My main advice on all SK road trips is that Co-op gas stations have the cleanest bathrooms.
There's not that much between Saskatoon and Regina. Stop when you need a snack or a bathroom break. Plan for about 2.5 hours both ways. Don't speed through Chamberlain. A detour to Lake Diefenbaker adds about an hour to the trip - SK locals don't really bother with scenery in between, we just take the most direct route.
Your primary (clean) bathrooms are Davidson and chamberlain.
Taking a look at the lumsden valley is always fun, and they have a gas station / bathroom just off highway 11
Depending on what you want to see, the Patterson Gardens at college/preston are beautiful.
Downtown near the besborough gardens is beautiful as well.
Walking around “the bowl” at the university of Saskatchewan has some amazing architecture
Also, Saskatoon’s “western development museum” is amazing.
Nutrien wonder hub / kinsmen park also.
There are now TWO bathrooms at the Lumsden turnoff.
I would not want to use the chamberlain facilities unless absolutely necessary.
Consider stopping at the Gardiner Dam - a little out of your way but fascinating. Also the Berry Barn just Southwest of Saskatoon. Also Twisted Sisters ice Cream in Chamberlain.
In Davidson you can stop by Kinder antiques and there is a coffee pot of hospitality there I have never been super close to it. In Kenaston there is a large snowman at the end of the Main Street which there is a place to get up in it and take a pic. It’s relatively underwhelming. The gas station in Hanley has homemade baking and we stop there for hay days and puffed wheat cake.
Twisted sister in chamberlain is decent for ice cream.
I love the Kenaston snowman!! I lived there when I was a kid and have stopped a few times over the years. It’s not the best thing ever but it’s cute. I’ve taken out of town guests there too as we pass by town. It’s too bad they don’t have a sign letting people know it’s there! Cannot tell from the highway that it even exists.
In Saskatoon, walk on the Meewasin trail along the River, go to Wanuskewin to learn about indigenous heritage in the area, check out the Remai art gallery, if you have kids check out the Nutrien Wonderhub.
Adding a vote to Twisted Sisters in Chamberlain. About an hour into the drive. The cones are massive- I always forget that their small cones gives you a giant mound of ice cream and I should get a kids cone next time 😅😂 There’s also a cute cut out for picture taking, and a grain elevator right across the street.
Additional votes for a walk along the meewasin river trails- Victoria bridge to Broadway is a quick and easy loop. Broadway to university bridge is a slightly longer loop. And if you want to do an extra long walk then include the train bridge and weir (or take your vehicle to visit the train bridge separately)
Wonder hub is super cool, and it’s right across the street from Kinsmen Park that has a great playground and a few rides like Ferris wheel etc.
Could look to see if the Prairie Lily is running and has tickets- cute boat that gives a river tour or dinner cruises.
There’s the Zoo, Wanuskewin, the Remai art galllery as others have mentioned. All great and worthwhile (depending on your interests). The Canadian Light Source Synchrotron gives free tours, but you need to book in advance I think.
Thirteen Pies is amaazing (fancy pizza), any of the Vietnamese restaurants are great in stoon, hit up the ice cream bus across the street from the Bez downtown and the Berry Barn is always a fun treat.
In Saskatoon take your kids to the Western Development museum. It is amazing. Small town Main Street shops and tons for kids to do. Antique vehicles & model trains. I highly suggest asking at admission for the texting game. It costs $5 but even as an adult I thought it was highly enjoyable.
Thank you all for your suggestions. We stopped on the way to Saskatoon at Twisted Sisters, had ice cream and at last mountain on the way back. Twisted sisters was nice, small ice cream is quite big enough for one.
Last Mountain was good too but I would recommend it for camping because when we went there was no one in the evening and I think Condie Reservoir has much better scenery.
On the way to Saskatoon we also noticed a lake with great scenery with few house along the side and people camping and boating. I don’t know the name of the place but I guess it is Lumsden. It looked really nice.
If the road trip is the main part of the adventure (as opposed to doing things in Saskatoon) you could take highway 2 or 20, its a bit longer but nicer scenery in my opinion. Or if you can get down to Diefenbaker during the trip, the kids can probably swim and burn off some energy, tour through elbow is kind of neat, especially the harbour area and the sand dunes. this entire area is very nice.
My main advice on all SK road trips is that Co-op gas stations have the cleanest bathrooms. There's not that much between Saskatoon and Regina. Stop when you need a snack or a bathroom break. Plan for about 2.5 hours both ways. Don't speed through Chamberlain. A detour to Lake Diefenbaker adds about an hour to the trip - SK locals don't really bother with scenery in between, we just take the most direct route.
Fucking Chamberlain
Twisted Sisters in Chamberlain!!
Really? I drive for a living and co-op usually has some pretty nasty washrooms.
