alpine roads, with breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, your favorite music playing in the car, and the feeling that whatever the road throws your way your car can accommodate. That is what makes an SUV so remarkable, it is comfortable and capable at the same time. Going alone, with friends, or with your family on the much needed vacation, an SUV will enable you to explore freely.

In the snowy mountains of Banff or the gravel roads of Kananaskis, an SUV rental in Calgary will see your spring break adventure run smoothly, safely, and without any memory whatsoever. Roomy, dependable, adventure-minded – it is all you need in a trip as comfortable as it is adventurous.

Ready to hit the road? Reserve your SUV today in Calgary, with Mr. Rent A Car you can pick it up in Calgary at Calgary International Airport, you can make your reservations without the hassles, and you will happily be on the road in a minute or so. It begins when you pull out of the lot and it begins your mountain adventure.

2. Drumheller – The Dino Lover’s Dream

It takes a little less than two hours to drive to Calgary and enter a world that seems to be of a different time. Drumheller the Dinosaur Capital of the World is the place where the pre-historic life of Alberta breathes life in the most amazing way possible. As soon as you visit the town, the quirkiness of the town welcomes you to its core even the streetlights and murals commemoration its dinosaur origins. Simultaneously the centre of all this is the world-known Royal Tyrrell Museum that is a must-see for any person with the slightest interest in the history of our planet. Within the building, you get to explore gigantic fossil exhibits, is letting the skeletons of the actual dinosaurs, and interactive exhibits that make you feel that you have gone millions of years in the past.

It is impossible not to be amazed whether you are peering up the mouth-opening Tyrannosaurus rex, or delineating the remains of the sea animals with your fingertips. There is more of the magic of Drumheller as you walk out of the museum. Go outside and you will be enclosed with the dramatic beauty of the Canadian Badlands, a landscape that has been made by the wind, water and even time itself.

These canyons have been eroded and the hoodoos (thin and tall rock structures) go on as far as the eye can project, coated with the shade of rust, gold and cream. It is a place which is somehow foreign and extremely calm, and each step you make finds a new design within the rocks or some secret path that needs to be followed. It is especially a special season to visit during spring. The weather is cold but pleasant, the trails are dry and hiking is best, and you can view the landscape without the summer crowds. Horseshoe Canyon is a great place to begin your adventure – its stratified rock walls and panoramic scenery are like those in Mars.

Then there is the Hoodoos Trail in which you can go close to these amazing natural carvings and experience the magnitude of the forces that acted on them. To have a memorable drive, drive the Dinosaur Trail, one of the scenic routes that follow the Red Deer River which has some breathtaking lookouts and lots of spots where one can stop to take pictures or have a picnic. It is not only a place of science enthusiasts but a place that leaves the wonder in everybody. The whimsical dinosaur statues all over town will be popular among families, and individual tourists and photographers will be inexhaustible with the unpolished natural beauty of the area. It is the type of place to reminisce on how big and expansive the world can be, and how much of it is just a bit of a backyard.

Thus, in case you are planning a road trip to Calgary and spring break, or you are just in need of a day of discovery, Drumheller will be an unforgettable experience. History, nature and imagination are united here making a simple drive a magnificent adventure.

Best Car for the Trip: Compact SUV or Midsize Sedan

It does not require a huge car, but a comfortable and fuel-saving one is important during these expansive highways. Small SUVs such as the Hyundai Tucson or midsize sedans are very mileage conscious but are not cramped.

Choose fuel-saving alternatives at Mr. Rent a Car when you are going on a personal trip or even family outing.

3. Waterton Lakes National Park – Quiet, Scenic, and Stunning

Waterton Lakes National Park is located approximately three hours south of Calgary and seems to be the less popular sibling of Banff and that is just what makes the place so special. Waterton is a small town nestled in the intersection of the Canadian Rockies and the Prairies providing splendid scenery without the noise of larger mountain towns. It is a particularly enchanted season to see in the spring: the snow is melting, the waterfalls are rushing, and such animals as elk, deer, and bighorn sheep can be easily seen at the road. The town is also quiet and scenic and is ideal to a couple or to anyone who wants a slower, more introspective reprieve. Spend your days walking on hiking trails such as those of Bear Hump to get an overview of the lake, picnicking in the Cameron Lake or just immerging in the serene splendor of this UNESCO world heritage park. You can spend the day or the long weekend and Waterton provides the type of calm and natural marvel that will make spring break one that you will never forget.

Best Car for the Trip: Convertible or Luxury Sedan

When you want amazing scenery, you can have that even better when you are driving a convertible or a smooth luxurious car. The picturesque routes in Waterton are elegant curls round glittering lakes, undulating hills, and fine mountain panoramas the sort of route which makes you wish to roll the top down and drive slowly. Experience that mountain air and ride by crystal-blue waters and pull over to take pictures at each incredible view. Premium or convertible ride does not simply get you to a destination, but it makes the process itself part of the experience. It is driving heaven to the open road lovers, and Waterton is just destination.

