NUFARM in CALGORY, ALB

Hey, I live in Lethbridge, Alberta. Unfortunately, for a city its size there isn't a truckstop!!!

There is a decent one in Nanton, Alberta. It is right on the highway coming into the south end of town. I'm trying to remember the brand of gas station....I think its an Esso. There is a large parking lot that is rarely full, and a Humpty's restaurant is there too. It will be on the left side of the road when you head north into Nanton. Its right on the edge of town and you can't miss it.

Nanton is a quick drive to Calgary, so you can easily time that last part of the trip to get you into Calgary after rush hour.

If you want to knock 10-15 minutes off the trip between Lethbridge and Calgary....cut north on highway 23 (towards Vulcan) and then cut west on 519 towards Granum. That 519 will take you through Granum and spits you back out on the number 2 to go north to Calgary.

If you look on the map, that shortcut makes it so you don't head southwest, then back north again. In good weather its great, and even in bad weather it gets maintained pretty decent as a lot of commuters take that road every day. Just be sure to watch your speed going into Granum because the bears setup watch there quite often! I just took this route yesterday and travel was great. (But the bears caught a truck that was speeding through there).

.....or you could just take the easy way (a bit longer) and run number 3 west out of lethbridge and number 2 north.

as far as roadside turnouts.....shortly after you cross the border there is on on the right side of the road, between milk river and sterling I beleive??? There is 1 or two between Lethbridge and Fort Macleod. In Claresholm there is a weigh scale that is rarely used, but you can pull in there and park. Its on the north edge of claresholm on your right when you drive in there. Follow the speed limit in these towns because there are often speed traps!

Also, if you want a Calgary radio station to listen to for traffic info..... 92.1 is the popular rock station in Calgary and during morning and supper rush hour they do offer decent road info (accidents, traffic jams, etc.) or you can listen to 98.5 if you like pop/rap.

have a safe trip!!

 

There's lots of truck parking on the north side of Milk River (first town north of the border) beside the car/truck wash. Lot's of parking around the Tim Horton's in Lethbridge on 34 Street (the truck bypass). Yes, it's an Esso on the south side of Nanton. Closer to Calgary is the Petro-Pass at Aldersyde (where highways 2 & 7 meet--west side of #2) where they just opened up a whole bunch of new parking and there's an A&W (but I think the A&W doesn't open until 7 a.m.). You're about 30-45 minutes from your drop there. There's a Flying J on the south-side of Calgary at Barlow Trail and another one (an affiliate branded as Road King...but I don't like it at all) and an Esso at 50 Avenue & Barlow (take the Peigan Trail exit off the #2; AKA: Deerfoot and/or QE II and turn right [south] on Barlow).

If it were me, I would stop at the Petro-Pass and then head on in the morning. Just beware there's a lot of commuter traffic from that area. Just north of there you'll see a major split in the highway, stay to the right (Deerfoot/QE II). I would take the turn north on Barlow (by the Flying J...alternate stop, but the access sucks somewhat as the lights are waaaay too short) and then go north to Glenmore, west to Blackfoot, north to 58 Avenue, west to 1 Street, north to destination. There is no direct NB Deerfoot to WB Glenmore and the route is a PITA.

Take the short-cut ... it's good 2-lane. Just be aware that part of the province gets a lot of strong west winds.

 

if your going to be in calgary today, i suggest the flying j or the esso on barlow. the truck stops in calgary fill up early on sunday afternoon, the other stops they have mentioned out of calgary are ok if you just want a place to sleep but don't have all the services that you are used to.

 

Never understood the way they set up that interchange the way they have you exit through the auto mall to go west onto Glemore from Deerfoot northbound. Now with all the construction it's even worse.

If you have lots of life in you after getting out of Coutts AB, you try to make it to Calgary because there is no scales to really worry about after the port of entry all the way up there. Just watch your speed in towns and you can float around 65mph/105 on the 2 lanes, and on 4 lanes it's about 75mph/110, but even at those speeds you will notice your getting passed a lot by others.

If by chance you miss any turns while heading north to save the 15mins don't worry there is lots of other roads and the route you will be on does head to Calgary via 2 lane that is good running, even has a bit of truck stop in Vulcan but the cafe closes early I believe.

 

We're on metric time.











Okay, we're really on MST (mountain).



P.S. It's Calgary.