Fort McMurray is the largest community in the Athabasca Oil Sands in Alberta. It lost its city status in 1995 when it merged with a large rural area to form the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and its fortunes have risen and fallen in lockstep with the price of Alberta crude oil; its structures were decimated by a May 2016 wildfire.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Fort McMurray was established as a Hudson's Bay Company post by 1870; the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway arrived in 1915 complementing existing steamboat service. By 1966, this tiny town had 2000 people. Since then, the fate of Fort McMurray has been closely tied to that of Canada's oil sands industry. Suncor, Syncrude, Albian Sands, CNRL, OptiNexen and Deer Creek operate oil sands camps north and southeast of town. When world oil prices were high, population rose (an estimated 88,000 people) while housing costs and average wages in "Fort McMoney" skyrocketed.
Fort McMurray is a loose cluster of several dozen subdivisions, many having only one entry/exit. Most subdivisions are pedestrian friendly, however to travel from one part of town to the other end, a vehicle is definitely recommended. Fort McMurray has an extensive public transit system, Wood Buffalo Transit, with 9 routes that reach most areas of the city. The cash fare (August 2025) is $2.25, seniors (65+) and children under 5 ride free. A rural bus service also runs to Anzac, Gregoire Lakes, Janvier, Conklin, and Fort McKay. Taxi cabs are easily available.
1 Oil Sands Discovery Centre, 515 MacKenzie Blvd, ☏ +1 780-743-7167. Off season: Tue-Sun 10AM-4PM; mid-May to early Sep: daily 9AM-5PM. History of the oil sands and the rapid pace of development north of the city, exhibits of machines used to process the oil and opportunities to see how oil sand is mined and converted into product. $8/person, $25/family, 20% CAA/AAA discount. Fort McMurray Tourism (located in the Oil Sands Discovery Centre), ☏ +1-800-565-3947. Schedules tours of Syncrude or Suncor, the main oil sand plants, from May to September. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance (one week to 10 days advance booking recommended). Children under 12 are not allowed on the tour.
Various national chains are present, including Boston Pizza, Earls Kitchen + Bar, The Keg Steakhouse and Montana's. 1 The Fish Place, 412 Thickwood Blvd, ☏ +1 780-791-4040. Licensed steak and seafood restaurant; Canadian foods with a touch of international flair. 2 Fuji Japanese Restaurant, 8706 Franklin Ave, ☏ +1 780-788-2128, fax: +1 780-788-2128. 3 Kozy Korner Family Restaurant, 8802 Franklin Ave, ☏ +1 780-743-3268. Home-cooked style food. 4 Yoshi Japanese Restaurant, 9612 Franklin Ave, ☏ +1 780-790-3440. Sushi, seafood.
The legal drinking age in Alberta is 18. 1 Black Horse Pub, 8-700 Signal Rd, ☏ +1 780-790-0525. 11AM-2AM. 2 East Village Pub & Eatery, 101-395 Loutit Rd, ☏ +1 587-276-2238. Daily 10AM-11PM. (updated May 2020) 3 Paddy McSwiggins, 320 Thickwood Blvd, ☏ +1 780-791-7842. An Irish pub in Thickwood. 4 Tavern On Main, 9708 Main St, ☏ +1 780-791-7006. 11AM-2AM. A smaller tavern located about a block north of the Peter Pond Shopping Centre.
Fort McMurray can be known for its brutally cold winters. Temperatures can sometimes drop to -35° or -45°C. It is very important that your vehicle is winterised and the engine block heater plugged in. Don't forget to bundle up! When in Fort McMurray, be bear aware. Any open or accessible food or garbage will attract black bears, many of them displaced from their usual habitats by the May 2016 wildfire. Alberta Fish and Wildlife's "report a poacher" snitch line (☏ +1 403-297-6423 or ☏ +1-800-642-3800) is accepting reports of bear sightings in populated areas. 1 Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, 7 Hospital St, ☏ +1 780-791-6161. 24 emergency (updated May 2020)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Oct, Fort McMurray typically sees ~9°C daytime highs and 13 rainy days.
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