Fort McMurray is a riverside township nestled in a naturally resplendent pocket of Alberta, where tranquil rivers and lakes sit alongside wildlife reserves and family-friendly parks. Along with a heritage shipyard, Fort McMurray features an engaging museum on the region’s unique oil sands and a central shopping and dining hub.

Things to do

Don’t miss out on exploring the thriving heart of Fort McMurray, which centres around the expansive Peter Pond Mall. Inside you’ll find national stores, including Real Canadian Superstore, Sport Chek Fort McMurray and Foot Locker, along with Montana's BBQ & Bar and Cosmos Pizza. Head to the nearby Boomtown Casino to test your luck on slot machines and poker tables.

Looking for a place to relax by the river? Head to the J. Howard Pew Memorial Family Park or tee off at the Fort McMurray Golf Club. The latter features a championship 18-hole course, on-site restaurant and a practice driving range. If you’ve got the kids with you, head to MacDonald Island Park for rock climbing walls, swimming pools, basketball courts and water slides.

Discover more about the region’s oil sands at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, which features multimedia displays, interactive demonstrations and films on the area’s oil-sands resources. Afterwards, head to the Fort McMurray Heritage Shipyard to explore historic ships while learning about the town’s shipping past.

If you’re visiting during winter, drive about 25 minutes to the Vista Ridge All Seasons Park, where sports enthusiasts of all skill levels can enjoy skiing and snowboarding down seven groomed trails. During summer, the park has a challenging high ropes course and zip-lining.

Getting around

Fort McMurray is about 20 minutes’ drive from Fort McMurray International Airport and has regular long-distance Greyhound Canada and Red Arrow buses. You can get around parts of Fort McMurray on foot, while public buses and taxis cover longer distances.