Moving from Calgary to Edmonton (or Vice Versa): The Complete QE2 Corridor Guide

The Calgary-Edmonton corridor is the busiest inter-city moving route in western Canada. At roughly 300 km along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, it connects Alberta’s two largest metros — Calgary (population 1.84 million) and Edmonton (population 1.69 million). Both were among Canada’s fastest-growing cities in 2025 (Statistics Canada). Our crews handle this route more than any other long-distance move. Here is everything we have learned about planning it well.

What a Corridor Move Costs

A Calgary-to-Edmonton move (or vice versa) typically costs between $2,000 and $4,500 for a full household, depending on home size, volume, and services:

• Studio / 1-bedroom: $1,500 – $2,200

• 2-bedroom home: $2,200 – $3,200

• 3-bedroom home: $2,800 – $4,000

• 4+ bedroom home: $3,500 – $5,000+

These ranges cover full-service moves (loading, transport, unloading). Packing services, specialty items (pianos, hot tubs, gun safes), and storage add to the total. For detailed local pricing at each end, see our Calgary moving costs guide. For a personalized flat rate based on your estimated volume, get a free quote with both addresses — no surprises on move day.

The QE2: Alberta’s Busiest Highway

Route Overview

The Queen Elizabeth II Highway runs 261 km as a divided six-lane freeway between north Calgary and south Edmonton — though a four-lane bottleneck through Red Deer is being widened to eight lanes. The QE2 was named for Queen Elizabeth II on May 23, 2005, during Alberta’s centennial celebrations — the first highway in Canada to bear her name. Drive time in a passenger vehicle is approximately 3 hours; a loaded moving truck takes 3.5 to 4 hours.

Key Stops Along the Way

• Airdrie (30 min north of Calgary) — Last major fuel stop heading north. 80,000 vehicles pass through the nearby Balzac interchange daily.

• Gasoline Alley / Red Deer (midpoint, ~1.5 hours) — The natural rest stop with fuel, food, and services. This is where most people pull over on the corridor.

• Ponoka, Lacombe, Wetaskiwin — Smaller towns with basic services. Speed limits drop through these communities.

• Leduc (30 min south of Edmonton) — Gateway to the Edmonton metro. The new $122 million 65 Avenue interchange opened October 24, 2025, projected to save 6.8 million hours annually for commercial vehicles on the QE2.

2026 Construction

The QE2 through Red Deer is undergoing the largest expansion in its history. Three active projects to know about:

• CN Railway Overpass (Section A): Two new three-lane bridges replacing the original two-lane bridges built in the 1960s. Construction began late 2025, completion expected fall 2027.

• Red Deer widening (Section C): Widening from four to eight lanes between the 32 Street and 67 Street interchanges, including two new Red Deer River bridges. Design concluding 2027.

• Balzac interchange (Highway 566): A $148 million provincially funded interchange north of Calgary. Construction underway, completion estimated 2027–2028.

For construction impacts in the cities at each end, see our Calgary road construction guide.

Speed Limits and Enforcement

The posted speed limit is 110 km/h on QE2 freeway segments. As of April 1, 2025, photo radar has been banned on all numbered provincial highways in Alberta — restricted to school zones, playground zones, and construction zones only. The number of photo radar sites across the province dropped by 70%, from approximately 2,200 to 650.

Alberta is considering a 120 km/h pilot on select Highway 2 sections in 2026. In a government survey of 59,000 Albertans, 68% supported the increase. A cautionary data point: when British Columbia raised rural highway speeds to 120 km/h in 2014, a UBC study found fatal crashes increased by 118%.

Winter on the QE2

The QE2 is well-maintained, but blowing snow and black ice make it one of Alberta’s most dangerous winter corridors. Between January and November 2025, RCMP recorded 211 collisions on Highway 2 between Airdrie and Calgary alone — including 7 fatal crashes (RCMP data).

On December 17, 2025, an 80-to-100-vehicle pileup closed the QE2 in both directions south of Airdrie during a whiteout. RCMP issued a province-wide advisory against all travel. The Olds-to-Carstairs segment is particularly notorious — winds sweep across open farmland with no windbreaks, creating zero-visibility conditions in seconds.