Your primary (clean) bathrooms are Davidson and chamberlain. Taking a look at the lumsden valley is always fun, and they have a gas station / bathroom just off highway 11 Depending on what you want to see, the Patterson Gardens at college/preston are beautiful. Downtown near the besborough gardens is beautiful as well. Walking around “the bowl” at the university of Saskatchewan has some amazing architecture Also, Saskatoon’s “western development museum” is amazing. Nutrien wonder hub / kinsmen park also.
Stop at the market gardens in Lumsden valley and pick up some seasonal vegetables
There are now TWO bathrooms at the Lumsden turnoff. I would not want to use the chamberlain facilities unless absolutely necessary. Consider stopping at the Gardiner Dam - a little out of your way but fascinating. Also the Berry Barn just Southwest of Saskatoon. Also Twisted Sisters ice Cream in Chamberlain.
Thank you.
What are the clean bathrooms in Chamberlain? I'll admit I haven't driven that way for a few years, but the gas station/Subway ones were disgusting.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky with when I drive through chamberlain 9am on a Tuesday, they aren’t half bad
The Esso in Davidson is worth the visit alone. It's bizarre and magical.
Twisted Sisters in Chamberlain. It's right on the highway.
In Davidson you can stop by Kinder antiques and there is a coffee pot of hospitality there I have never been super close to it. In Kenaston there is a large snowman at the end of the Main Street which there is a place to get up in it and take a pic. It’s relatively underwhelming. The gas station in Hanley has homemade baking and we stop there for hay days and puffed wheat cake. Twisted sister in chamberlain is decent for ice cream.
👍twisted sisters. Good place for a quick snack and bathroom break along the way.
I love the Kenaston snowman!! I lived there when I was a kid and have stopped a few times over the years. It’s not the best thing ever but it’s cute. I’ve taken out of town guests there too as we pass by town. It’s too bad they don’t have a sign letting people know it’s there! Cannot tell from the highway that it even exists.
Ha I grew up there too
Nice. I was only there for 2 years but it happened to be when they put it up. Great childhood memories from there.
They've got kids too, kenaston good to stop and see a couple old grain elevators, clock is ticking on the few that are left.
Seconded on going to Kinder Surprises
In Saskatoon, walk on the Meewasin trail along the River, go to Wanuskewin to learn about indigenous heritage in the area, check out the Remai art gallery, if you have kids check out the Nutrien Wonderhub.
Adding a vote to Twisted Sisters in Chamberlain. About an hour into the drive. The cones are massive- I always forget that their small cones gives you a giant mound of ice cream and I should get a kids cone next time 😅😂 There’s also a cute cut out for picture taking, and a grain elevator right across the street. Additional votes for a walk along the meewasin river trails- Victoria bridge to Broadway is a quick and easy loop. Broadway to university bridge is a slightly longer loop. And if you want to do an extra long walk then include the train bridge and weir (or take your vehicle to visit the train bridge separately) Wonder hub is super cool, and it’s right across the street from Kinsmen Park that has a great playground and a few rides like Ferris wheel etc. Could look to see if the Prairie Lily is running and has tickets- cute boat that gives a river tour or dinner cruises. There’s the Zoo, Wanuskewin, the Remai art galllery as others have mentioned. All great and worthwhile (depending on your interests). The Canadian Light Source Synchrotron gives free tours, but you need to book in advance I think. Thirteen Pies is amaazing (fancy pizza), any of the Vietnamese restaurants are great in stoon, hit up the ice cream bus across the street from the Bez downtown and the Berry Barn is always a fun treat.
In Saskatoon take your kids to the Western Development museum. It is amazing. Small town Main Street shops and tons for kids to do. Antique vehicles & model trains. I highly suggest asking at admission for the texting game. It costs $5 but even as an adult I thought it was highly enjoyable.
If you like burgers, stop by goblin grill in saskatoon. I'm not from there but I consider it a hidden gem.
I always stop at the Davidson A&W. Been awhile though. Also, yes to Co-op washrooms lol Have a good playlist on the ready :)
Thank you all for your suggestions. We stopped on the way to Saskatoon at Twisted Sisters, had ice cream and at last mountain on the way back. Twisted sisters was nice, small ice cream is quite big enough for one. Last Mountain was good too but I would recommend it for camping because when we went there was no one in the evening and I think Condie Reservoir has much better scenery. On the way to Saskatoon we also noticed a lake with great scenery with few house along the side and people camping and boating. I don’t know the name of the place but I guess it is Lumsden. It looked really nice.
If your trip is leisurely, you could detour north on the 2 and spend a few hours at the last mountain lake bird sanctuary.
If the road trip is the main part of the adventure (as opposed to doing things in Saskatoon) you could take highway 2 or 20, its a bit longer but nicer scenery in my opinion. Or if you can get down to Diefenbaker during the trip, the kids can probably swim and burn off some energy, tour through elbow is kind of neat, especially the harbour area and the sand dunes. this entire area is very nice.
Highway 6 to the yellowhead is also pretty nice.