Moving from Calgary to Diamond Valley: The Reality of the Commute

One of the first things Calgary buyers ask me when they start looking at homes in Diamond Valley is:

“But what’s the commute actually like?”

Fair question.

I’ve lived out here for years and I drive into Calgary all the time. Is it a commute? Of course. But I actually really like the drive — and I think people who haven’t done it tend to picture it being much worse than it is.

So, here’s my take on the Calgary to Diamond Valley commute from someone who actually does it.

How long does it take to get from Diamond Valley to Calgary?

It completely depends where in Calgary you’re going.

If you work in South Calgary, the commute is obviously much easier than if you’re heading downtown or to the north end of the city every day. Diamond Valley itself is roughly 40 minutes from Calgary, but your actual drive could be shorter or longer depending on where you’re headed. The completion of the Calgary Ring Road has also made a huge difference. Once you’re connected to Stoney Trail, getting to other parts of Calgary is so much easier than it used to be.

My advice to anyone considering moving from Calgary to Diamond Valley is really simple: do the drive. Don’t look at a map on Sunday afternoon and decide it’s too far. Drive it during the time you’d actually be commuting. Go from your office to the house you’re considering and see what you think. You may be surprised.

Does the commute feel long?

This is the part that’s hard to explain until you’ve done it.

For me, the drive home is relaxing. Once I’m out of Calgary, I’m not staring at brake lights and buildings. I’m driving through the Foothills, watching the mountains get closer. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets on that drive. After a crazy workday, I actually appreciate that time. I’d much rather spend 40 minutes driving with mountain views than spend 40 minutes crawling across Calgary in traffic. And yes, there are days when I wish I could teleport home. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But most days? I genuinely enjoy it.

Okay, but what about winter?

This is probably the second question I get.

“What are those highways like in the winter?” We’re in Alberta. There are going to be crappy winter driving days whether you live in Diamond Valley, Okotoks, High River or Calgary. One thing I really appreciate, though, is that Volker Stevin has a highway maintenance operation right here in the area. The provincial maintenance area they service includes Turner Valley, Okotoks, High River and the Calgary area outside city limits. Volker Stevin maintains thousands of kilometres of Alberta highways and operates more than 200 snowplows. (Volker Stevin)

From my own experience living here, our main highways are typically plowed quickly when the snow hits. That’s something I absolutely appreciate when I’m driving back and forth as much as I do. Does that mean Highway 22 is magically dry pavement during a snowstorm? No. 😂 It’s still winter in Alberta. But I’ve lived here long enough that winter driving would not be the thing that stopped me from making the move.

Do you end up driving to Calgary for everything?

No.

This is another misconception I hear from people considering living in Diamond Valley.

We’re a small town, but we’re not in the middle of nowhere. Okotoks is close. High River is close. Between the three communities, I can do most of what I need without going into Calgary. And that’s actually one of the things I like about where we are. Calgary is there when I need it, but I don’t have to live in it. There is definitely an adjustment if you’re used to having absolutely everything within five minutes of your house. You will drive more living here. That’s just reality.

But you also get the Foothills, the mountains, more breathing room and a completely different pace of life. For a lot of people, that’s the whole reason they’re leaving Calgary in the first place.

Is living in Diamond Valley worth the commute to Calgary?

That’s the real question.

And I can’t answer it for you.

If you absolutely hate driving and have to be in North Calgary at 8:00 every morning, we should probably have a very different conversation. But if you work in South Calgary, work from home some days, have flexibility, or simply don’t mind a drive, I wouldn’t rule out Diamond Valley real estate because it looks farther away on a map. Come out here. Drive Highway 22. Spend some time in both the Black Diamond and Turner Valley sides of Diamond Valley. Drive into Okotoks. Then do the commute back into Calgary. And pay attention to what happens when you’re coming home. For me, there is a point in that drive where the city disappears, the mountains are right there and everything just feels a little quieter.

That’s why I live here.

I can still be in Calgary when I need to be. The ring road has made getting around the city much easier. Okotoks and High River are close. Kananaskis is practically in our backyard. But at the end of the day, I get to come home to Diamond Valley. I’ll take the commute.

Thinking About Moving From Calgary to Diamond Valley?

If you’re looking at homes for sale in Diamond Valley, Alberta, or you’re trying to figure out whether moving from Calgary to the Foothills actually makes sense for your family, give me a call.

I’ve been selling real estate in Diamond Valley, Okotoks, High River, Foothills County and South Calgary for more than 20 years — and this is home. I’ll tell you the good, the bad and whether I think the drive is going to work with your actual life.