Oyen

Oyen is a small town of 1,000 people (2016) in the Alberta badlands, Canada.

Understand

Oyen is likely to be encountered by travellers as a stopping point on a car journey between Calgary and Saskatoon. It is a supply centre for the extensive grain farms in the area and for oil and gas workers.

Oyen is the service centre for a large but sparsely populated dryland farming area. In the surrounding area wheat, barley, and canola are important crops, and beef cattle are raised.

Climate

Oyen experiences a semi-arid climate. Winters are long, cold and dry, while summers are short and warm. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of 322 mm, and is heavily concentrated in the warmer months. Oyen's precipitation is narrowly below being a humid continental climate, a type it closely resembles in terms of yearly temperatures.

Get in

Oyen is close to the Saskatchewan boundary, north of Medicine Hat. The town is on Highway 41, 4.5 km (2.8 mi) south of its junction with Highway 9. It is the first major centre within Alberta for travellers entering from Saskatchewan.

Oyen is 397 km southeast of Edmonton, 327 km east of Calgary and 298 km west of Saskatoon. Oyen is about 187 km north of Medicine Hat and approximately 315 km north of the US border.

There is a major highway rest stop north of the town at the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 9. It has a service station, A&W restaurant, a motel and a visitor information centre operated by Travel Alberta.

There is Oyen Municipal Airport 1 km south of the town. It has no scheduled flights.

Get around

Ask for directions to the nearest Light Rapid Transit station. That's sure to get a laugh.

See

In the area around, look for pronghorn antelope.

• Oyen Crossroads Museum, 312 - 1st Ave. East, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. May-Aug: Tu-Sa 9:30AM-noon & 12:30PM-5PM, or by appointment. 9 unique buildings, and exhibits from a cross-section of eras. Experience life on the prairies in the 1900s with a one-room school house, a 1915 period house, a Blacksmith Shop, a beautiful Ukrainian Church, and many other exhibits. The Wooden Tepee houses a large collection of First Nations (Aboriginal) artifacts and geological finds. (updated Apr 2018).

Do

Oyen has a golf course, an arena, curling rink, and outdoor pool.

Buy

• Oyen Flowers and Giftware & The Coffee Corner, 113 Main St, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 10AM-5:30PM. Flowers, gifts, coffee shop. (updated Apr 2018)

Eat

• The Barn Pub & Grill, Highway 9 & 41, ☎ [phone]. Su-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-noon. Burgers, steaks, tacos, wings. Mains $13-26. (updated Apr 2018)
• Tumbleweed Restaurant, 105 1st Ave E, ☎ [phone]. M-F 9AM-9PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. (updated Apr 2018)
• The 90's Restaurant, 204 Main St. Su-F 11AM-8PM. Chinese and Canadian food. (updated Apr 2018)

Drink

Sleep

• Canalta Oyen, Junction Hwy 9 & 41, ☎ [phone]. Pet friendly (fee), in room Keurig, kitchenettes, microwaves, suites available, air conditioned, wheelchair accessible rooms, free parking, fitness centre, business centre, free breakfast, free high speed Wi-Fi From $258. (updated Apr 2018)
• Antelope Inn Motel, 316 1st Ave. East, ☎ [phone]. Free WiFi, pet-friendly, free private parking. Each room at this motel is air conditioned and is equipped with a TV. Every room has a private bathroom. (updated Apr 2018)

Connect

Go next

The road south leads to Medicine Hat.

Routes through Oyen

Calgary ← Drumheller ←

W  E

→ becomes → Kindersley → Saskatoon