To make an occasion special or simply to indulge, Mr. Rent a Car luxury car line has got the wow element.

4. Kananaskis Country – Adventure Without the Crowds

Kananaskis Country (or simply K-Country to the locals) is a real secret of the west of Calgary, and is often bypassed by people on their way to Banff. It is the same kind of expansive wild mountain beauty that covers the Rockies, except that here there is a lot less commotion and the scenery is a little less strenuous. Imagine sounding waterfalls, crystal clear mountain lakes and hundreds of hiking and mountain bike paths that meander through forests and valleys that are so unbelievably wild. The spring is a season when melting snow nourishes the rivers and waterfalls, the wildflowers are starting to bloom, and the wildlife is usually observed on the trails. Be it the Grassi Lakes, savoring the scenery of the Ha Ling Peak, or a boat ride across Barrier Lake, Kananaskis offers the whole mountain experience.

Best Car for the Trip: AWD Crossover

A compact crossover with all-wheel drive is ideal for gravel roads, trailheads, and spontaneous stops. It’s not too big, not too small — just right.

Need AWD? Mr. Rent a Car offers great options for all weather and terrain.

5. Fernie, BC – For Spring Skiing Fans

A little further along the same road out of Calgary, some 3.5 hours southwest, the mountain town of Fernie, British Columbia is a great way to visit anyway that one was in search of fresh powder and mountain flavor. Fernie is nestled in the Elk Valley, providing the best combination of adventure and small-town perfection. Fernie Alpine Resort boasts of a long ski season, deep snow and a wide terrain that appeals to both the casual cruisers and the experts who would love powder hounds. After March and early April, the slopes continue to be covered with snow, the days are sunny, and the lift lines are shorter, and the spring skiing experience cannot be beaten. Fernie has an old town, with warm-hearted locals that make the town appear relaxed and welcoming, but off the mountain there are numerous cozy cafes, craft breweries, and friendly locals that make the town so inviting. Carving turns, snowshoeing silent trails, or just taking in the mountain scenery: whatever your activity, Fernie provides that ideal combination of both spring adventure and alpine escape.

Best Car for the Trip: Full-Size SUV or 4×4

In case of mountain driving, and all your equipment, it is better to have a bigger SUV. The additional room and stability provide comfort on the long drives and the increased clearance and high handling provide confidence on the winding or the uneven roads. Traction and control is needed in Fernie where the rugged Lizard Range can impart some unexpected snow or slick mountain passes. An SUV with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive means that you will not have to be afraid of changing weather conditions because you can safely move up to the slopes or through backcountry trails. It is possible with the right vehicle, you can concentrate on the adventure, not the road ahead.

Visit the SUV collection of Mr. Rent a Car at the site of renting a car to have an equipped vehicle to use in the trip at www.mrrentacar.com.

Planning Tips for Your Spring Break Road Trip

• Book early: Spring break is a peak time for local travel. Don’t wait to reserve your car!
• Pack layers: Spring weather can flip between sunshine and snowfall — especially in the Rockies.
• Check road conditions: Use Alberta 511 before heading out.
• Plan for detours: The best road trips involve a little spontaneity. Renting a car gives you the freedom to change your plan on the fly.

Why Choose Mr. Rent a Car in Calgary?

Mr. Rent a Car isn’t just another car rental agency. We’re local experts who know Alberta’s roads, weather, and spring break quirks inside out. When you book with us, you get:

• A wide selection of vehicles including SUVs, sedans, crossovers, and luxury cars
• Easy pickup from Calgary International Airport
• Transparent pricing (no surprises)
• Friendly, local customer support
• Options tailored for BC and Alberta terrain

Final Thoughts

Your Calgary spring break escape does not need to take you too far or even costs a fortune to feel like a real escape. It doesn’t matter whether you are pursuing mountain peaks, canyon trails, or solitary lakes, it is important to make the trip personal. And begins with the right rental car. Whether it is a small crossover that is great on scenic drives in Kananaskis or an SUV that is designed to carve through the snows in the mountains in Banff or Fernie, what you drive is going to make your adventure what it is. The ability to pull over wherever the sight begs you on her path, a ditchy backroad, a roadside store, an unanticipated photo-op will make the trip just as significant as the place you will see. Then gear up, crank up your music playlist, and go to the open road, and your Alberta spring break is ready.

Ready to hit the road? If you are ready to start your spring break adventure now, just go to www.mrrentacar.com and get the right car to go where the freedom beckons.