Day 9: July 5, 2025, Sweetgrass, MT → Calgary, AB
No reservations, no dress codes, no pretense—it’s the legendary Calgary Stampede, where grit, dust, and denim meet livestock and fried dough. Come as you are… and don’t forget your cowboy hat.
Part two of our vacation began in Canada. We crossed the border easily after declaring no tobacco, alcohol, or firearms. (It’s a good thing they don’t judge you on appearance because the amount of bedhead in this camper was at a threat level midnight.) We did admit to the bear spray, two bananas, and a half a quart of strawberries, but the border agent gave us the green light, and we throttled on toward Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where I left the lot in a Nissan Versa with a solid 40 minutes of solo audiobook time. Not a lot of alone time on this trip, so a stretch with the new Hunger Games prequel felt luxurious… and quiet. As fun as it is to ride in Kevin, she is one loud mama-jama.
We rolled into Calaway Campground and RV Park on the outskirts of Calgary, three vehicles deep. Every site, tent space, and spare patch of grass was packed with campers—it seems people come from everywhere for the Calgary Stampede. We decided to join the crowd.
But not before trading in the Versa for a rental with working turn signals (at this point, we expected the unexpected, so this was a mere blip on the radar). Enter: the electric-blue Mitsubishi Odyssey. Hail-pocked, with a hole in the bumper and a touchscreen that worked on nearly 75% of the surface —completely on brand for this trip.
The Stampede is Canada’s ten-day premier agricultural festival, affectionately known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” It draws over a million visitors annually and features one of the world’s largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing, and First Nations exhibitions. And it all takes place right in the heart of downtown Calgary. If Disney World and The Big E had a baby, it’d be the Stampede. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from—at the Stampede, you’re a cowboy.
Outfits ranged from broken-in Wranglers and Ariat boots to sequined miniskirts and raffia cowboy hats with cheetah-print bands. Anything goes. First Nations culture was also deeply honored—tipis were set up, pow-wows were held, and Indigenous arts, crafts, and traditions were proudly shared.
We happened to visit on the Stampede’s second full day—the first had been rained out. As luck would have it, Canada’s National Treasure, Shania Twain, was headlining that night. The people-watching? Elite. The crowds only grew as the day went on. We caught the rodeo and watched pony races, bronco riding, and steer wrestling. The competitors had names like Stran, Riggin, Lefty, and Gus. It was pure rodeo: lots of beer, boots, horses, and cows. And a whole lot of fun.
After we’d had our fill of livestock and fried food, we headed back to the campground for laundry and laziness. It was a good day—stress-free, carefree, and the perfect lead-in to the next chapter: Banff National Park.
End of Day Stats:
Mileage: 210 miles
States/Provinces Today: MT → AB
Rubber Ducks Deployed: 0 (honestly, we forgot)
Cowboy hats counted: nobody knows
Rental Cars: 2 Cue:Come As You Are by Nirvana—because everyone, from real ranchers to wide-eyed tourists, city-slickers to rodeo legends, shows up just as they are, and finds themselves part of something real.
Wandering, But Not Lost 