Once a trail used by fur trappers, today’s Yellowhead Highway takes RVers across the vast plains of Canada. From the rugged country of Alberta to the ample lakes of Winnipeg, this trek will connect you to Canada’s pioneering past.

1. Whitecourt

Starting Point • Entertainment, Outdoor Recreation

Located on the Athabasca River, this delightful community offers plenty of ways to blow off steam. At nearby Carson–Pegasus Provincial Park, there’s swimming, hiking trails, beach volleyball, kayaking and canoeing. Bring your rod for fishing on the river, as well as in nearby creeks and lakes. Take a trip to the nearby Eagle River Casino and Travel Plaza for more good times.

2. Edmonton

Drive 112 miles, 1 hour, 54 minutes • Entertainment, Food, Shopping

Extending along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, Alberta’s lush and ebullient capital city plays host to a rich and diverse line-up of summer festivals and attractions. The largest indoor shopping center in North America, the West Edmonton Mall entices retailers to its 5 million square feet of retail and amusement park attractions. Just across from downtown, the Old Strathcona Theatre District is the city’s most dynamic neighborhood. Fort Edmonton Park is a living history destination that includes the reconstructed 1846 fort and streets from Edmonton’s early years.

Diamond Grove RV Campground • Edmonton, AB – (780)962-8003

Glowing Embers RV Park & Travel Centre • Edmonton, AB – (877)785-7275

Memory Lane Campground • Onoway, AB – (780)995-5555

Camp ‘N Class RV Park • Stony Plain, AB – (855)455-2299

3. Lloydminster

Drive 155 miles, 2 hours, 29 minutes • Entertainment, Food, Sports

Straddling the provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan, Lloydminster trumpets its Canadian heritage at every turn. Local restaurants purvey the finest local produce, and a robust festival calendar includes Colonial Days and the CPCA Chuckwagon Finals. The city’s cultural hub is the engaging Lloydminster Cultural & Science Centre, which spotlights art at the Imhoff Art Gallery and natural history at the Fuchs Wildlife Exhibit. Explore a 200-acre working cattle ranch in Graham Town.

4. North Battleford

Drive 86.1 miles, 1 hour, 19 minutes • History, Nature

Located in west-central Saskatchewan, North Battleford unfurls along the North Saskatchewan River. The Western Development Museum celebrates Saskatchewan’s agricultural heritage with engaging exhibits that spotlight the region’s indigenous culture and outlines Saskatchewan’s history from 1905 to 2005. Visitors can take a trip down an elevator shaft to a subterranean exhibit space that focuses on Saskatchewan’s mineral bounty.

5. Saskatoon

Drive 85.8 miles, 1 hour, 25 minutes • Entertainment, Food, Nature

Saskatoon — the region’s cultural and economic hub — blends a no- nonsense Western vibe with urban cool. The South Saskatchewan River flows through the heart of town, flanked by park-lined riverbanks that invite bikers, runners and rollerblades as kayakers paddle under the seven bridges that connect the east and west sides of the city. Along the city’s upbeat downtown streets, folks duck into a slew of hip restaurants, cafés, breweries and bars. Learn about the town’s pioneer past at the Western Development Museum, which features 1910 Boomtown, an indoor recreation of early 20th-century Saskatoon with 30 historical buildings.

Campland RV Resort • Saskatoon, SK – (306)477-7444

6. Yorkton

Drive 204 miles, 3 hours, 17 minutes • Entertainment, History

With lively streets dotted with heritage buildings, restaurants (the most per capita in North America) and a handful of museums, Yorkton is a welcoming prairie town with an infectious vitality. The town’s highlight is the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum, which engages visitors with exhibits that hone in on pioneer life on the prairies. It’s worth a stroll downtown to take in the town’s landmark buildings, which include the 1950s-era Yorkton Tower Theatre.

7. Portage la Prairie

Drive 228 miles, 3 hours, 48 minutes • Entertainment, Food, Quirky

There’s no shortage of superlatives to describe Portage La Prairie. It’s the sunniest town in Canada and also serves as the world’s “Strawberry Capital” — with ample u-pick farms. The town also is home to the largest Coca-Cola can on the planet (a former water tower). The town’s cultural life pivots around Heritage Square, which is flanked by Cinema Centre and the William Glesby Centre, a renowned performing arts space and gallery.

Miller’s Camping Resort • Portage La Prairie, MB – (204)857-4255

8. Winnipeg

Drive 52.7 miles, 1 hour, 11 minutes • Food, History, Shopping

Canada’s gateway to the west connects a slew of cultures into one vibrant tapestry. Museums and heritage centers honor local communities, ranging from First Nations Peoples to Icelandic settlers from the 1800s. In the heart of the city, the area now known as the Forks once served as a trading spot for local indigenous people as far back as 6,000 years ago. Today, the Forks encompasses a variety of visitor-friendly attractions, including a huge market featuring crafts and produce along with an array of parks. Dominating the skyline, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights sheds a spotlight on the universal struggle for justice and freedom.

Winnipeg West KOA • St Francois Xavier, MB – (800)562-0378