What this means for your move:

• Always have a backup date for moves between November and March

• Check 511 Alberta the morning of your move for road conditions and closures

• Calgary can be clear and sunny while Edmonton is −30°C with blowing snow — the weather at each end can be completely different

• Alberta has no mandatory winter tire law, but winter tires are strongly recommended when temperatures drop below 7°C (winter tire laws by province)

For seasonal advice at each end, see our Calgary winter moving guide.

Calgary vs Edmonton at a Glance

Housing

Calgary’s total residential benchmark price averaged $577,492 in 2025 (CREB). Edmonton’s average residential selling price was $454,981 in December 2025, up 4.7% year-over-year (REALTORS Association of Edmonton). The gap: Edmonton homes are roughly $120,000 – $170,000 cheaper depending on property type. For someone on the median family income, a 20% down payment takes approximately 17.5 months of income in Calgary versus 12.5 months in Edmonton (Fraser Institute, 2023 data). Our Calgary rental market guide and fastest-growing communities guide cover the housing picture in more detail.

Rent

Calgary one-bedroom rents average approximately $1,600/month (down from the 2024 peak), with a purpose-built vacancy rate of 5.0%. Edmonton one-bedroom rents average approximately $1,300/month, with a vacancy rate of 3.8% (CMHC 2025). The gap: Edmonton rents are $300 – $500/month lower across unit types.

Transit

Calgary’s CTrain has 2 lines covering ~60 km. Adult fare: $3.80 (2025). Monthly pass: $126 (2026). Edmonton’s LRT has 3 lines covering ~37 km, with the Valley Line Stage 2 under construction. Monthly fare cap via Arc card: $102 (2025).

Climate

Calgary’s January average is −7.6°C. Frequent chinook winds can raise temperatures 20°C+ in hours, melting snow and creating brief winter thaws. Edmonton’s January average is −10.3°C — snow arrives in October and stays until April. Edmonton is colder but more stable; Calgary’s weather swings are dramatic but winters feel shorter.

Economy and Lifestyle

Calgary (pop. 1.84 million) is the corporate energy headquarters hub — Suncor, TC Energy, Enbridge, CNRL, and Cenovus are all based here. It is 90 minutes from Banff and the Canadian Rockies. Edmonton (pop. 1.69 million) is the provincial capital and operations hub for northern resource industries. It has North America’s largest urban parkland (7,400+ hectares of river valley, 22 times the size of Central Park). Unemployment rates are similar: 6.7% in Calgary and 6.8% in Edmonton (January 2026, Alberta Economic Dashboard).

What Changes When You Switch Cities

Calgary and Edmonton are both in Alberta, so provincial matters — driver’s licence class, health card, tenant rights under the Residential Tenancies Act — stay the same. But several things change.

Utilities

• Electricity: Calgary uses ENMAX; Edmonton uses EPCOR. ENMAX needs 3 business days notice (regulated rate customers) or 30 days (contract customers). EPCOR needs 3–5 business days and charges a $25 new account fee.

• Natural gas: ATCO Gas serves both cities. Your plan can move with you — give 5 days notice. Plans can be paused up to 90 days between residences if there is a gap.

• Water: Calgary water is billed through ENMAX. Edmonton water is billed through EPCOR. Same concept, different company.

• Internet: Rogers (formerly Shaw, merger completed April 2023) and Telus both serve both cities with no significant coverage gap — check postal code availability for fibre.

For step-by-step utility setup instructions, see our Calgary utilities guide.

Address Changes

• Driver’s licence: Must be updated within 14 days at an Alberta registry agent (in person only)

• Vehicle registration: Same visit, same 14-day deadline, $7 fee. No vehicle inspection required for moves within Alberta.

• AHCIP health card: Notify Alberta Health within 30 days (registry, mail, or phone)

• CRA: Update as soon as possible via My Account — delays can mean missed benefit payments going to your old address

• Canada Post: Set up mail forwarding ($55–$98) to cover the transition

How Move Day Works

A typical corridor move follows this pattern:

• Morning: Crew arrives at your origin address. Loading takes 2–5 hours depending on home size.

