Edmonton 
Do you need to get away but are short on time? Consider these 10 day trip ideas from Edmonton to nearby beaches, all aimed at keeping you cool in summer.
Long Lake Provincial Park Day Use Area
The quiet escape of Long Lake can include plenty of fun on the water and the perfect afternoon picnic. The beach and day-use area are expansive, with several picnic areas sheltered by large trees and equipped with open grills. And in the summer months, an onsite concession and general store can help you out with anything you possibly forgot on your day trip or a quick snack.
The swimming area is small, but so is the lake! The shallow parts go out for a way, and this makes for calmer floating conditions. While Long Lake is narrow, it is, of course, long! So, floating here requires paddles to ensure you end up back at the beach.
In addition to the beach and water activities, the lake is also surrounded by trails, with the park home to a variety of wildlife like beavers and birds. The swimming, floating, boating, and hiking all make Long Lake an attractive day trip, but it is also neat that you can take so many different ways from Edmonton to get here, and they all take about the same amount of driving time- take a new way each time you visit!
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1.5 to 2 hours
Crimson Lake Provincial Park Day Use Area
If you would like to end your day trip and beach outing with an epic sunset over the water, consider a drive from Edmonton to Crimson Lake. The west-facing beach area has everything you need to make the most of your day before the sun goes down, too. The picnic areas are spread throughout, with some offering shelter from those guaranteed evening thunderstorms, and more amenities like a concession, playground, and beach volleyball court.
The waters are clear and calm here on a warm summer day, and you can launch a floatie from the beach or from trails which loop the lake.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 2 to 2.5 hours
Garner Lake Provincial Park Day Use Area
The small beach at Garner Lake Provincial Park is a short drive from the town of Smoky Lake. Before you park for the day at the beach, there are several great spots in Smoky Lake to grab picnic groceries or takeout for a picnic. And once at Garner, there are several places for your picnic, including some with shelter and fire grills.
The lake permits fishing and powerboating, with a hand launch at the day use area that could also be used for canoes or kayaks. When you explore the lake on your boat, floatie, or motorboat, you can also watch for wildlife along the shores; you may see a deer.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1.5 to 2 hours
Pigeon Lake Provincial Park Day Use Area
There is a small summer village built around Ma-Me-O Beach and the Pigeon Lake Day Use Area. When you plan a trip here, you’ll be surrounded by several amenities and a few dining options along Range Rd. 11.
You can stop here first for fresh items at the Village Market, and takeout from Holey Grail Donuts & Bakery, Daisy McBean’s Ice Cream, or Village Pizza & Sub.
Visiting Pigeon can mean a relaxing day on the sand and in the water, or it can mean thrills on the lake: you can rent a variety of watercraft from Pigeon Lake Boat Rentals, including jet skis and motorboats, or paddle boats and kayaks.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1 to 1.5 hours
Wabamun Lake Provincial Park Day Use Area
Wabamun Lake is one of the most convenient beaches you could visit near Edmonton and provides hours’ worth of fun both on and off the water. The Provincial Park area has ample space for beach towels, umbrellas, and picnic blankets.
This is also a perfect place for floating, as the beach is in a small bay, away from the faster boats. If you do want to get on those faster boats though, the Wabamun Lake Marina has speed boats for rent, in addition to kayaks, pontoon boats, canoes, and fishing boats.
If you want some activity off the waters, you can play a round of volleyball, take the kids to the park, or grill a meal.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 30 to 60 minutes
Thunder Lake Provincial Park – Beach Area
North of Edmonton are several small towns and areas worth a stop and visit on your way to Thunder Lake and the beach.
You can stop to see the Pembina and Athabasca Rivers on either side of the lake, the Sangudo Sundial, or the giant Blue Heron of Barrhead. And once you’re here, you’ll notice the surroundings turn from farmland to dense forest. The tree-lined beach has several shady spots for the hottest days, an open field for field sports, and beach volleyball.
Thunder Lake beach also has a few enclosed spots on the water where you can lazily float without worrying about drifting too far from shore.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1.5 to 2 hours
Pembina River Provincial Park Day Use Area
Not all beach visits need to be at the lakes around Edmonton. The Pembina River beach and day-use park is a calm part of the river with sandy banks and shores that allow for ample picnic space. The beach area is on the southernmost part of the park’s river shores, with trailheads that take you along the river, to the campgrounds, and gorgeous viewpoints. This area is great for relaxing, picnics, and wading in the water. But if you prefer a river float, the Pembina River Tubing Company can help you explore by floatie.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1 to 1.5 hours
Aspen Beach Provincial Park – Ebeling Beach
The cooling waters of Gull Lake are pretty convenient for those in Edmonton. Gull’s Aspen Beach is expansive and can offer plenty of room for picnics, sports, or just relaxing in the sand. On any given hot day, you’ll see the swimming area filled with floaties, too, which you can pick up on your way in at the grocery store (in case you forgot!).
The beach’s boat launch was closed in 2021 due to low water levels but could be open this year with all the rain Alberta recently received.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1 to 1.5 hours
Carson Pegasus Provincial Park – McLeod Lake
McLeod Lake may be one of the most perfect lazy float locations within a short drive of Edmonton. The small lake is clear and calm, and usually pretty quiet. The park and campground are small, too, and this area is not nearly as populated as other lakes around Edmonton.
It makes for an especially quick day trip for anyone living in Northwest Edmonton, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, or Stony Plain, too. The beach itself is especially quiet due to its isolated location on the lake, where you’re sheltered from most wind, and facing west for the sunset- what a perfect end to a beach day.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 2 to 2.5 hours
You may like: Fun Things to Do at Whitney Lakes Provincial Park
Sylvan Lake
This one might seem obvious, but there are several reasons why you should day trip to Sylvan this summer and a few scheduled events around which to plan your trip, like Food Truck Thursdays, or the Farmers’ Market each Friday! Then there is, of course, all the water and beach fun like their unique Aqua Splash Park, a gigantic inflatable playground which floats on the water! If you’re looking for a lazier day at the beach, you can lie on a blanket or umbrella and swim or float around the large area.
Sylvan is a big lake, so you can get out and explore more of it with canoes, kayaks, SUPs, or powerboats. If you don’t own your own inflatables, there are stores steps from the beach where you can buy and inflate devices. If you are in search of bigger boats, head to Sunsport Recreation for a full lineup of watersport rentals.
There is a selection of free and paid parking around the beach and Lakeshore Drive, which fill up quickly on a nice day.
Where:
Drive time from Edmonton: 1.5 to 2 hours
