Day 12: July 8, 2025 – Banff, Alberta to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Beginning the long road home hits like a gut punch—the kind that feels both inevitable and a little heartbreaking. With every mile eastward, the mountains faded in the rearview mirror, replaced by rolling hills and endless skies. It was a quiet kind of day—reflective, steady, and full of that familiar post-adventure ache. But as we made our way toward Moosejaw, there was peace in the motion and comfort in the company. The trip is winding down, but the memories are etched in deep. On this road, nothing else matters.
We officially began the long journey home today. This stretch of the trip can easily feel long and a little depressing if you’re not intentional with how you spend it. We made sure to build in plenty of time for the return so the days wouldn’t feel rushed or heavy. There’s so much to take in if you’re willing to slow down and look for it—and that’s exactly what we did. Lots of stops (just pulling off on the side of the road – not too many roadside attractions on the Great Plains of Canada), lots of time to stretch, sightsee, snack, and settle into the rhythm of the road.
Our first travel day brought us across the wide-open plains of midwestern Canada. Salt flats, coal mining operations, and fields of grain filled the landscape. The roads were flat, smooth, and often empty—we went hours at times without passing another vehicle. Near Medicine Hat, we saw a large metal tipi from the highway. This was originally built for the 1988 Calgary Olympics and relocated to Medicine Hat to mark the Saamis Archeological Site. Around dinnertime, we pulled off for a classic A&W stop, grabbing burgers and frosty mugs of root beer.
We rolled into Moosejaw, Saskatchewan by early evening, with enough time to make a grocery run at the Canadian Superstore (think: the Walmart of Canada). Grocery stores are one of my favorite road trip stops—I love checking out local brands and picking up a few surprises. This round’s haul included ketchup chips (delicious), purple kernel popcorn (just like regular popcorn, but with cool-colored kernels), and a few gallons of water to get us through the next few travel days.
At the last minute, we swapped our original Harvest Host stay for a KOA Journey right in Moosejaw. With the Jeep still out of commission, we didn’t want the hassle of detaching it in a parking lot. No complaints about the change—it meant long, hot showers and no need to run the generator. (My hearing has taken a real hit between the roar of Kevin’s cab and the generator on nights we’re boondocking.)
Before settling in for the night, we took a quick lap around the no-frills campground. Alyssa and Marlie were introduced to some “old-school” playground equipment: a half-broken merry-go-round, a springless metal seesaw, and a pair of swings—one of which was missing the seat, leaving only the exposed metal frame (which promptly ripped the zipper off Alyssa’s shorts). Rob and I gave a crash course in how to use this retro (read: deadly) playground setup and stood by nervously while the girls experimented, crossing our fingers that no one would need a tetanus shot or leave with their teeth in a bag. Good times.
End of Day Stats:
Mileage: 545 miles
Provinces Visited: 2
Canadian Businesses Visited: 2
Cue: Nothing Else Matters by Metallica – for a leg of the trip that was all about slowing down, letting go of the rush, and being present in the moment on the long road home.
Wandering, But Not Lost 