Badlands Motel stands at 801 North Dinosaur Trail in Drumheller, on the road that leads out to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Midland Provincial Park. It is a straightforward motel with a range of room sizes, from double rooms with two beds or a queen bed to larger suites, and the kitchenettes with a full-size refrigerator and freezer are the feature that sets it apart. That makes it practical for families, groups and longer stays, because you can keep food and drinks for the day, prepare simple meals and avoid eating out for every meal. Rooms also have air conditioning, a cable television and a shower and tub combination, and there is free Wi-Fi and free parking. An on-site restaurant means breakfast or dinner is close, and barbecue grills are available for guests who want to cook outdoors. The motel welcomes pets, with a limit of two per stay, and there is a deposit and a nightly fee, so ask about the current terms when you book. There is also parking for RVs, buses and trucks, which is useful if you are touring Alberta with a trailer or a larger vehicle. Check-in runs from the afternoon until late evening, with limited late arrival options, and check-out is at eleven in the morning. Breakfast is not described as included, so ask whether the restaurant serves it and when.
Location and getting around
The motel is on the northwest side of town, close to the Dinosaur Trail loop. Midland Provincial Park and the Royal Tyrrell Museum are a short drive away, and the Badlands Historical Centre is about five minutes by car. On foot you can reach the Homestead Antique Museum and a fossil shop in under ten minutes, and the World's Largest Dinosaur is roughly a sixteen-minute walk, so it is possible to see several sights without moving the car.
A vehicle is still the best way to reach the Hoodoos, Horseshoe Canyon and the east end of the valley.
The rooms
Several layouts are on offer, including double rooms that sleep four, a larger standard room and suites with different bed combinations that can sleep a group of eight. The size range makes the motel a good choice for extended families and for friends travelling together, though the details vary from room to room, so say how many people are in your party when you book. The kitchenettes are the main selling point, and the barbecue grills and RV parking suit travellers who like to be self-sufficient.
What is good to know
This is a motel rather than a resort, with no pool listed, so families who want a waterslide should look at the hotels on 2nd Street. Pet rules, including the limit and the fees, apply, so confirm them before you arrive with a dog. Late arrivals should tell the motel in advance. It suits budget-minded travellers, dog owners, road-trippers with trailers and anyone who wants to be close to the museum end of the valley.
Why stay here
- ✓Kitchenettes with full-size refrigerator
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Free parking
- ✓RV, bus and truck parking
- ✓On-site restaurant
- ✓Pet-friendly rooms (fees apply)
- ✓Barbecue grills
- ✓Air conditioning and cable television
Good questions
Where is Badlands Motel?+
It is at 801 North Dinosaur Trail in Drumheller, on the road towards the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Midland Provincial Park. The Homestead Antique Museum is within walking distance.
Does it accept pets?+
Yes, with a limit of two pets per stay. A deposit and a nightly fee apply, so confirm the terms with the motel when you book.
Is breakfast included?+
Breakfast is not described as included. There is an on-site restaurant, so ask what is served and when.