• Midday: Truck departs. The 300 km drive takes 3.5–4 hours with a loaded truck.

• Afternoon/evening: Arrive at destination. Unloading takes 1.5–3 hours.

Most corridor moves are completed in a single day. For very large homes (4+ bedrooms with a full garage), the move may extend into evening or require a two-day schedule.

Logistics You Should Know

• Fuel: A loaded 26-foot truck burns approximately 24–29 litres per 100 km on diesel. Budget $105–$135 for the one-way trip at current Alberta diesel prices.

• Weigh stations: Vehicles with a gross weight over 4,500 kg must stop at weigh stations when the indicator lights are flashing. A 26-foot rental truck (~11,800 kg GVWR) exceeds this threshold.

• Noise bylaws: Load and unload between 7 AM and 10 PM in both cities. Calgary allows a 9 AM start on Sundays and holidays (Calgary noise bylaw, Edmonton noise bylaw).

• Condo elevators: Book the freight elevator at both the departing and arriving buildings as soon as your date is confirmed — most require 2–4 weeks notice. See our Calgary condo moving rules guide for a full checklist.

When to Move

Best months: October or late April/May. Pleasant driving weather, good daylight, and off-peak pricing. See our best and worst times to move guide for seasonal pricing data.

Worst months: July (peak moving season combined with the Calgary Stampede and Edmonton’s K-Days) and January–February (extreme cold and highway closures).

Best days: Tuesday or Wednesday. Less highway traffic, better crew availability, lower rates.

Avoid: Long weekends — especially Canada Day and August long weekend — when the QE2 is packed with recreational traffic headed to lake country and the mountains.

Common Mistakes on This Route

• Not checking the weather. Calgary can be clear while Edmonton is in a blizzard, or vice versa. Always check 511 Alberta before your truck departs.

• Forgetting elevators at both ends. If you are moving from a condo to a condo, you need to book freight elevators at both buildings. If either booking falls through, the entire move stalls.

• Utility timing gaps. Do not cancel ENMAX or EPCOR on move day and expect same-day activation at the other end. Overlap your accounts by a few days — arriving to a home with no power or heat in an Alberta winter is not just inconvenient, it is dangerous.

• Ignoring address deadlines. The 14-day deadline for your driver’s licence and vehicle registration is a legal requirement. Visit a registry agent in your first week — you can do licence, registration, and health card updates in a single visit.

• Not clearing snow and ice. For winter moves, salt and sand the pathways at both properties before the crew arrives. Frozen truck ramps and icy walkways cause injuries and delays.

Calgary and Edmonton Moving Guides

We have written in-depth guides for both ends of the corridor. Here is everything in one place:

• How Much Does It Cost to Move in Calgary? — pricing by home size, distance, and add-on services

• Best and Worst Times to Move in Calgary — seasonal data and day-of-week pricing trends

• Calgary Condo and Apartment Moving Rules — elevator booking, COI, deposits, and floor protection

• Calgary Road Construction and Detours 2026 — active projects and route planning

• Moving to Calgary: Newcomer Guide — housing, transit, healthcare, and settling in

• Setting Up Utilities After Moving to Calgary — ENMAX, ATCO, water, internet, and waste collection

• Moving in Calgary During Winter — chinook factor, road conditions, and timing

• Calgary Moving Day Parking Permits — road use permits, fees, and enforcement

• Pre-Move Decluttering in Calgary — where to donate, recycle, and dispose

• Calgary Rental Market 2026 — vacancy rates, average rents, and neighbourhood breakdown

• Calgary’s Fastest-Growing Communities 2026 — Cornerstone, Glacier Ridge, Livingston, Seton, Legacy, and more

• Calgary Storage Solutions — what to know when you need temporary storage during your move

Ready to make the corridor move? Get a free quote with both addresses — we will provide a flat rate based on your estimated volume, so there are no surprises on move day. We have full crews in both Calgary and Edmonton, making the QE2 our most efficient long-distance route.